Jehangir Bomanji Petit

Jehangir Bomanji Petit (21 August 1879 - 1946) was a noted nationalist, mill owner, philanthropist and one of Mahatma Gandhi's first supporters .

Belonging to the Petit family, Jehangir was the grandson of Sir Dinshaw Maneckjee Petit and the eldest son of the Bomanjee Dinshaw Petit He inherited ownership of Petit Mills and additionally served as the Chairman of the Bombay Mill Owners Association.

He was amongst the first supporters of Mahatma Gandhi and when on 9 January 1915, when Gandhi reached India and Bombay for the first time J. B. Petit along with other Indian natioalists like Narottam Morarji, Bhalchandra Krishna, B. G. Horniman, Revashanker Zaveri, Maganlal Gandhi took a launch to reach the steamer to welcome Kasturba and Mohandas Gandhi at Apollo bunder, where a large crowd had gathered to welcome Gandhi. Later on 12th Jan, 1915, J. B. Petit organized a reception at his bunglow the Mount Petit on Pedder Road. Over 600 distinguished citizens-both Europeans and Indians were present. Prominent among them were M. A. Jinnah, Seth Bomanjee Dinshaw Petit, Kaikobad Dinshaw, C. H. Setalvad, B. G. Horniman, Gokuldas Kahnadas Parekh, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Sir Jamshetjee Jeejebhoy, Sir Cowasjee Jehangir, Sir Narayan Chandavarkar, Sir Currimbhoy Ibrahim, Sir Fazulbhoy Currimbhoy, Sir Bhalechandra Krishna, Manmohandas Ramjee, Hazee Esmail, Dinsha Vaccha, Sir Richard Lamb, K. M. Munshi, Pherozeshah Mehta, Sir Dorab Tata, C. Dinshaw Adenwallah, Hormusji Wadia, N. M. Samarth and Sir Claude Hill. He donated generously to the cause of nation and was amongst the first benefactors of Gandhi in India. He was in contact with Gandhi even before his arrival in India and has supported Gandhi's struggle in Transvaal in South Africa and activities of Servants of India Society. During the trial of 1922 of Mohandas Gandhi, he stood closely with him.

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