Shapur Kharegat
Encyclopedia
Shapur Sorab Kharegat was an Anglo-Indian
journalist, editor and former Asia Director of The Economist
Kharegat was born in Bombay, at "Palm Land", the home of his maternal great-grandfather, the ship chandler magnat Kavasjee Dadabhoy Dubash (+31.10.1921), to Col. Dr. Sorabjee Merwanjee Kharegat *1900 +19.10.1963 (son of Col. Dr. Mervanji Pestanji Kharegat of Madras Medical Service *20.11.1855 +17.12.1932), and his wife Dinbai Mehta (daughter of Navazbai Dubash and Byramji Mehta). He spent his childhood at "The Clif" on Carmichael Road
, Bombay at "Babington House" in Mahabaleshwar
and at 17 Carlyle Mansions
, Chelsea, London. Kharegat, who had a younger sister, Ratanbai (*15.1.1941 +11.8.2003), was a Parsi
and a descendant of Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy, the first Indian Baronet and a first cousin once removed of Russi Mody
, Chairman and Managing Director of Tata Steel
as well as a great-great nephew of Sir Pherozeshah Mehta, president of Indian National Congress
. Through his maternal grandfather Byramji Mehta he was also related to Zubin Mehta
, Jamshed Mehta and Dadabhai Naoroji
. His paternal family founded the building of "Kharegat Colony", the first charitable housing estate scheme in India.
Kharegat was a member of the Travellers Club
.
As one of the very last great old colonial characters, he was Asia director of The Economist
, based in Hong Kong until 1992, and died in London.
Accorning to the Economist publisher David Hanger, S.S. Kharegat would be remembered as "a huge character who travelled the world in his own inimitable style. He argued the case for the business side to enter Asia long before many of us realised its potential, and made all of the early running to develop the region ahead of many of our rivals".
Anglo-Indian
Anglo-Indians are people who have mixed Indian and British ancestry, or people of British descent born or living in India, now mainly historical in the latter sense. British residents in India used the term "Eurasians" for people of mixed European and Indian descent...
journalist, editor and former Asia Director of The Economist
The Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
Kharegat was born in Bombay, at "Palm Land", the home of his maternal great-grandfather, the ship chandler magnat Kavasjee Dadabhoy Dubash (+31.10.1921), to Col. Dr. Sorabjee Merwanjee Kharegat *1900 +19.10.1963 (son of Col. Dr. Mervanji Pestanji Kharegat of Madras Medical Service *20.11.1855 +17.12.1932), and his wife Dinbai Mehta (daughter of Navazbai Dubash and Byramji Mehta). He spent his childhood at "The Clif" on Carmichael Road
Carmichael Road
Carmichael Road is a notable residential road of Mumbai. It is now officially called M.L. Dahanukar Marg.With old style bungalows and apartment houses such as the art deco Kamal Mahal....
, Bombay at "Babington House" in Mahabaleshwar
Mahabaleshwar
Mahabaleshwar is a city and a municipal council in Satara district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is a hill station located in the Western Ghats range. With one of the few evergreen forests of the world, it served as the summer capital of Bombay province during the British Raj.-Geography...
and at 17 Carlyle Mansions
Carlyle Mansions
Carlyle Mansions is a block of flats located on Cheyne Walk, in the Chelsea area of London, England. Built in 1886, it was named after Thomas Carlyle, himself a resident of Chelsea for much of his life....
, Chelsea, London. Kharegat, who had a younger sister, Ratanbai (*15.1.1941 +11.8.2003), was a Parsi
Parsi
Parsi or Parsee refers to a member of the larger of the two Zoroastrian communities in South Asia, the other being the Irani community....
and a descendant of Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy, the first Indian Baronet and a first cousin once removed of Russi Mody
Russi Mody
Russi Mody was former Chairman and Managing Director of Tata Steel and a leading member of the Tata Group.-Early years:...
, Chairman and Managing Director of Tata Steel
Tata Steel
Tata Steel is a multinational steel company headquartered in Jamshedpur, India and part of Tata Group. It is the world's seventh-largest steel company, with an annual crude steel capacity of 31 million tonnes, and the largest private-sector steel company in India measured by domestic production...
as well as a great-great nephew of Sir Pherozeshah Mehta, president of Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
. Through his maternal grandfather Byramji Mehta he was also related to Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta is an Indian conductor of western classical music. He is the Music Director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.-Biography:...
, Jamshed Mehta and Dadabhai Naoroji
Dadabhai Naoroji
Dadabhai Naoroji , known as the Grand Old Man of India, was a Parsi intellectual, educator, cotton trader, and an early Indian political leader. His book Poverty and Un-British Rule in India brought attention to the draining of India's wealth into Britain...
. His paternal family founded the building of "Kharegat Colony", the first charitable housing estate scheme in India.
Kharegat was a member of the Travellers Club
Travellers Club
The Travellers Club is a gentlemen's club standing at 106 Pall Mall, London. It is the oldest of the surviving Pall Mall clubs, having been established in 1819, and was recently described by the Los Angeles Times as "the quintessential English gentleman's club." Visits are possible by invitation...
.
As one of the very last great old colonial characters, he was Asia director of The Economist
The Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
, based in Hong Kong until 1992, and died in London.
Accorning to the Economist publisher David Hanger, S.S. Kharegat would be remembered as "a huge character who travelled the world in his own inimitable style. He argued the case for the business side to enter Asia long before many of us realised its potential, and made all of the early running to develop the region ahead of many of our rivals".