Maghanmal Pancholia

Indian-Emirati businessman and trader (1924–2019)

Maghanmal Pancholia

Born|

Maghanmal Jethanand Pancholia

(1924-10-24)24 October 1924[1]

British India (in modern-day India)

Died| 2 September 2019(2019-09-02) (aged 94)

Bur Dubai, UAE[2]

Nationality| Indian
Citizenship| Emirati
Occupations|

* Businessman
* Trader
* Philanthropist

Maghanmal Jethanand Pancholia (24 October 1924 – 2 September 2019), also known as Maghaba, was an Indian-Emirati businessman, trader, philanthropist and the founder of the Indian High School, Dubai, first Indian educational institution established in the UAE.[3] He was one of the four businessmen to introduce electricity to Dubai,[4][5] and the first Indian citizen to be appointed as board member of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry by Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.[3]

He served director of Dubai Electric Company (now merged to Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) from 1961 to 1980[6] and the board member of Al Maktoum Hospital, originally appointed by the British Political Agent.[2]

## Biography

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He was born on 24 October 1924 in India and belonged to Sindhi community.[1] He married Kalabai Maghanmal Pancholia (1927–2018) in 1943, with whom he had four children.[7] He reached to Sharjah in 1942 via Karachi route[8] 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 pearl industry.[1]

In 1957, he established an electricity corporation in Dubai which continued power distribution to the general public till 1960.[9] He wrote an autobiography titled Footprints: Memoirs of an Indian Patriarch that covers his life and the development history of Dubai.[8]

## Death

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He was 20th century's one of the oldest Indian-Emirati citizens.[10] He died on 2 September 2019 in Dubai, and was cremated on 3 September in Jebel Ali.[11]

## Books

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* Pancholia, Maghanmal J. (2009). Footprints: Memoirs of an Indian Patriarch. Motivate Pub. ISBN 9781860632655.

## References

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1. ^ a b c "Indian businessman Maghanmal Jethanand Pancholia remembered on first death anniversary in Dubai". gulfnews.com. 2 September 2020.
2. ^ a b "Dubai's 'oldest' businessman Maghanmal Pancholia dies at 95". The National. 3 September 2019.
3. ^ a b "Maghanmal Pancholia: From Dubai's customs collector to multi-millionaire and philanthropist". gulfnews.com.
4. ^ "Portrait of a Nation: one of UAE's oldest Indian residents shares memories of change". The National.
5. ^ "The 20 most influential Indian leaders of Gulf construction". Construction Week Online Middle East.
6. ^ "Dubai mourns death of 'father figure' businessman Maghanmal Pancholia". ArabianBusiness.com.
7. ^ "One of UAE's oldest Indian women dies in Dubai". gulfnews.com. 28 May 2018.
8. ^ a b John, Issac. "We travelled on camels and donkeys... paid Rs100 rent". Khaleej Times.
9. ^ "Indian businessman Maghanmal Pancholia passes away in Dubai". Construction Week Online Middle East.
10. ^ "'UAE Rulers showed us love even in difficult days', says one of the oldest Indians in the Emirates". The National. 23 January 2017.
11. ^ Gokulan, Dhanusha. "Veteran Indian businessman Maghanmal Pancholia laid to rest in Dubai". Khaleej Times.