Seth Edulji Navroji Mehta-Chinoy (as narrated in the Mehta Vansavli)

Seth Edulji Navroji Mehta was born in Damka Street Malesar Navsari on Y Z 1196, 1826AD on Mohor Roj and Maha Farvandin. He first started working with Jamshedji Jeejeebhoy. At the age of about 14 he made his first trip to China. It was a long ship journey and he reached after 6 months. At first, he worked at a godown in China and later started his own business. He earned good money and after about 15 years he returned to his native place. He started doing business with Nusserwanji, the father of Sohrabji Talati. The business prospered. When Nusserwanji passed away, he continued the business in partnership with Sohrabji. His business involved import and export of cloths, bangles, silk, pearls, tea, cinnamon, opium, cotton etc. He became quite rich and gave clothes and ornaments to his family members in his native place. He first set up a firm D. D. Olia, in Canton, and then Bombay, Hongkong Amoi, Kucha, Formosa. He employed his nephews and other family members who also prospered.  He built separate houses for his brothers and cousins. He also paid the expenses for their weddings and funerals.

He gave to public and private charity. In the year 1884-85 he built an agiary at Bardoli and a house for performing ghambars and jashan ceremonies. For this he bought a house and named it Maneck Baug, in the name of his late mother Maneckbai.

He expired in 1899 and his firm at Costa was looked after by his adopted son Cawasji and nephew Behramji. The firm at Canton was looked after by his nephew Shapurji. Later the exchange rate went down from Rs 225 to a $100 to Rs 115, so they closed the firm in 1899.

An inscription at Bardoli Agiari.

“This Daremeher was built at Bardoli by Edulji Navroji Mehta of Navsari, in the name of his father Navroji Chanjibhai for religious ceremonies.

Roj 9 Adar Yezad Maha 4, Teshtar Tir Yezad-1255 Y.Z.  25-12-1885. Rs 5000 was spent on this building.

 

 

Inscription at at Maneck Baug

Help by Shree Pak Dadar Ahuramazda.

“This building of Maneck Baug was built by Edulji Navroji Mehta in the name of his mother Maneckbai for the benefit of Zarthosti families of Damka Street and Amaria Falia. Roj 26 Maha 2, Y Z 1240 dated 16-11-1870.” 

A sum of Rs 1500 was given by Seth Edulji Navroji Mehta for maintenance of public waterhouse.

Inscription at the water house- “In order that the Zarthosti can get good water, this building was repaired and given to Malesar Anjuman at the cost of Rs14500 by Seth Edulji Navroji Mehta”

 

 Courtesy : Prochy Mehta