Suleman Verjee

Partners

Mariam Bai Suleman Virji

Children

Alibhai Suleman Virjee

Hussein Suleman Virjee 1883–1932

Jamal Suleman Verjee 1906

Kassam Suleman Verjee 1918

Madatali Suleman Verjee

Mohamed Suleman Verjee 1898

Nanbai Suleman Verjee

Rehmet Suleman Verjee

Nurmohamed Suleman Verjee

Initially Suleman Verjee could not afford a shop. He was very poor and had actually borrowed the money for the fare to Africa and the family's upkeep in India. He had borrowed 350 rupees initially in Diu and again 2000 rupees in Mumbai before they sailed from there.(The house that Suleman Verjee lived in still stands).
His 3 sons Jamal, Kassam and Alibhai came with him from Diu in India, where the family had eventually settled after Shivji's death. His other three sons Madatali, Hussein, Nurmohamed, wife and two daughters came later.
Rattansi Virji whom he met when he landed in Mombasa.
Rattansi's wife was impressed that he had made the trip with such young children and she really liked Kassam. They took him under their wing and took Kassam as an apprentice. They had no children.
Suleman started making sweetmeats on the veranda of Rattansi's small shop. From this, he expanded, opened a store, and tended to their customers. The debts were paid off, family gradually brought over, business expanded.
Community and Religion were a major driving force for Suleman.
During those early years, Kassam was the brains of the enterprise and worked very hard.The Boys were hard workers. They had big dreams and ambitions.They fulfilled a lot of Suleman Verjee's dreams. Gradually they started importing other goods.
Suleman Verjee's Obsession with Education and school building is the least known part of his legacy, and the most Important.
Suleman embraced change. Every change is an opportunity, he used to say.
It was our Khoja custom to build properties for communal benefit and religion even in India, way before we came to Africa.
In Indian tradition, the concept of seva goes all the way back to the Vedas.
The First Jamatkhana that Suleman Verjee built was Kuze JamatKhana in Mombasa, in conjunction with the Ismaili Community and the Aga Khan's blessing. It was uncharted territory. Rather than extol its virtues, I will let you look at the pictures. Saves me writing a thousand words. It was built in 1888. This is the oldest Ismaili center in Kenya. It is a grand structure. The heavy carved wooden doors, designs, Calligraphy. His sons learnt about construction. It was the first jamatkhana (JK) that I went to as a child. Suleman Verjee had prospered by the time it was built. He served as the first Mukhi from 1888 to 1892. Hussein sacrificed his work, money and took on the task. It was his personality and ability to find solutions in a war ravaged Country. He immersed himself in the project from morning to night. It was the Darkhana (Main) Jamatkhana for Ismailis for years. Architect K. Virjee Nanji, etc. Suleman Verjee and sons built a stone building in Indian Bazaar across from our main Khoja Mosque on Bazaar Street.
On the downside, Suleman Verjee was very headstrong.There is an old Gujarati saying in East Africa. “Verjee ni chokri levi nai, ne Verjee ne chokri devi nai It meant that “one should not marry a Verjee girl or marry your daughter to a Verjee.” because they are so headstrong and difficult.
On a positive note, Suleman Verjee had business acumen to understand what was happening, and make the correct decisions to make the family flourish.
His children played a big part in his success and fulfilled his dreams. They followed the Railway with its dangers and forged a living. He put up 19 stores between Mombasa and Nairobi. The trio Kassam, Hussein and Madat were Suleman Verjee and Sons.

INDIAN SETTLERS IN AFRICA:THE LEGACY OF SULEMAN VERJEE AND SONS, By Dr. Kas Jamal(SULEMAN VERJEE).New Kindle Edition:March 2021.(Location 518-521)