Sir Chinubhai Madhowlal Ranchhodlal, 3rd Baronet of Shahpur, commonly known as Sir Udayan Chinubhai Baronet (25 July 1929 – 3 September 2006), was the 3rd of

Runchorelal baronets The Ranchhodlal Baronetcy (also spelt Runchorelal), of Shahpur in Ahmedabad in India, is a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 6 February 1913 for Sir Chinubhai Madhowlal Ranchhodlal, Kt., CIE, son of Madhavlal Ra ...

, a businessman, a noted sportsman and a Commandant General of the Gujarat Home Guards from Ahmadabad, Gujarat, India.

Life-sketch

Early life and marriage

Udayan Chinubhai was born in an affluent and distinguished family of

and was the eldest son of Sir Girjaprasad Chinubhai Madhowlal Ranchhodlal, 2nd Baronet and Lady Tanumati. He graduated with Bachelor of Arts degree from

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 ...

and soon joined his family business of textile mills.Gujarat College, Patron
/ref> He married Muneera (Muneera Khodad Fozdar) in 1953 and had several issues including one son.

Businessman

He shouldered responsibilities of the textile business owned by their family, with his father Sir Girjaprasad, soon after graduating from University. Later on, he also earned a name as real estate developer in Ahmadabad city.

Sportsman

He was an avid shooter and in 1961 he won a gold medal in the National Championship in the pistol revolver section and retained this title for 14 years. He retired from the active sports in 1974. During this period he represented the country four times in international competitions and won a silver medal. He won medals in center fired non-prohibited bore and also prohibited bore sections. After his retirement from the active sports, he was appointed a member of the Gujarat Sports Council and was also the founder President of the Gujarat State Rifle Association. He was awarded

Arjuna Award The Arjuna Award, officially known as Arjuna Awards for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games, is the second-highest sporting honour of India, the highest being the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. The award is named after Arjuna, one ...

in 1972 in the field of shooting. He was also a

cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...

player and played in

Ranji trophy The Ranji Trophy (also known as Mastercard Ranji Trophy for sponsorship reasons) is a domestic first-class cricket championship played in India between multiple teams representing regional and state cricket associations. Board of Control for Cr ...

tournaments and also represented the combined universities of India against Pakistan in 1952.

Commandant, Home Guards

When Gujarat was formed in 1960, Morarji Desai, who was then Chief Minister of

Bombay State Bombay State was a large Indian state created at the time of India's Independence, with other regions being added to it in the succeeding years. Bombay Presidency (roughly equating to the present-day Indian state of Maharashtra, excluding Sou ...

, invited Udayan Chinubhai to take charge as Commandant General of the Gujarat Home Guard’s, a voluntary organization. He served in this organization in a voluntary capacity for 28 years. The Home Guards, which had a strength of 6000 at the time of its inception in 1960 had expanded to a strength of 42000 at the time of his retirement in 1987. During his tenure, he offered invaluable services, particularly at the time of the 1962 Chinese aggression, 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan, the Morvi dam disaster and other natural disasters, calamities and riots.Those ten months: President's rule in Gujarat - Page 185, Main railway and road bridges were afforded proper protection by the Home Guards, day and night. Udayan Chinubhai, the Commandant of Home Guards, was also appointed the honorary Director of Civil Defence. During President's Rule and Emergency, he was given additional charge of honorary Director of Civil Defence. In recognition of his meritorious voluntary service in Home Guard’s and Civil Defense he was awarded the highest honor with the President of India Medal for bravery and distinguished services.

Baronet

In 1990, after death of his father Sir Girjaprasad, he succeeded him as Sir Chinubhai Madhowlal Ranchhodlal, 3rd Baronet of Shahpur.

Philanthropy

In the latter part of his life, he devoted his time and money for philanthropic works as patron of

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 for expansion of Victoria Jubilee Hospital both started by his ancestors.

Death

He died on 1 September 2006 at Ahmadabad. The Governor of Gujarat, noted his works for the State in his condolence message.
a press release dated 2 Sept. 2006 stated that "The Gujarat Governor... expressed profound grief over the demise of Shri Udayan Chinubhai Baronet..." His son Prashant Chinubhai, succeeded him as Sir Chinubhai Madhowlal Ranchhodlal, 4th Baronet. Prashant is married to Swati, daughter of Hrishikesh Janakray Mehta. They are the parents of three daughters.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Udayan Chinubhai 1929 births 2006 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 Knights Bachelor Indian male sport shooters Recipients of the Arjuna Award Recipients of the Rashtrapati Award Shooters at the 1966 Asian Games 20th-century Indian philanthropists Asian Games competitors for India