Jaganath Shunkerseth
Encyclopedia
Hon. Jugonnath "Nana" Sunkersett Esq. (also spelled Jagannath Shankarsheth and Jagannath Shankarshet) (10 February 1803 – 31 July 1865), was an India
n philanthropist and educationalist. He was born in 1803 in the wealthy Murkute family of the Daivadnya
brahmin caste
in Mumbai
. Unlike his forefathers, he engaged in commerce and soon developed a reputation as a very reliable businessman. So high was his credit that Arab
s, Afghan
s and other foreign merchants chose to place their treasures in his custody rather than with banks. He soon acquired a large fortune, much of which he donated to the public.
Sunkersett became an active leader in many arenas of life in Bombay(now Mumbai). Foreseeing the need for improvements in education, he became one of the founders of the School Society and the Native School of Bombay, the first of its kind in Western India. The school went through a series of name changes: in 1824, it became the Bombay Native Institution, in 1840, the Board of Education, and in 1856 the name which continues to this day, the Elphinstone Educational Institution
. When the Students' Literary and Scientific Society first opened their girls' schools, Jugonnath Sunkersett contributed much of the necessary funds, despite strong opposition of some members of the Hindu community. Other educational projects he began include the English School, the Sanskrit
Seminary, and the Sanskrit Library, all of which are located in Girgaum
, South Mumbai
.
In 1845, along with Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy
, he formed the Indian Railway Association. Eventually, the association was incorporated into the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, and Jeejeebhoy and Sunkersett became the only two Indians among the ten directors of the GIP railways. As a director, Sunkersett participated in the very first train journey in India between Bombay and Thane
, which took approximately 45 minutes.
Jugonnath Sunkersett, Sir George Birdwood and Dr Bhau Daji
were instrumental in the some of the major reconstruction efforts of the city, beginning 1857. The three gradually changed a town made up of a close network of streets into a spacious and airy city, adorned with fine avenues and splendid buildings. He became the first Indian to be nominated to the Legislative Council of Bombay under the XXTY 26 Act of 1861, and became a member of the Bombay Board of Education. He also was the first Indian member of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai, and is known to have endowed a school
and donated land in Grant Road
for a theatre. His influence was used by Sir John Malcolm to induce the Hindus to acquiesce in the suppression of suttee or widow-burning, and his efforts also paid off after the Hindu community was granted a cremation ground at Sonapur (now Marine Lines
). He is known to have donated generously to Hindu temples. During the First War of Independence
of 1857, the British suspected his involvement, but was acquitted due to lack of evidence. He died in Mumbai on the 31 July 1865. A year after his death a marble statue was erected at the Asiatic Society of Bombay. Erstwhile Girgaum Road and chowk
(Nana Chowk) at Grant Road are named after him in South Mumbai.
Jagannath's ancestor Babulshet Ganbashet migrated to Bombay in the mid-18th century from Konkan
. Babulshet's son Shankarshet, was a prominent businessman of South Mumbai in the late-18th century. Gunbow Street (now called Rustom Sidhwa Marg) in the Fort business district of present-day Mumbai, is named after Ganbashet, and not, as many people assume, a British colonial name.
The Bhavani-Shankar Mandir and The Ram Mandir near Nana Chowk were built by Shankarshet Babulshet, in the early-19th century and are currently in possession of the Sunkersett family.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n philanthropist and educationalist. He was born in 1803 in the wealthy Murkute family of the Daivadnya
Daivadnya
*दाते पंचांग,गोत्रावळी "Gotravali" published by "Date Panchang", Date's Almanac Pvt Ltd, Solapur,India **"Genetics of Castes and Tribes of India:Indian Population Milieu" by M. K. Bhasin, Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India...
brahmin caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. Unlike his forefathers, he engaged in commerce and soon developed a reputation as a very reliable businessman. So high was his credit that Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
s, Afghan
Demographics of Afghanistan
The population of Afghanistan is around 29,835,392 as of the year 2011, which is unclear if the refugees living outside the country are included or not. The nation is composed of a multi-ethnic and multi-lingual society, reflecting its location astride historic trade and invasion routes between...
s and other foreign merchants chose to place their treasures in his custody rather than with banks. He soon acquired a large fortune, much of which he donated to the public.
Sunkersett became an active leader in many arenas of life in Bombay(now Mumbai). Foreseeing the need for improvements in education, he became one of the founders of the School Society and the Native School of Bombay, the first of its kind in Western India. The school went through a series of name changes: in 1824, it became the Bombay Native Institution, in 1840, the Board of Education, and in 1856 the name which continues to this day, the Elphinstone Educational Institution
Elphinstone College
Elphinstone College is an institution of higher education affiliated to the University of Mumbai. Established in 1856, it is one of the oldest colleges of the University of Mumbai. It was exalted as a prestigious seat of learning during the British Raj and is generally observed for its vibrant alumni...
. When the Students' Literary and Scientific Society first opened their girls' schools, Jugonnath Sunkersett contributed much of the necessary funds, despite strong opposition of some members of the Hindu community. Other educational projects he began include the English School, the Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
Seminary, and the Sanskrit Library, all of which are located in Girgaum
Girgaon
Girgaon, also spelt Girgaum, is an area in southern Mumbai in Maharashtra, India.Girgaon gets its name from being located at the foot of Malabar Hill in South Mumbai. The culture in Girgaon is diverse and varied. Like most areas of cosmopolitan Mumbai, residents span diverse languages, religions,...
, South Mumbai
South Mumbai
South Mumbai , sometimes incorrectly referred to by English Media as "SoBo" , the southern-most precinct of the city of Mumbai, India, comprises the city's main business localities and its adjoining areas...
.
In 1845, along with Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy
Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy
Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, 1st Baronet , also spelt Jeejeebhoy or Jeejebhoy, was a Parsi-Indian merchant and philanthropist.- Early life and business career :...
, he formed the Indian Railway Association. Eventually, the association was incorporated into the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, and Jeejeebhoy and Sunkersett became the only two Indians among the ten directors of the GIP railways. As a director, Sunkersett participated in the very first train journey in India between Bombay and Thane
Thane
Thane , is a city in Maharashtra, India, part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, northeastern suburb of Mumbai at the head of the Thane Creek. It is the administrative headquarters of Thane district. On 16 April 1853, G.I.P...
, which took approximately 45 minutes.
Jugonnath Sunkersett, Sir George Birdwood and Dr Bhau Daji
Bhau Daji
Bhau Daji Laud was a physician of the Saraswat caste belonging to Bombay , a Sanskrit scholar and an antiquary. He was born in 1822 in Mandrem, in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra.-Medical career:...
were instrumental in the some of the major reconstruction efforts of the city, beginning 1857. The three gradually changed a town made up of a close network of streets into a spacious and airy city, adorned with fine avenues and splendid buildings. He became the first Indian to be nominated to the Legislative Council of Bombay under the XXTY 26 Act of 1861, and became a member of the Bombay Board of Education. He also was the first Indian member of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai, and is known to have endowed a school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
and donated land in Grant Road
Grant Road
Grant Road , named after Sir Robert Grant, the Governor of Bombay between 1835 and 1839, is currently a suburban railway station and former terminus of the erstwhile Bombay Baroda and Central India Railway...
for a theatre. His influence was used by Sir John Malcolm to induce the Hindus to acquiesce in the suppression of suttee or widow-burning, and his efforts also paid off after the Hindu community was granted a cremation ground at Sonapur (now Marine Lines
Marine Lines
Marine Lines is an area in South Mumbai. It is also the name of a railway station on the Mumbai suburban railway on the Western Railway railway line. The name Marine Lines is named after the Marine Battalion Lines, a military establishment built by the British. The battalion was later converted to...
). He is known to have donated generously to Hindu temples. During the First War of Independence
Indian Rebellion of 1857
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut, and soon escalated into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to...
of 1857, the British suspected his involvement, but was acquitted due to lack of evidence. He died in Mumbai on the 31 July 1865. A year after his death a marble statue was erected at the Asiatic Society of Bombay. Erstwhile Girgaum Road and chowk
Chowk
Originally in Urdu , a chowk is a Town square, an open area commonly found in the heart of a traditional town used for community gatherings, Market square or simply traffic intersection:* Ashram Chowk Delhi* Banaras Chowk, Karachi...
(Nana Chowk) at Grant Road are named after him in South Mumbai.
Jagannath's ancestor Babulshet Ganbashet migrated to Bombay in the mid-18th century from Konkan
Konkan
The Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
. Babulshet's son Shankarshet, was a prominent businessman of South Mumbai in the late-18th century. Gunbow Street (now called Rustom Sidhwa Marg) in the Fort business district of present-day Mumbai, is named after Ganbashet, and not, as many people assume, a British colonial name.
The Bhavani-Shankar Mandir and The Ram Mandir near Nana Chowk were built by Shankarshet Babulshet, in the early-19th century and are currently in possession of the Sunkersett family.