Seth Jehangir Hormusji Kothari

Seth Jehangir Hormusji Kothari, was a member of the Parsi community and one of prominent philanthropists in Karachi, in the days before the 1947 Partition of India. He is remembered today for the gift of his house and adjacent land for the building of a promenade, known as the Jehangir Kothari Parade, on what was then Karachi's Clifton beach.

History

The family of Sir Jehangir Hormusji Kothari was one of the Parsee families that moved from Gujarat to the fishing village of Karachi and developed it into a prosperous city.

Kothari was a member of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and represented the Chamber at Chicago Exhibition in 1893.

In 1907, Sir Jehangir demolished his house on the Clifton hill and on his land built and bequeathed to the people of Karachi the magnificent pavilion, parade and pier which still stand. Inspired by him, Sir Kavasji Hormusji Katrak built and gave to the people the grand bandstand which looms over the cliff.

In 1923, Sir Jehangir and Lady Goolbai Kothari visited Bangalore, where his wife suddenly became ill and died. She was buried in that city. When the Bangalore Parsees asked him for a place to get together and celebrate Parsee functions, he built a memorial to his wife, the Lady Jehangir Kothari Memorial Hall, in Bangalore Cantonment.