Legends-M A Rangoonwala

Mr. M. A. Rangoonwala was a philanthropist, a social worker,an industrialist and a prominent business personality of South Asia and Europe.He was born on May 20th 1924 in Rangoon to parents who taught him to follow the footsteps of great people. On his birth his father sent a cable from Rangoon (Burma) to Moulana Muhammad Ali Jouhar requesting him to send his blessings and permit his son to be named Muhammad Ali to which Moulana Saheb immediately replied in affirmation.

Rangoonwala  Hall and Community Centre

Mr. Rangoonwala's father, Mr. V.M. Gany Rangoonwala and mother, Mrs. Zuleikhabai always wanted their  young son to follow the ideas of charity, philanthropy, large heartedness and leadership. After migration to India from Burma, the family was deprived of their wealth and business and young Mr. Rangoonwala was never upset about his poverty and with pride told his friends that his mode of transport in Bombay was a bicycle. His father was amongst the first couple of Memons in Rangoon to own a motor-car and headed many welfare organisations in Rangoon and Calcutta. Muslim dispensary in Rangoon thrived to become a well-organized clinic in later years and Rangoonwala Foundation, London, continued to assist this dispensary with generous financial assistance. Mr. Rangoonwala always told his friends that his parents had taught him a lesson to the effect that whatever you donate by your own hands would be your money and what you do not donate personally would be somebody else's money. Following this noble advice, Mr. Rangoonwala developed generosity beyond words. He gave away large amounts of money to the trust in the name of Z.V.M. Gany Rangoonwala Trust in Karachi, in 1957 through which first community centre of its type Z.V.M. Gany Rangoonwala Community Centre and V.M. Gany Public School the like of which may be few and far between in Karachi were set up. Deserving and needy students are given preference without compromising with quality of education. Mr. Rangoonwala did not like the word charity. He always preferred to keep up the morale of poor students by personally subsidising their full fees from his private purse without letting students. know that 95% fees students paid came from his own purse. This attitude helped to create sense of dignity amongst the poor students and also helped both these institutions to be ranked amongst the best of their type in Karachi.

Mr. Rangoonwala was one of the rich people of Indo-Pak yet he would walk many a miles around the pavements of Karachi, Bombay and other towns  enquiring sympathetically from the fruit vendors, hawkers etc. as to how much their investment and profit was. He also invited quite a few of them if they desired some more money to increase profit. He would advance them small loans to expand their business. This was one of his favourite hobbies. His philosophy in life was rather than giving fish and loaf to a needy person, give fishing implement so that he can earn his living by fishing.He firmly believed in free trade, fair competition and the responsibility of fortunate individuals to alleviate poverty and to raise the standards of living of those less fortunate.

He started his international business in London. He donated munificently to various causes including those in Pakistan, India, Rangoon and U.- K. Trust in London was not smaller than the World Memon Foundation which he established with the active assistance of his friends in Karachi, Bombay and South Africa. The trust in London brought him close to leading philanthropists of Europe and to the Royal family of U.K. For a particular cause headed by the Queen, Mr. Rangoonwala was one of the few invites at the Buckingham Palace and the Queen desired Mr. Rangoonwala to be one of the trustees. For another cause started by Prince Philip who incidentally, was a friend of Mr. Rangoonwala, he would be invited to Buckingham Palace by the Duke with similar request. This close proximity with the royal family and also due to his generous donations he became known internationally. Through World Memon Foundation about hundred and eighty million Rupees were donated by the trustees of the Foundation. Through his own funds, with the assistance of his friends form Teli Group and others he helped acquire land to establish Dhoraji Colony, where some flats and small houses were given away either free or on subsidized rates whereas some plots were sold at no profit. He helped set V.M. Unani Medical College and Zuleikhabai Hospital in Pune, India.

M.A. Rangoonwala College of
Physiotherapy and Research Pune India

He was one of the first businessmen to migrate to Karachi and did incredible service in the fields of relief to refugees, to help set up business, trade and industry. He re-activated Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industries of which he became the President, helped establish Federation of Chambers & Commerce and Industries, Pakistan, and also became its President. He himself established several industries including one of the largest oil terminals.

He was one of few Asians to become the President of International Chambers of Commerce and Industries in Paris in which position he had to undertake visits to many countries of the world and had the honour of being received by the Heads of States. He received awards and titles from Pakistan as well as Germany and heads of other countries for the services he rendered.

Mr. Rangoonwala headed National Bank of Pakistan as Chairman. He was Director PICIC and many other organisations, financial institutions and similarly he was associated with some of the world renowned institutions in Europe and America.

Mr. M. A. Rangoonwala remained for 74 years a champion on the world’s stage of business, commerce and philanthropy. He served humanity throughout the world.