Adamjee Peerbhoy

Sir Adamji Peerbhoy (1846–1913) was an Indian business magnate, philanthropist and of Dawoodi Bohra community based at Bombay in British India.

Adamji Peerbhoy was born in the year 1846 at Dhoraji in Princely State of Gondal of British India now Gujarat, in a very poor Dawoodi Bohra family to Qadir bhai and Sakina Banu Peerbhoy.

Adamji Peerbhoy started his career at age of 13, as a street vendor in Bombay, selling match boxes but in one of the "rags to riches" stories being helped by two persons in his early life, one Seth Lukmanji and other an Englishman, Lt. Smith. Later by his untiring efforts and ability by the turn of the 19th century, became one of India's largest cotton manufacturers and wealthiest men. At one point he employed more than 15,000 workers in his cotton mills and supplied the canvas used for the tents and khaki uniforms of the British soldiers during the Second Boer War. He established several factories manufacturing thousands of tents and shoes for British soldiers and was also the owner of the Western Indian Tanneries, one of the largest tannery in Asia. It is thought that he first made his money from shipbuilding, and then diversified into trade and commercial interests.

Adamji Peerbhoy became appointed as the first Indian Sheriff of Mumbai in 1897 and was also appointed as Justice of Peace. Later, Peerbhoy became the first president of the Muslim League for a time, presiding over its first session in Karachi in December 1907.

In 1900 he was honoured by the title of `Qaisare-Hind'. In 1907 he was made a knight and given the title of `Sir’ by the British Government. Though an illiterate, Sir Adamji was honoured by Mohammedan Educational Conference to be its first president. He was also known as 'Rafiuddin' in the Bohra community, the 49th Dai, Sayedna Mohammed Burhanuddin had conferred title of `Rafiuddin’ on him.

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