Vensimal Bassarmal:
He was the Proprietor of the famous firm of Messrs. Vensimal Bassarmal and Brothers. Their famous firm was started in 1914 by Mr. Vensimal as official Passenger Agents for all principal Steamship and Air lines throughout the world and principal Indian Railways by arranging for booking for the clients their passages and luggage, etc.
It was the first and the only Sindhi enterprise which stood on firm footing having branches in Bombay, Hyderabad and Karachi, with Bombay as its Head Office.
Vishindas Nihalcnand, R.B:
He was born in 1843 in Manjhu. When he was 18, he left his home in quest of a teacher, a Guru who should reveal to him the profound mysteries of Life and he walked all the way from his home in Sindh to the Punjab, where near Lahore, his good fortune led him to the famous saint Gulabdas with whom he stayed long being instructed by him in the Philosophy of Atman, the timeless, space less Self. He was oneof the pioneers of Cotton ginning business in Sindh and the province was dotted with his cotton ginning factories, cotton haling-press and Rice thrashing Factories at Manjhu, Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Dadu and Badeh. He owned a fleet of Boats at Kotri which played between Sukkur and Keti bunder while he had several "Dangees" at Karachi which sailed so far as Persian Gulf, Malabar Coast and Madras. He was the biggest forest Contractor of his times in Sindh and had established a big Commission business at Karachi.
While his chief interests at this stage were the management of his vast lands and commerce which had made him one of the wealthiest men in Sind, he took a considerable part in local and political affairs. He attended the first, second and third session of the Indian National Congress and up to the end of his long life was a member of the Karachi District Local Board and the President of the Kotri Taluka Local Board. He composed a book on the tradition of Deti Leti which he sent free to different Panchayats in Sindh. He convened in 1900 at Uderolal and again in 1905 at Hyderabad, conferences of Bhaibund Panchayats and had rules of procedure framed in regard to certain reforms and Deti Leti.In token of his country wide philanthropy, Government honoured him in 1898 by conferring on him-the title of Rao Bahadur. In his birth place at Manjhu he founded a school, he built a library at Kotri. At Hyderabad where he had taken up his residential quarters, near the bank of Fuleli Canal, known as Vishin Nagar, he opened a school, a hospital, a Rest house and a cheap grain shop. A model Zamindar, an ideal merchant, a great philanthropist, poet, artist, philosopher and a mystic such was Seth Vishindas, Verily a Superman.
He gave the highest education to his children. His eldest son Seth Harchandrai, C.I.E., was one of our greatest leaders. His grandson Seths Sukhdev, Lakshman, Ramchand and Bharat looked after the ginning factory at Hyderabad and the Commission agency business at Karachi. His another grandson Seth Hiralal Bharwani was the Principal of the D. G. National College at Hyderabad. Seth Atmaram Harchandrai was an advocate at Karachi and was attached to the firm of advocates called after his father, Messrs. Harchandrai & Co. His eldest grandson Seth Sukhdev continued to maintain the traditions of the family in the field of politics and took prominent part in the Satyagrah movement of 1930, 1932 and 1942 when he was thrice sentenced to terms of imprisonment and detention.(Source: ‘The Colourful Personalities of Sindh’, by M.U.Abbasi).
V.D.Bhatt:
He was born in 1890. Joined Indian Medical Department in 1912.Served in First World War in Mesopotamia in 1914 and was wounded in both legs at Ctesiphon in 1915. Also served in Persian Expeditionary Force, NWFP and Afghan wars. Resigned Government Service in 1921. Started rendering services for Gujrati community in the field of religion and education. Remained Vice President of Audiachaya Braham Samaj for years. (Source: ‘Who’s Who & Why -1932, Karachi)
