Jahangir Bomanji Petit

Jahangir Bomanji Petit (21 August 1879 - 1946) was a noted nationalist, mill owner, philanthropist and one of the first supporter of Mahatma Gandhi. He was grandson of the late Sir Dinshaw Maneckjee Petit, Bart, and the eldest son of the Bomanjee Dinshaw Petit He was owner of Petit Mills and also served as Chairman of Bombay Mill Owners Association. He was amongst one of the first supporters of Mahatma Gandhi and when on 9 January 1915, when Gandhi reached India and Bombay for the first time J. B. Petit along with other Indian natioalists like Narottam Morarji, Bhalchandra Krishna, B. G. Horniman, Revashanker Zaveri, Maganlal Gandhi took a launch to reach the steamer to welcome Kasturba and Mohandas Gandhi at Apollo bunder, where a large crowd had gathered to welcome Gandhi. Later on 12th Jan, 1915, J. B. Petit organized a reception at his bunglow the Mount Petit on Pedder Road. Over 600 distinguished citizens-both Europeans and Indians were present. Prominent among them were M. A. Jinnah, Seth Bomanjee Dinshaw Petit, Kaikobad Dinshaw, C. H. Setalvad, B. G. Horniman, Gokuldas Kahnadas Parekh, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Sir Jamshetjee Jeejebhoy, Sir Cowasjee Jehangir, Sir Narayan Chandavarkar, Sir Currimbhoy Ibrahim, Sir Fazulbhoy Currimbhoy, Sir Bhalechandra Krishna, Manmohandas Ramjee, Hazee Esmail, Dinsha Vaccha, Sir Richard Lamb, K. M. Munshi, Pherozeshah Mehta, Sir Dorab Tata, C. Dinshaw Adenwallah, Hormusji Wadia, N. M. Samarth and Sir Claude Hill. He donated generously to the cause of nation and was amongst the first benefactors of Gandhi in India. He was in contact with Gandhi even before his arrival in India and has supported Gandhi's struggle in Transvaal in South Africa and activities of Servants of India Society. During the trial of 1922 of Mohandas Gandhi, he stood closely with him. J.B. Petit High School for Girls at Mumbai, named after him is one of the noted institutions, which was patronized by him. Jehangir Bomanji Petit also impressed on his father Seth Bomanji D. Petit to give a munificent donation viz. of the immovable property called "Cumballa Hotel" at Cumballa and this led to foundation of Bomanjee Dinshaw Petit Parsee General Hospital in year 1907. He was the Secretary of the South African Indian Fund. and Joint secretary of South African Indian Passive Resistance Fund. He was associated with Friends of India. He was an activist of the nationalist movement and one of the first supporter of Mahatma Gandhi. He was a member of 1927 Bombay Legislative Council as a representative of Bombay Mill Owners Association. Further, he also helped in promoting the Free Press of India. J. B. Petit had assisted Sir Pherozeshah Mehta in launching the newspaper and later went on to control the Indian Daily Mail. J. B Petit died on 1946.