Housed at the泭Ismaili Special Collections Unit泭are heritage items relating to different individuals and their histories. One such collection of items is donated by Mukhi Fatehali Count Manji Janmohamed. The donated photographs and archival materials relate to his parents, Count Manji Janmohamed and Countess Santokbai Manji. Manji Janmohamed served the泭Imam泭and the Ismaili community from 1915 to 1946. During his tenure, he served as a Major in the Ismaili Volunteer Corps, Mukhi of Nairobi Darkhana Jamatkhana, and then as President of both the Ismaili Councils in Kisumu and Nairobi from 1930s to 1946 one after the other.
Born in Gadhda, Kathiawar, India, on 14 August 1894, Count Manji Janmohamed was from the Verjee family of East Africa, the son of Janmohamed Hasham Verjee. The fervour of serving community institutions ran in the family as his father, Alijah Janmohamed Hasham Verjee was President of the Mombasa Ismailia Council in the early 1900s.
Manji Janmohamed came to Mombasa, Kenya, with his father in 1900, where he took up early residence and joined the family business.泭 He was married to Santok, daughter of Ahamed Velji.泭 They moved from Mombasa to Kisumu in the 1920s where he started his own business.泭 In 1933, he moved his business from Kisumu to Nairobi where he owned the famed textile store Husseini Silk Store on Government Road.
Husseini Silk Store was honoured to outfit many luminaries, including both His Highness泭Aga Khan泭III and Her Highness the Begum泭Aga Khan. In her letter of acknowledgement dated April 29, 1945, the Begum泭Aga Khan, more commonly known amongst IsmailisAdherents of a branch of Shi’i Islam that considers Ismail, the eldest son of the Shi’i Imam Ja尪far al-廜〢diq (d. 765), as his successor. as Mata Salamat, wrote to Husseini Silk Store: 匈t is with great pleasure that I write this to say the work you did for me was most excellent and indeed I know of no house in Europe that could have done it better, with my best thanks. Yours Faithfully, Yves泭Aga Khan.
Manji Janmohamed served the泭Imam泭and the Ismaili community from 1915 to 1946. He presided during the auspicious occasions of泭Imam泭Sultan Mahomed Shah泭Aga Khan泭IIIs Golden Jubilee in 1937 in Nairobi and was also involved in the Diamond Jubilee in 1946 in Dar-es-Salaam. Among his services were the building of a泭jamatkhana泭for the Ismailis and a泭masjid(mosque; pl. masajid) Arabic derived from the root s-j-d, meaning to prostrate. In the early Islamic era, the word masjid meant a place of prayer which could be any clean…泭for Sunni Muslims in Nairobi.
He rendered outstanding services in preparation of the 1937 Golden Jubilee泭darbar泭and related arrangements prior to and during the Jubilee celebrations in Nairobi. A little-known fact is that泭Imam泭Sultan Mahomed Shah泭Aga Khan泭III led Id Namaz on the grounds of the泭Aga Khan泭Club on 2nd泭February 1937. Prince Karim al-Hussaini泭Aga Khan泭IV also, as a young boy, recited Id Namaz in Nairobi (President Manji Janmohamed is shown in his ceremonial泭jabba泭and泭turban,泭behind the Imams in both the photographs, along with other dignitaries.)
On 20 September 1952, Vazir Janmohamed was bestowed the title of Count by泭Imam泭Sultan Mahomed Shah泭Aga Khan泭III.泭 After Manji Janmohameds demise, Countess Santokbai took keen interest in the Council activities as well as philanthropic activities such as supporting educational initiatives for special schools for differently-abled children.
The Count was survived by his wife, two daughters and four sons, including Mukhi Fatehali Count Manji Janmohmamed one of whom has donated this collection to the Institute in his parents memory.
