Suleman Versi

Children

German Colonial Handbook 1908
German Colonial Handbook, page 1 1908
Indian Traders Lindi 1908

The German Colonial Handbook of 1908 mentions "Seleman Versi & Co." as an Indian firm, resident in Lindi in 1908. Since it is not listed in the 1904 version of the German Colonial Handbook, it would seem that it was established in Lindi between 1904 and 1908. It is believed that this business was a shop run by the third wife of Suleman Versi, Jetbai (Zaitunbai) Mohamed Sajan who lived with her three young children Abdulrasul, Raza and Saleh. The traders resident in Lindi as mentioned in the handbook include Kassam Ballu, Murarji Govindji, Kuverji Karsandas, Ismael Khimji, Matradas Lakmidas, Damodar Megji, Hirji Merali, Moledina Mohamed, Mulji Moledina, Jaffer Premji, Gulamhussein Remtula, Seleman Versi & Co and Ali Wali & Co. Incidentally Ismail Khimji mentioned in the list is where my grandfather Abdulla Pirmohamed worked in his youth before starting his own business in Lindi in 1920.

Suleman Versi was born in 1856 in Zanzibar. He was a well-known businessman, an importer and exporter believed to be trading with the Middle East and India in a multitude of items including spices. It is believed that he was a Wazir or a member in the Elders’ Council of Sultan Barghash of Zanzibar. He was once deported from Zanzibar by the British because he advised the Sultan against giving some concessions to the British.

Suleman Versi was a very rich merchant. The family had crockery made by Royal Doulton of Britain with the inscription “Made for the family of Suleman Versi” written underneath the ceramic bowls and plates. It is believed he had uniformed waiters serving each guest at the huge dining table at his home. Also, every morning he was presented a silver tray with a choice of dresses to wear.

It is further believed that Suleman Versi lost a big shipment at sea causing him a great loss. Once while in Mumbai he could not look after his horse and carriage and got it run over the cliff.

Tipu Tip, a great Arab slave trader, with base in Zanzibar and his regular visits to Ujiji, Tanganyika wrote his autobiography in Kiswahili and translated in English by a While Missionary, makes a mention of Suleman Versi

It is said that Suleman donated towards the establishment of graveyard (Chungani) in Dar es Salaam, the plot being donated by the Sachoo Peera family. He also helped in the establishment of Kuwwat Jamaat in Zanzibar politically and financially. Suleman Versi together with Dewji Jamal, Mohamed Walli Dharsi, Saleh Chagpar and Peera Hirji were trustees of “Remtulla Tejani Musafarkhana which was opened in 1901 in Zanzibar. In 1907, Suleman Versi was one of the 10 Jamaat elders who signed on the citation given to Murabbi Shariff Jiwa Surti who travelled from Madagascar to reconcile the Hujjat and Kuwwat Jamaats of Zanzibar. Others being Saleh Mohamed Hassan, Remtulla Allarakhia Tejani, Jaffer Hameer, Sheriff Dewji, Walli Khatau, Mohamed Walli Dharsi, Ismail Sumar, Hasham Alibhai and Jaffer Alloo.

Suleman Versi passed away on 30 June 1910 while on a business visit to Mumbai from Zanzibar. He is buried at Mumbai Arambagh. The epitaph on his grave says “Jangbarwalla”. Suleman was a great friend of Marhum Dawood Haji Nasser, a prominent community personality and a famous businessman of Mumbai. According to the gravekeeper of Arambagh, the family of Haji Roshanali Dawood Haji Nasser had been taking care of the grave for a long period. Recently, the grave has been beautifully renovated by his grandson, Aunali Versi of Orlando.