Behramji Malabari

Behramji Malabari

Views: 5802

Category: Social Work

Behramji Malabari Profile

  • Name:
  • Behramji Malabari

Behramji Malabari Biography

Behramji Malabari was an Indian poet, publicist, author, and social reformer who advocated for protection of the rights of women. He was a nationalist and he had a close relationship with Dadabahi Naoroji, though stayed away in active politics with Indian National Congress.

 

Behramji Merwanji Malabari was born in 1853 at Baroda in a Parsi family. His father was a poor employee of British colonial government and died when Behramji was just six. His mother then took him to Surat and sent him to schooling at an Irish Presbyterian mission school. He was adopted by the childless trader of Sandalwood. This trader traded sandalwood and spices with Malabar region of Kerala and hence known by the name Malabari.

 

Malabari published his first book in Gujarati in the year 1875, followed by The Indian Muse in English Garb in English, two years later. This book attracted England including noble personalities like Alfred Tennyson, Max Muller and Florence Nightingale. Max Muller and Florence Nightingale later played roles in his social reforms and wrote preface for his autobiography work as well. Malabari relocated to Mumbai and in 1882 published Gujarat and the Gujaratis: pictures of men and manners taken from life. This satire work written in English had 5 editions published, thus making it a popular book. “The Indian Eye on English, or, Rambles of a Pilgrim Reformer” is the account on his England visit.

 

In 1880, he started his editorship for an English language daily, Indian spectator and he carried the work for next 20 years until it was merged into the Voice of India. In 1901 he became editor of the monthly East and West and remained its editor till his death in 1912. His other contributions include - translation of Max Muller's Hibbert Lectures into Indian languages and resistance of child marriages. He also supported the remarriage of widows.

Published: N/A

Updated: February 25, 2014

Famous People: By Profession

 
 

Suggest Gopabandhu Choudhuri profile update

captcha image (Can't see? refresh)