ગુજરાતી
English
Bhimji Parekh: A Gujarati who apologized to Mughal emperor Aurangzeb
9 September 2024
Original article – Jaynarayan Vyas – BBC Gujarati Courtesy
Two merchants, one Vaishnav and the other Jain, had a great contribution in establishing Surat at the pinnacle of prosperity during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Both of them did the work that no one had done before, not only with business acumen but also with the spirit of entrepreneurship.
These two merchants were Virji Vora (1585-1670) who was a Jain and Bhimji Parekh (1610-1686) was a staunch Vaishnav.
Virji is said to have first popularized tea and coffee as beverages among the wealthy classes of India and Gujarat.
When Bhimji tirelessly tried to establish a printing press in India. Both became Nagarsheths of Surat and both had excellent business acumen and the ability to take advantage of the opportunity.
Image caption: Mahatma Gandhi was still a few years away from being born. Aurangzeb was the Subedar of Surat at that time. The non-violent Satyagraha against his religious bigotry and fanaticism took place in 1669.
Thus, there was a significant age difference of 25 years between the two, but both stood shoulder to shoulder and provided leadership in the non-violent and non-violent movement against the religious bigotry and fanaticism of Aurangzeb in Surat.
There is something unique about the water and climate of Surat, located on the banks of the Tapi. Here are some instances where it has to be seen to be believed.
During this period, Surat became a trading port with great opportunities for Khojas, Arabs, Vara, Memons, Parsis, Europeans, Jains, Hindus and Muslim merchants to earn money even in their landlocked condition and attained the status of ‘a window to the west’.
Aurangzeb was the Subedar of Surat at that time. A non-violent Satyagraha was held in 1669 against their bigotry and fanaticism. It lasted for three months. Public cooperation against the government won and Aurangzeb had to bow down.
Bhimji Parekh, attracted by his entrepreneurship and the rapidly growing printing technology in the western countries, chose London over the western countries.
In 1672, he consulted the British and invited London printing technologist Henry Hills to Surat.
Some British expressed the apprehension that it would not be fair if the Indians acquired the technology. The Dutch also protested that they were not giving machinery to Indians.
Hence, Henry Hills, the London printing technologist, despite being well paid for his professional skills, left the work of setting up a printing press incomplete and returned home.
Hence Bhimji Parekh’s plan of starting a printing-press in India failed.
Apart from the above example, Bhimji Parekh should be specially remembered for taking on a fanatic and arrogant ruler like Aurangzeb. This question arose due to Aurangzeb’s fanaticism and religious bigotry.
In 1669, following Aurangzeb’s policy, Qazi Nuruddin of Surat converted two Hindus and one Jain to Islam with the help of some fanatic Muslims.
At that time religious conservatism was strict. Thus the society looked down upon religious conversion. Therefore, one out of three converts died.
This suicide had a deep impact. There was an uproar in the city of Surat. The Khamir rebellion of the Suratis broke out. Which was led by Bhimji Parekh.
Even though Virji Vora had grown up now, he stood shoulder to shoulder with Bhimji on this occasion. His influence over the Jain sects and the moneylenders was still intact.
Virji’s voice made everyone stand up. The whole country rose up against this injustice, including the Panchayat of artisans and whatever public organisations existed.
Virji declared Surat Bandh. Soon all the shops were shut. A mass movement broke out, the resentment boiling against Aurangzeb took a violent form, but the expression of resentment was entirely peaceful.
On the other hand, Nooruddin Qazi and Aurangzeb were firm. As time passed, the effect of the bandh became visible. The mint and the custom-house fell into disrepair.
It became impossible to get groceries and vegetables. This prosperous trading city, which was once bustling with activities, today sank into the silence of a crematorium. Everything stopped.
One day after another passed. The people were firm. There was still something lacking to put pressure on Aurangzeb.
Just 15 days after the strike which started on 9th July 1669, on 24-9-1669, 8000 traders from Surat migrated to Bharuch.
The governor of Bharuch was progressive, he welcomed these traders and wrote to Nuruddin Qazi, “Fool! Mughal prosperity is due to these traders. Lakshmi is more important than the pomp of religion.”
As days passed, Aurangzeb started realizing his mistake and its grave consequences. Aurangzeb announced that he had made a mistake and all the migrants should follow it and return to Surat. Aurangzeb assured that such a crime would not happen again.
Aurangzeb gave assurance and all the migrants returned. Surat again started bustling with business activities.
This Jan Satyagraha lasted for three months. It was successful under the strong leadership of Bhimji Parekh and Virji Vora of Khymir and Gujaratis.
This Satyagraha started on 9th July 1669. Gandhiji was born on October 2, 1869, i.e. almost 200 years before Gandhiji’s birth. Following the path of truth, which is now called ‘Gandhi Chindyo Marg’, the Suratis made Aurangzeb aware of the steely power of non-violence.
It can be said that JulyThis Satyagraha, which started in 1669, was the originator of all the Satyagraha movements carried out by Gandhiji thereafter.
