Sir Chinubhai Madhowlal Ranchhodlal, 2nd Baronet of Shahpur, commonly known as Sir Girjaprasad Chinubhai Baronet (19 April 1906 – 1990) was an Indian businessman, an independence activist and social reformer from Ahmadabad, Gujarat, India.

Life Sketch

He was born on 19 April 1906 to

Sir Chinubhai Madhowlal Ranchhodlal, 1st Baronet Sir Chinubhai Madhavlal Ranchhodlal, 1st Baronet , 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 ...

and Devlaxmi Sarabhai. He was educated at

Gujarat College Gujarat Arts & Science College, popularly and previously known as Gujarat College, is one of the oldest educational institution of India and second arts and science college of Gujarat, near Ellis Bridge, Ahmedabad. The institution was founded ...

and later at

University of Bombay The University of Mumbai is a collegiate, state-owned, public research university in Mumbai. The University of Mumbai is one of the largest universities in the world. , the university had 711 affiliated colleges. Ratan Tata is the appointed ...

. In 1924, he married Tanumati, daughter of Jahaverilal Mehta and had issue. He succeeded his father, Sir Chinubhai Madhowlal's legacy and textile business, who died in 1916. In mid 1920s he came in contact with

Mahatma Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (; ; 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948), popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist Quote: "... marks Gandhi as a hybrid cosmopolitan figure who transformed ... anti- ...

, Sardar Patel and other leading Indian independence activist and was actively involved in the movement at

Gujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...

front. He was also a member of

Bombay Legislative Assembly Bombay Legislative Assembly came into existence in 1937, as the legislature of Bombay Presidency, a province of British India. It functioned until 1960, when separate states of Maharashtra and Gujarat were formed. History The first session of thi ...

from 1937 to 1939. He continued philanthropic works of his father and remained as main patron of Gujarat College, Victoria Jubilee Hospital and other institutions, during his lifetime. Later, under influence of Mahatma Gandhi and other social leaders like Jamnalal Bajaj, ( although, their family being staunch

Nagar Brahmin The Nagar Brahmin is a Hindu Brahmin subcaste mainly from the Indian state of Gujarat. Author T. Sasaki says, Among Brahmins in Gujarat Nagar Brahmins were most prominent subdivision in the political, economic and social activities of this ...

) he and his mother threw open doors of their family's personal temple (known as Sir Chinubhai's Temple) to

Dalit Dalit (from sa, दलित, dalita meaning "broken/scattered"), also previously known as untouchable, is the lowest stratum of the Caste system in India, castes in India. Dalits were excluded from the four-fold Varna (Hinduism), varna syste ...

and all communities. The opening ceremony of this was done by Mahatma Gandhi at a function on 2 August 1931, which was attended by at least 300 people. However, after independence of India, he decided to live secluded and peaceful life away from politics. He spent time managing affairs of family owned textile mill. He died in the year 1990, at an age of 86, at his home, the Sir Chinubhai Mansion in Ahmadabad. He is survived by three sons, of whom the eldest, Udayan, became the Sir Chinubhai Madhowlal Ranchhodlal, 3rd Baronet.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ranchhodlal, Chinubhai Madhowlal, 2 1906 births 1990 deaths Baronets in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom Gujarati people Businesspeople from Ahmedabad Indian Hindus Indian businesspeople in textiles Indian baronets Indian Knights Bachelor Indian independence activists from Gujarat Knights Bachelor Bombay State politicians 20th-century Indian philanthropists Members of the Bombay State Legislative Assembly Indian social reformers

Life Sketch

See also

References