The Regent’s Canal

And The Trail To The British Raj, Parsis, And Sir Cowajee Jehanjir Readymoney

by Ibn Warraq (Sept. 2008)

 

THIS FOUNTAIN

ERECTED BY THE

METROPOLITN DRINKING FOUNTAIN

AND CATTLE TROUGH ASSOCIATION

WAS THE GIFT OF

SIR COWASJEE JEHANGIR

(COMPANION OF THE STAR OF INDIA)

A WEALTHY PARSEE GENTLEMAN OF BOMBAY

AS A TOKEN OF GRATITUDE TO THE PEOPLE OF ENGLAND

FOR THE PROTECTION ENJOYED BY HIM AND HIS PARSEE

FELLOW COUNTRYMEN UNDER BRTISH RULE IN INDIA

INAUGURATED BY

H.R.H. PRINCESS MARY, DUCHESS OF TECK, 1869.

The Parsis came to settle in 936 on the coast of Gujarat in India, where they were received hospitably by the Hindu rajah, Rana Jadhav.

[2]

[3]

In 1872, Sir Cowasjee became a Knight of the United Kingdom.

The famous London satirical journal Punch, in 1872, carried this item on the affair:

“No mistake in the name. As ‘a thanks-offering from India’, a contemporary announces that, on account of the recovery of the Prince of Wales a charitable donation of £200 has been sent to London by Mr.Cowasjee Jehangir Readymoney. Anybody would have given Mr Readymoney credit for haing earned his name and now everybody must see that he well deserves it. Is Mr. Readmoney a Parsee? At any rate, he is the reverse of parsi-monious”.

This enlightened liberality was true of all the successful Parsis, but particularly of Sir Cowasjee, who gave generously for many honourable causes- the establishment of hospitals, schools, colleges, and other institutions. He is said to have donated no less 1,442,706 rupees throughout his life. The construction of the Convocation Hall of the University of Bombay designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott was made possible by Sir Cowasjee’s munificence.

The fourth Baronet, born in 1953, carries on the distinguished name of the Jehangirs to this day.

[1] S.H.Jhabvala. A Brief History of Parsees. Bombay, 1952, pp.28-29.

[2] Ibid.,p.31.

[3] J.Cowasjee Jehanghier. Life of Sir Cowasjee Jehanghier Readymoney, Kt., C.S.I. Bombay, 1890.p.7

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