Jivraj Narayan Mehta

Jivraj Narayan Mehta Biography

Dr. Jivraj Narayan Mehta was a famous politician from Gujarat who served as the first Chief Minister of the newly formed Gujarat state in 1960. Following the Mahagujarat Movement in 1956, which demanded a separate state for Gujarati speaking people in the bilingual Bombay state, Gujarat and Maharashtra were formed in the year 1960 and Mehta was chosen as the first chief minister of Gujarat. He is also known for his philanthropic activities. A physician, he was the founder of Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College and King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. He also served as the first Dean of both these medical institutions over a period of 18 years from 1925 to 1942. Mehta died on 7 November 1978.

Jivraj Narayan Mehta, also called Jivraj Mehta was born on 29 August 1887 in Amreli in Bombay Presidency. He was married to the daughter of Manubhai Mehta, then Dewan of Baroda state. He was encouraged by a civil surgeon to take medicine as his profession. He cleared the entrance exams and later studied medicine at Grant Medical College and Sir J.J. Hospital, Mumbai, with a scholarship from Seth VM Kapol Boarding Trust. A brilliant student in studies he completed Medicine and moved to London for his further studies. This time too, he was lucky to get a scholarship from Tata education foundation.

Once he returned to India he started practising medicine and has also served as the personal doctor to Mahatma Gandhi for a brief period. He got involved with freedom struggle movement. After independence he served as the Dewan of Baroda and later served as a minister of many portfolios. In 1960, he became the first Chief Minister of the newly formed Gujarat state (1960-1963). Dr. Jivraj Mehta Awards is instituted in his memory.

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Updated: March 06, 2016