Virji Premji Parpiya

Virji Premji Parpiya traced his lineage from his ancestor, called Khoja Bhalo (d. 1607), who lived around 1154 at Lohgadh in Punjab, belonging to the Lohana class in the Rajput stock.

He embraced Ismailism by Pir Dadu (d. 1596) and with the request of Rao Bharmal (1585-1631), the ruler of Kutchh, Pir Dadu left Sind and arrived in Kutchh with Khoja Bhalo in 1587. Bhalo was employed to a high post in the state administration. He was followed by his son Lakho (d. 1629), Khetasi (d. 1687) and Banno, who died in Delhi in 1715. His son was Jivo (d. 1752), whose son was Ebhalo (d. 1784) and henceforward, the whole family became known as the Ebhlani family.

Ebhalo had five sons, viz. Chagalo, Tejasi, Bijal, Hamir and Punjo. The elder son Chagalo (d. 1814) had two sons, Kamadia Mannek and Aloo. Kamadia Mannek (d. 1880) had a son, called Mukhi Dhalla (d. 1889), who had three sons, Rahim, Hirji and Jaffer. On the other hand, Tejasi, the second son of Ebhalo, had a son called Alarakhia and whose son was Kamadia Bharmal (d. 1888). Kamadia Bharmal Alarakhia had two sons, Nur Muhammad (d. 1890) and Alauddin (d. 1914). Alauddin had two wives, Kajbai and Sakinabai. Kajbai had 14 children, in which 12 children were died in infancy and two daughters were survived, namely Mariambai and Sakinabai. Mariambai was the mother of Virji Premji Parpiya.

Virji Premji Parpiya was born in a rich and renowned family on May 12, 1881 at Baroda, India. His mother, Mariambai died when he was hardly six months old, therefore, his upbringing came in the hands of the ignorant house-keepers and servants. Being a son of a wealthy father, his early life passed in luxury. His father was a leading trader of charcoal powder in Baroda, who got his son married in the early age of 14 years in 1895.

He was mostly interested to study the Vedic and Sufic literature.

He passed his life in the affluent class till he reached the age of 39 years, and during this period, he had become an addict of wine. On December 20, 1920, he abstained from wine all of a sudden and also abandoned smoking on March 21, 1921. He even left tea in 1923 and passed a sober life.

His public service began when he built a boarding, called Virashram, near the race-course ground in Baroda on August 21, 1921, where all people were allowed irrespective of cast and creed. It was supervised by the President Krashanrao Vinaik Sarangpani. This noble project made him eminent among the masses.

Sayed Aminuddin Hussain Khan, the Collector of Kolaba district once wrote a letter on November 10, 1934, which reads: 'Mr. Virji Premji Parpiya is known to me for decades and the work he has been doing in his private institution, 'Virashram' has had the approval of all classes and creeds. Mr. Parpiya is desirous of continuing the educational philanthropic work, social economical and industrial development of rural population in the villages, which no doubt is the crying need of India. I have my hearty support in his selfless and sincere endeavours for the good of ignorant uneducated and superstitious masses. I am sure all those with whom he comes in contact will give him their best cooperation and assist him in achieving success in his mission.'