Chinubhai Madhavlal

Sir Chinubhai Madhavlal Ranchhodlal, 1st Baronet , also spelled as Sir Chinubhai Madhowlal Runchorelal

Life Sketch Chinubhai was the son of Madhavlal Ranchhodlal and Revabai born in a Hindu Nagar Brahmin family and was the grandson of Rao Bahadur Ranchhodlal Chhotalal, CIE, the man who founded the first textile mill of Ahmedabad.

Their ancestral home was and part of it still survives is in Shahpur area of old Ahmedabad city, after which baronetcy was named - of Shahpur. It was famous by the name Chinubhai Baronet Mansion. A monument dedicated to Sir Chinubhai Ranchhodlal, Bt, in Ahmedabad.

He was fluent in all taught languages Gujarati, Persian, Sanskrit and English. He also attended school and later college. Sanskrit School at Ahmadabad, Gujarat College, Ahmadabad, Sydenham College of Commerce, Bombay, The Royal Institute of Science, Bombay.

To mention, a few, Chinubhai Madhavlal in 1897 came forward and donated 33 acres of land along with generous cash donations worth millions of rupees for the expansion of Gujarat College, which was started under leadership of his grandfather Rai Bahadur Sheth Ranchhodlal Chhotalal, in 1879. To mention some of other charities, in the year 1897, he donated and further . for the construction of Arts College to which he further added a sum of for a library and college hall. Also, he made a huge donation in 1913, which was used in establishing water system known as Lady Hardinge Water Works at King Edward VII Sanitarium at Dharampur.

The Victoria Jubilee Hospital, the first maternity hospital in Ahmadabad that was started by his grandfather in 1865 was expanded and modernized under his supervision. He also built a beautiful public garden named Madhav Baug in memory of his father Sri Madhavlal for the use of people of Ahmadabad.

Due to his handsome donations, together with his active participation in public and civic affairs in year 1910, Chinubhai Madhavlal was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE) in 1907, and was knighted in 1910. A few years later on 6 February 1913, he was created a Baronet by the British Crown. He thus became the first member of any Hindu community to receive the baronetcy.

He died in March 1916 at the age of 52 only and his son Sir Girijaprasad succeeded him as 2nd baronet and inherited his businesses and legacy.

Monuments Plaque at the base of monument of Sir Chinubhai Madhowlal Ranchhodlal mentions that it was unveiled by Mahatma Gandhi in 1933. Mahatma Gandhi on 21 September 1933; unveiled a statue of Sir Chinubhai near Bhadrakali temple in Ahmadabad, in function presided by his son Girjaprasad, the Sir Chinubhai Madhowlal Ranchhodlal, 2nd Baronet and many noted citizen, government officers and Indian leaders. A gist of speech given by Mahatma Gandhi in Gujarati is roughly translated in English as follows: - A road in Ahmadabad is named after him as Sir Chinubhai Road A hospital in Ahmedabad, which was started due to his efforts and funding is now named after him as Sir Chinubhai Madhavlal Baronet Hospital