Jaffer Rahimtoola (1870–1914) was a Barrister belonging to the Bombay Presidency. He served as Mayor of Bombay between 1909 and 1910. Rahimtoola was also author of 'History of the Khojas' published in Gujrati during 1905.

Early life and education

Jaffer Rahimtoola was born in 1870 to a merchant trading family of Bombay who had origins from Kutch

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The early death of his father Rahimtoola Kaderbhoy persuaded his elder brothers Mohammadbhoy Rahimtoola and

Ibrahim Rahimtoola Sir Ibrahim Rahimtoola (May 1862 – June 1942) was a politician and legislator in British India. He served as Mayor of Bombay, Chairman of the Fiscal Commission and later as President of the Central Legislative Assembly. Early life and early c ...

to push him towards gaining adequate education. Rahimtoola completed his matriculation in 1888 after which he joined the

Bombay University University of Mumbai is a public state university in Mumbai. It is one of the largest university systems in the world with over 549,000 students on its campuses and affiliated colleges. , the university had 711 affiliated colleges. It was est ...

to study Philosophy and Logic -

Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...

on. In 1894 he proceeded to London and entered

Lincoln's Inn The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, commonly known as Lincoln's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for Barrister, barristers and judges) in London. To be called to the bar in order to practise as a barrister ...

to study law. His research dissertation work was revolved around Inheritance Laws of the Ismailis on which he spent around 30 months. He was inspired during this time to publish a book with specific reference to

Khoja The Khoja are a caste of Muslims mainly members of the Nizari Ismaʿiliyyah sect of Islam with a minority of followers of Shia Islam originating the western Indian subcontinent, and converted to Islam from Hinduism by the 14th century by the Pe ...

Laws and History.

Career

In 1897, on his return to Bombay, he joined the

Bombay High Court The High Court of Bombay is the High courts of India, high court of the States and union territories of India, states of Maharashtra and Goa in India, and the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. It is seated primarily ...

. He worked regularly as a barrister till his death. One of the prime cases he was involved in was Haji Bibi versus His Highness the Aga Khan III ombay High Courtwhere he was one of the panel and the only local (Indian) counsel to Sultan Mohammad Shah

Aga Khan III Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah (2 November 187711 July 1957), known as Aga Khan III, was the 48th Imamate in Nizari doctrine, imam of the Nizari Isma'ili, Ism'aili branch of Shia Islam. He was one of the founders and the first permanent president of ...

. Jaffer Rahimtoola joined the

Municipal Corporation Municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including (but not necessarily limited to) cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. The term can also be used to describe municipally o ...

for the Mandvi Ward in 1898, thus entering his career in politics. Rahimtoola merited the title Justice of Peace .P.in 1901. He remained associated with the Corporation actively serving on various committees including being General Secretary once. He eventually became the corporation's President he post was renamed later as Mayorin 1909. Jaffer Rahimtoola was also fellow of the Bombay University – a position he held till his death. At the fourth Indian Industrial Conference held at Madras during 1908 Jaffer Rahimtoola was present in representation of the Anjuman-e-Islam Bombay along with Abbas Tyabhi, Mohamed Ali Jinnah, Kazi Kabiruddin and Yusuf Ismail. During King George V visit to India

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he was part of the Municipal Government Team to represent Bombay at the Apollo Bandar.

Accolade

The Bombay Municipality in 1921 commissioned the Jaffer Rahimtoola School building in Ward 'B' of the metropolis. This was in honor of their former Mayor and Councillor. The Schools were expanded twice - once in 1968 and a Secondary school was established in 2007. Jaffer Rahimtoola was noted as a Prominent Khoja Community Icon for the period of late nineteenth and early twentieth century.

Family

Jaffer Rahimtoola's brother

was noted Politician and Reformer of British India. He remained Mayor of Bombay between 1899-1900 and later served as President of the Central Legislative Assembly between 1931 and 1933. His son, Hoosenally Rahimtoola was a key Legislator of the Bombay Presidency. Hoosenally served as Mayor of Bombay between 1934–35 and later became President of the Legislative Council during 1936.

Literary Front

Jaffer was gifted with exceptional literary talent. He was well versed in four languages namely

Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...

, Gujrati,

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. In 1904 he became Fellow of the Bombay University. He also served as member of the Standing Committee during the same period. He published his book History of the Khojas in Gujrati on 30 September 1905. The publication was divided into 30 small chapters and spread over 287 pages. The book was dedicated in the name of Sultan Mohammad Shah ga Khan IIIafter getting due gracious permission. The book has been referenced in several research papers, articles, books till date as the first authentic paperback work on Khoja Community and its workings. This book was followed up by Hashim Bogla's 'Asaliyate Khoja' (Bombay, 1912) and Ebrahim Varteji's 'Aftabe hakikat' (Bombay, 1916) and 'Vedik Islam' (Bombay, 1921). All of these publications were significant works of the time.

Social Welfare

On the social welfare front The Hon. Mr. Rahimtoola served as an auditor for the Anjuman-e-Islam ombayfor four years followed by which he became its honorary secretary. He eventually became President of the Trust in 1910. He also served as member Managing Committee of the Khoja Punjibhai Club and eventually became its chairman.

Death

Jaffer Rahimtoola died on 1914 in Bombay.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rahimtoola, Jaffar 1870 births 1914 deaths Gujarati people Indian Ismailis Indian barristers Mayors of Mumbai 19th-century Indian lawyers 20th-century Indian lawyers People from Bombay Presidency Lawyers in British India Khoja Ismailis