Chhaganlal Karamshi Parekh

Chhaganlal Karamshi Parekh popularly known as Chhagan Bapa (27 June 1894 – 14 December 1968) was a noted philanthropist, social worker, who worked for up-liftment of poor, education and social reform of women.

He was born in 1894 at Rajkot in Gujarat in a Gujarati Vaishnava family of Lohana caste. In his young age he started his career as a clerk at R. A. Mucadam & Sons' Chanda colliery in Jharia but after six months shited to Khas Kusunda colliery owned by Mistri Pancha Devji At salary of Rs.30/- per month. The colliery was managed by Mistri Kanji Khengar. Later in 1914 he joined Lower & Upper Jharia Collieries located at Tisra, which were owned by Kutchi owners Gangji Dossa Jethwa & Khimji Dossa Jethwa. The owners were very much impressed with his work and promoted him. From here he progressed to start his own coal supply firm.

He was among the committee members of historic All India Trade Union Congress meeting hosted at Jharia in year 1928 and shared dais with other notable colliery owners like, Ramjush Agarwalla, the host and others like, D. D. Thacker, Karamshi Khora and other dignitaries.

But in the year 1949, there was change in his life. He took retirement from his work and dedicated his life towards social service. He got inspiration for social work from Thakkar Bapa and became a member of Servants of India Society and served in relief works in Himachal Pradesh, Assam and earthquake relief works in Kutch.

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