Jinnahbhai Poonja


Jinnahbhai Poonja was a British Indian merchant. He was the founder and chairman of Jinnahbhai & Co. and Graham's Shipping and Trading Company. He is best known for being the father of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.

Early and personal life

Jinnahbhai Poonja was born in Paneli Moti, a small village in Gondal State, to a Khoja family. Jinnahbhai had two brothers, Valji and Nathoo, and one sister, Manbai. He was born around the time of the Indian Rebellion of 1857, which marked a pivotal moment in subcontinental history by solidifying Crown rule in India.
In 1874, Poonja married Mithibhai, a fellow Khoja from Dhaffa, a nearby village in Kathiawar. The couple eventually had 8 children: Mahomedali, Ahmed Ali, Bunde Ali, Rahmat Bai, Shireen Bai, Maryam Bai Jinnah, Fatima, and Bachu.
Poonja taught himself English, later teaching his children how to read and write English. He also became fluent in Persian after interactions with Afghan merchants merchants from Kandahar who came to Karachi. Poonja's native language was Gujarati.
According to Indian author and historian D.N. Panigrahi, Poonja's ancestors, despite their Khoja affiliation, were significantly influenced by Hindu traditions, including pujas such as Chatti. Panigrahi goes on to state that Poonja's father, Poonja Meghji, gave Hindu names to all of his children. However, Jinnahbhai Poonja was a devout Muslim and abandoned these Hindu traditions, raising his children in a more conservative Islamic manner, teaching his children the Quran and giving them all Muslim names.

Business career

Most of Paneli Moti were agriculturalists; however, Poonja's family managed handlooms instead. Poonja's brothers worked on the handlooms alongside their father, but this way of life did not attract Poonja, who wanted to become a businessman. Poonja left for Gondal, where he started his business with much success.

Legal issues

By the time Mahomedali went to England, Poonja's wife Mithibai had died. Poonja was in debt to numerous businesses and faced with several legal battles. Poonja described to Mahomedali that "all my dreams have come tumbling down," and he moved his family to Bombay in 1893, where Mahomedali began to take care of his family's expenses instead of Poonja.

Death

Poonja died on 15 April 1902. Jinnah, now legally renamed to Muhammad Ali, would move to Bombay as a barrister and to support his family. Jinnah would go on to be one of the most notable subcontinental political leaders of the 20th century through his creation of an independent state of Pakistan.