Maghanmal Pancholia
Maghanmal Pancholia | |
|---|---|
| Born | Maghanmal Jethanand Pancholia 24 October 1924[1] British India (in modern-day India) |
| Died | 2 September 2019 (aged 94) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Citizenship | Emirati |
| Occupations |
|
Maghanmal Jethanand Pancholia (24 October 1924 – 2 September 2019), also known as Maghaba, was a powerful[3] Indian-Emirati businessman, trader, philanthropist and the founder of the Indian High School, Dubai, the first Indian educational institution established in the United Arab Emirates.[4] He was also one of the four businessmen to introduce electricity to Dubai,[5][6] and the first Indian citizen to be appointed as board member of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry by Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.[4]
He served as the director of Dubai Electric Company (now merged to Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) from 1961 to 1980[7] and as the board member of Al Maktoum Hospital, originally appointed by the British Political Agent.[2]
Biography
He was born on 24 October 1924 in India and belonged to the Sindhi community.[1] He married Kalabai Maghanmal Pancholia (1927–2018) in 1943, with whom he had four children.[8] He reached to Sharjah in 1942 via the Karachi route[9] and started trading pearls and gold. He was also involved in grocery stores and currency exchange businesses until he started textiles, electronics and wholesale food alongside financing the pearl industry.[1]
In 1957, he established an electricity corporation in Dubai which continued power distribution to the general public till 1960.[10]
He wrote an autobiography titled Footprints: Memoirs of an Indian Patriarch that covers his life and the development history of Dubai.[9] In the early 2010s, Arabian Business ranked him as one of the most powerful Indians in the Gulf.[3]
Death
He was 20th century's one of the oldest Indian-Emirate citizens.[11] He died on 2 September 2019 in Dubai, and was cremated on 3 September in Jebel Ali.[12]He worked till the last day of his life.[1]
Books
- Pancholia, Maghanmal J. (2009). Footprints: Memoirs of an Indian Patriarch. Motivate Pub. ISBN 9781860632655.
References
- ^ a b c d "Indian businessman Maghanmal Jethanand Pancholia remembered on first death anniversary in Dubai". gulfnews.com. 2 September 2020.
- ^ a b "Dubai's 'oldest' businessman Maghanmal Pancholia dies at 95". The National. 3 September 2019.
- ^ a b "100 most powerful Indians in the Gulf - Arabian Business: Latest News on the Middle East, Real Estate, Finance, and More". www.arabianbusiness.com. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ a b "Maghanmal Pancholia: From Dubai's customs collector to multi-millionaire and philanthropist". gulfnews.com.
- ^ "Portrait of a Nation: one of UAE's oldest Indian residents shares memories of change". The National.
- ^ "The 20 most influential Indian leaders of Gulf construction". Construction Week Online Middle East.
- ^ "Dubai mourns death of 'father figure' businessman Maghanmal Pancholia". ArabianBusiness.com.
- ^ "One of UAE's oldest Indian women dies in Dubai". gulfnews.com. 28 May 2018.
- ^ a b John, Issac. "We travelled on camels and donkeys... paid Rs100 rent". Khaleej Times.
- ^ "Indian businessman Maghanmal Pancholia passes away in Dubai". Construction Week Online Middle East.
- ^ "'UAE Rulers showed us love even in difficult days', says one of the oldest Indians in the Emirates". The National. 23 January 2017.
- ^ Gokulan, Dhanusha. "Veteran Indian businessman Maghanmal Pancholia laid to rest in Dubai". Khaleej Times.