Sir Chinubhai Baronet

Sir Chinubhai Madhowlal Ranchhodlal, 1st Baronet of Shahpur, CIE, also spelled as Sir Chinubhai Madhowlal Runchorelal (26 May 1864 – 3 March 1916), commonly known as Sir Chinubhai Baronet, was the first Hindu Baronet of British India, textile mill owner and philanthropist from Ahmedabad, India.

Chinubhai was the son of Madhavlal Ranchhodlal and Revabai born in a Hindu Nagar Brahmin family and was the adopted grandson of Rao Bahadur Ranchhodlal Chhotalal, CIE, the man who founded the first textile mill of Ahmedabad.

Their ancestral home was and part of it still survives is in Shahpur area of old Ahmedabad city, after which baronetcy was named - of Shahpur. It was famous by the name Chinubhai Baronet Mansion.

He was fluent in all taught languages Gujarati, Persian, Sanskrit and English. He also attended school and later college. He later joined his family business and textile and under his able stewardship the businesses grew and prospered rapidly.

He married in 1876 to Devlaxmi daughter of Surajram Sarabhai and had six daughters and one son named Girijaprasad from his marriage.

His grandfather Ranchhodlal died in 1898 and father Madhavlal died only three years later in 1901, after whose demise he inherited family fortunes and business, which consisted of two cotton textile mills one in Ahmadabad and another in Bharuch, as well other agencies and businesses. Chinubhai like his grandfather Ranchhodlal also become the President of the Ahmadabad Municipality. He was also appointed as member of the Legislative Council of Bombay by Lord George Sydenham Clarke, who was at that time Governor of Bombay, with whom he also shared close friendship. Chinubhai also served as the President of the Ahmadabad Mill Owner’s Association.

He donated monies on princely scale for philanthropic and educational purposes, which led to foundations of educational institutions like, Madhavlal Ranchhodlal Chhotalal High School, Madhavlal Boarding, Ranchhodlal Chhotalal Technical Institute, Sanskrit School at Ahmadabad, Gujarat College, Ahmadabad, Sydenham College of Commerce, Bombay, The Royal Institute of Science, Bombay.

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