Harchandrai Vishandas

Education

He was one of the first six Sindhi young men who graduated from Elphinstone College, Bombay, before 1887.

Career

His social, educational, and political services rendered to the people of Sindh are so great that he is now recognised as one of the makers of modern Karachi. Seth Harchandrai Vishandas after completing law in the year 1885, accepted for a short period, a junior position in Shikarpur court, but he resigned soon and start a law practice in Karachi. Harchandrai was the elected Honorary Secretary of Karachi Bar Association for full 38 years just after its establishment in 1890.

As mayor of Karachi, he oversaw a major beautification project which involved development of new roads, parks, residential and recreational areas.

Seth Harchandrai Vishandas was born in May 1862, in a village Manjhu in tehsil Kotri, Sindh. He relates to a Bharvani family, known for its public-spirited members.

After completing his primary, he was sent to Kotri for middle education in missionary school of Kotri and used to live there in a spacious bungalow with great comfort. After that he got admitted in NJV High School in Karachi.

After matriculating, he went to Bombay for higher education and joined Elphinstone College, Bombay.

Seth Harchandrai Vishandas received his law degree from Elphinstone College in 1882, which he later patronised as his Alma mater. Legal field

Persuaded by his father he resigned and started his own law practice in Karachi in 1886. He was elected honorary secretary of the Karachi Bar Association.

Social services and politics

Harchandrai was the first Sindhi to join the Indian National Congress and served the cause of national independence with dedication.

He was a strong Congress manitoba In fact the 28th session of Congress in 1913 was held in Karachi largely due efforts of him, his father, Seth Vishandas and Ghulam Mohamed Bhurgari.

He and his father served as chairman and Secretary of reception committee in that session.and he later presided over many Congress conferences in Sindh. Seth Harchandrai plays a role as a freedom fighter of India.

Harchandrai Vishandas died on 16 February 1928 in Delhi.

When the white Simon Commission disputed to India to review the working of 1919 reforms, the Congress party to press for its boycott. Harchandrai"s vote was required for that purpose. He left Karachi against the advice of doctor and friends just to record his vote against the Simon Commission but died, on his way from the railway station to the Assembly Hall.

In the front of Karachi Municipal Corporation Building, on the 6th death anniversary of Seth Haarchandrai Vishanda on 16 February 1934, the statue of Harchandrai was unveiled and removed just after the partition of India in 1947.

Achievements

• He achieved his primary education in a school founded by Seth Vishandas Nihalchand, father of Seth Harchandrai in his birthplace Manjhu.

Membership

He was the elected president of Karachi Municipality for 1911–1921, and before that he was elected as member of Municipality in 1888. He was subsequently appointed to the Viceroy"s Executive Council and was ex officio a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom until his death in 1928. Theosophical society made him the member of society.