Rustomji Cowasji Banaji

Rustomji Cowasji Banaji, the youngest son of Cowasji Behramji Banaji, entered his eldest brother, Framji's business in 1807, and first travelled over to Calcutta in the year 1812. From thence he went over twice to China, and once to Madras and Ceylon, and returning from his travels in 1817, he settled for good in Calcutta. He first joined his brother, Navrosji, in business at Calcutta, but after his death in 1819, opened his own firm in the name and style of Messrs. Rustomji Turner & Co., in partnership with Mr. Robert Turner. In 1827, he opened a branch office at China, in the name of his two sons, Maneckji and Dadabhoy Rustomji. He with several other leading merchants of Calcutta bought a big dock at Kiderpore, belonging to Mr. James Kid, for lis. 3,51,000, and also another known as "Shalkia Dock " belonging to Messrs Curry and Co., for Ks. 2,00,000 and under his Secretary-ship was opened the "Calcutta Docking Company" in 1837; he also established the first insurance company called the "Sim Insurance Company *' in 1834. He was the owner of no less than twenty-seven big vessels, fifteen of which were chartered for Rs. 1,15,000 a year by the British Government during the first Chinese War. He had further opened the first "Cotton Pressing Factory," and also a '* Paper Manufacturing Company " in Calcutta.

In 1838 he called over his whole family to Calcutta and the ladies of his family were the first to cross the seas over to Calcutta. Writing on this subject the Bombay Gazette of the 16th July 1838 says :—" Our Parsee friends who have so long been foremost among the natives of this country in everything connected with commercial enterprise, are now about to set an example in what may at first sight be considered a purely domestic matter, but which will in all probability in its ulterior results from throwing aside the trammels of ancient prejudices, be productive of singular changes. The Lady of Rustomji Cowasji, Esq., the distinguished and liberal minded merchant in Calcutta,is about to sail from Bombay for that port, in a few days, accompanied by the wife of his son and a Cortege of female attemlants—to those who remember that but a few years ago no Parsee female of respectability would proceed even to the Deccan, the contemplated trip of these fair voyagers will afford much food for speculation upon the rapid change which the march of opinion has effected."

In 1839 he built a small Fi-e-temple for the use of his community. He had reside 1 for over thirty years in Ca cutta, and for a greater part of that time, carried on a very extensive business as a merchant and shipowner, and f )r hia activity and enterprise was well known to men of business all over the East. During his prosperity, he sought European society and breaking through the restraints, usual among his countrymen, did not hesitate to introduce the ladies of his family to his guests, among whom the Governor General of India had more than once been present. Rustomji was extremely liberal, while he had the means, and there might be many yet, who have felt his kindness, when it was of the utmost value to them. He died on the 15th April 1852, at the age of 60.

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