Parsee Rustomjee

Rustomjee Jivanji Ghorkhodu
Born1861
India
Died14 November 1924
NationalityIndian-South African
Other namesParsee Rustomjee, Parsi Rustomji, Kakaji
Occupation(s)Businessman and philanthropist
Known forsatyagraha

Rustomjee Jivanji Ghorkhodu (1861 – 14 November 1924), commonly known as Parsee Rustomjee, and by various orthographic variations including Parsi Rustomji and affectionately referred to as Kakaji,[1] was an Indian-South African philanthropist and businessman, well known for his close mentorship, guidance and financial sponsorship of Mahatma Gandhi during his time in South Africa from 1893 to 1914.

Rustomjee was the largest South African contributor to the satyagraha (non-violent resistance). His various philanthropic deeds include establishing the Indian hospital in Durban; the M. K. Gandhi Library and Parsee Rustomjee Hall; Parsee Rustomjee Orphanage; M. K. Gandhi Tamil School; an orphanage connected with the mosque at Umgeni; an Indian orphanage of the Roman Catholic Church; and part of the cost of a Methodist day school. He also supported several projects of Gandhi in India.[2] There is a primary school in Merebank, KwaZulu-Natal bearing his name.[3]

  1. ^ M. K. Gandhi (January 0101). Gandhiji in South Africa. Prabhat Prakashan. pp. 233–. ISBN 978-81-8430-528-9. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Parsee Rustomjee notches another first for schooling in Merebank". Rising Sun Newspapers. 3 September 2020.