Shapur Sorab Kharegat (1 November 1932 – 29 September 2000) was a

Parsi Parsis () or Parsees are an ethnoreligious group of the Indian subcontinent adhering to Zoroastrianism. They are descended from Persians who migrated to Medieval India during and after the Arab conquest of Iran (part of the early Muslim conq ...

journalist, editor and former Asia Director of ''

The Economist ''The Economist'' is a British weekly newspaper printed in demitab format and published digitally. It focuses on current affairs, international business, politics, technology, and culture. Based in London, the newspaper is owned by The Eco ...

'' magazine. Kharegat was born in Bombay, at "Palm Land", the home of his maternal great-grandfather, the ship chandler magnate Kavasjee Dadabhoy Dubash (+31.10.1921), to Col. Dr. Sorabjee Merwanjee Kharegat *1900 +19.10.1963 (son of Col. Dr. Mervanji Pestanji Kharegat of Madras Medical Service *20.11.1855 +17.12.1932), and his wife Dinbai Mehta (daughter of Navazbai Dubash and Byramji Mehta). He spent his childhood at "The Clif" on

Carmichael Road Carmichael may refer to: * Carmichael (surname) Other * Clan Carmichael, Scottish clan * Carmichael, California, United States * Carmichael coal mine, a proposed mine in Central Queensland, Australia * Carmichael (crater), a lunar crater * Carmicha ...

, Bombay at "Babington House" in

Mahabaleshwar Mahabaleshwar () is a small town and a municipal council in Satara district, Maharashtra, India. It is a place of pilgrimage for Hindus because Krishna river has its origin here. The British colonial rulers developed the town as a hill station ...

and at 17 Carlyle Mansions, Chelsea, London. Kharegat, who had a younger sister, Ratanbai (*15.1.1941 +11.8.2003), was a Parsi and a descendant of Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy, the first Indian Baronet and a first cousin once removed of Russi Mody, Chairman and Managing Director of

Tata Steel Tata Steel Limited is an Indian multinational steel-making company, based in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand and headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is a part of the Tata Group. Formerly known as Tata Iron and Steel Company Limited (TISCO), Tata S ...

. His maternal step-cousin was the World War II hero Lt. George Clement, né Spiridonoff, (20.11.1917 - 7.9.1944). His first cousin was the late wife of Rustom K. S. Ghandhi. His paternal family was responsible for the building of "Kharegat Colony", a charitable housing estate scheme in India.

Sam Manekshaw Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw (3 April 1914 – 27 June 2008), widely known as Sam Manekshaw and Sam Bahadur ("Sam the Brave"), was the Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army during the Indo-Pakistani War of ...

, a family friend and his father served together during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

in Indo China. Kharegat was a member of the

Travellers Club The Travellers Club is a private gentlemen's club situated at 106 Pall Mall in London, United Kingdom. It is the oldest of the surviving Pall Mall clubs and one of the most exclusive, having been established in 1819. It was described as "the ...

. As one of the last great old colonial characters, he was Asia director of ''

'', based in Hong Kong from August 1966 until his retirement in 1993, and died in London. He was a major catalyst for ''The Economist's'' inclusion in Asia and according to ''The Economist's'' publisher David Hanger, S.S. Kharegat is remembered as "a huge character who travelled the world in his own inimitable style. He argued the case for the business side to enter Asia long before many of us realised its potential, and made all of the early running to develop the region ahead of many of our rivals."

References

The Economist people Writers from Mumbai People educated at Malvern College Parsi people from Mumbai 1932 births 2000 deaths Journalists from Maharashtra Indian male journalists 20th-century Indian journalists {{india-journalist-stub