J.B. Petit
Open-knowledge reference entry
Jehangir Bomanji Petit (21 August 1879 ― 1946) was a noted nationalist, mill owner, philanthropist, and one of Mahatma Gandhi's earliest supporters.
Belonging to the Petit family, Jehangir was the grandson of Sir Dinshaw Maneckjee Petit and the eldest son of the Bomanjee Dinshaw Petit. He was also the cousin of Mithuben Petit and Rattanbai Petit. He inherited ownership of Petit Mills and additionally served as the Chairman of the Bombay Mill Owners Association.
J. B. Petit was amongst the first supporters of Mahatma Gandhi. When Gandhi reached India and Bombay for the first time on 9 January 1915, Petit along with other Indian nationalists like Narottam Morarji, Bhalchandra Krishna, B. G. Horniman, Revashanker Zaveri, Maganlal Gandhi took a launch to reach the steamer to welcome Kasturba and Mohandas Gandhi at Apollo bunder, where a large crowd had gathered to welcome Gandhi. Later on 12 January 1915, J. B. Petit organised a reception at his bungalow, Mount Petit on Pedder Road. There were over 600 distinguished citizens, with both Europeans and Indians present. Prominent among them were Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Seth Bomanjee Dinshaw Petit, Kaikobad Dinshaw, C. H. Setalvad, B. G. Horniman, Gokuldas Kahnadas Parekh, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Sir Jamshetjee Jeejebhoy, Sir Cowasjee Jehangir, Sir Narayan Chandavarkar, Sir Currimbhoy Ibrahim, Fazulbhoy Currimbhoy, Bhalechandra Krishna, Manmohandas Ramjee, Hazee Esmail, Dinsha Vaccha, Richard Amphlett Lamb, K. M. Munshi, Pherozeshah Mehta, Sir Dorab Tata, C. Dinshaw Adenwallah, Hormusji Wadia, Narayan Madhav Samarth and Sir Claude Hill.
He financially supported the nationalist movement and was amongst the first benefactors of Gandhi in India.
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