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{{short description|Indian coal miner, railway contractor and businessman}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
'''Mulji Jagmal Sawaria''', [[Rai Saheb|R.S.]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Statistics |first1=India Department of Commercial Intelligence and |title=Indian Coal Statistics |date=1949 |publisher=Manager of Publications. |pages=55 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Dup3RSFACgkC&q=r.s.+m.j.+sawaria+donganala |access-date=1 March 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Indian Mines Act: Annual Report |date=1954 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ANaDninv0w0C&q=mulji+jagmal |access-date=22 August 2022 |language=en}}</ref> also known as '''Moolji Jagmal''' (1899–1956) was a noted coal miner, railway contractor and businessman from [[Kutch]], who established himself at [[Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh|Bilaspur]], India.<ref name=c/><ref name=g/>

==Early life==
Moolji was born in 1899 to Jagmal Gangji Sawaria and Veera Bai at [[Kumbharia, Kutch District, Gujarat|Kumbharia]] in erstwhile [[Princely State of Cutch]].<ref name=n>''Diary of Golden Days at Jharia – A Memoir and History of Gurjar Kashtriyas of Kutch in Coalfields of Jharia – written by Natwarlal Devram Jethwa of Calcutta (1998)'':pp:41:Rai Sahib Mulji Jagmal Sawaria – Life sketch.</ref> He belonged to a small but enterprising [[Mestri (community)|KGK]] community and born in Gangani family of Kumbharia.<ref name=nn/> Mulji Jagmal's father Jagmal Gangji and uncles all worked as a railway contractor in [[Rajnandgaon]] – [[Raipur]] -Bilaspur -[[Raigarh]] - [[Jharsuguda]] section of [[Bengal Nagpur Railway]] in 1888–90 with contemporary railway contractors like [[Khora Ramji]] and also [[Bilaspur–Katni line]] of BNR in 1886–91.<ref name=nn/> Jagmal Gangji also built [[Bilaspur railway station]] jointly with Jeram Mandan in 1890 and later made the town his home.<ref name=nn/><ref name=kgk>''Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya Community : A brief History & Glory :by Raja Pawan Jethwa. (Kolkata, 2007)''. Section II: Mileage wise available Details of Railway lines laid.Pages:63 to 70</ref> Mulji's father Jagmal Gangji were seven brothers, who worked together as a syndicate as [[Hindu Undivided Family]] to do large scale works of railway laying across British India with other contractors from their community.<ref name=n/><ref name="s"/>

==Railway & PWD contractor==
He and his two brothers joined their father as Railway contractor at an early age, who had established himself as a contractor for [[Bengal Nagpur Railway]].<ref name=n/> The road bridge connecting Bilaspur to Sarkanda was built by Jagmal Gangji in year 1926. The list of buildings and structures built by the family are Bilaspur Railway Station Building (1889–90) Bilaspur Railway Yard (1890), Lakshmi Narayan Mandir & Bilaspur Railway Market (1890), European Officer's Club (1896), Railway Hindi Medium School (1902), Railway English Medium School (1903), Railway Sports Stadium aka North East Institute (1914), BNR Railway Hospital (1918) Town Hall (1925–26), Arpa River Bridge at Sarkanda (1926), Railway DRM office (1929), Shivnath Officer's Rest House (1930), The Mahaveer Gunj aka Gol Bazar (1936), Kunj Bihari Market (1936), CMD College (1944) to name a few.<ref name=km>Kutch Mitra, Dt 07-05-2014, Page 5</ref>

Mulji Jagmal and his brother [[Ranchhod Jagmal Sawaria|Ranchhod Jagmal]] (1901–1963) were involved in laying of railway line from [[Anuppur]] to [[Barwadih]] section of [[Bombay, Baroda & Central India Railway]] in 1918,<ref name=nn>Nanji Bapa ni Nondh-pothi(નાનજી બાપાની નોંધપોથી)(Gujarati) (1999), Vadodara. It is a diary of Railway Contracts done by KGK community noted by Nanji Govindji Tank of Jamshedpur during his life-time last entry in 1954. The diary was later discovered his son Govardhan Nanji Tank and released as a book compiled by Dharsibhai Jethalal Tank. The book was given Aank Sidhhi national award ( અંક સિદ્ધિ રાષ્ટ્રીય એવોર્ડ ) by Kutch Shakti (કચ્છ શક્તિ) in 2000.</ref> [[Sini, Jharkhand|Sini]] to [[Purulia]] doubling in 1921 for [[Bengal Nagpur Railway]] along with fellow contractors from his community and several other railway works for bridges and lines.<ref name=nn/>

He worked from Bilaspur as his head office and had other branches at [[Jharsuguda]], [[Raigarh]]. On some big railway contracts he worked jointly in syndicate with [[Rai Bahadur Jairam Valji Chauhan]] of [[Jairamnagar]], Shamji Gangji of Raigarh,<ref name=s/> Ruda Walji of Raipur,<ref>{{cite book |title=The Commercial & General Directory of Madhya Pradesh |publisher=T.N. Joshi |pages=683 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RFg1AQAAIAAJ&q=Ruda+Walji+Raipur |access-date=29 March 2024 |language=en}}</ref> Rai Bahadur Devraj Daya of [[Jharsuguda]], Rai Saheb Harilal Shamji of Raigarh, Govind Jiwan Gangji of [[Bankura]], Nanji Govindji of [[Tatanagar]], [[Koovarji Karsan Rathor|Raghu Karson]] of [[Cuttack]], Dhanraj Wason of Bilaspur and the other noted railway contractors from his community like [[Khora Ramji|Ambalal Khora]], Manji Jeram, Jeram Mandan and Arjan Ladhha.<ref name=n/>

The Sawaria family were seven brothers, they all worked in a syndicate with Jagmal Gangji at Bilaspur, Valji at Raipur, Shamji Gangji at Raigarh, Vasta Gangji at [[Kharsia]], Ramji Gangji at [[Jharia]], Jiwan Gangji at [[Adra, Purulia|Adra]]-[[Bankura]].<ref name=nn/>

In 1935, Rai Sahib Moolji Jagmal laid a private 8 miles long [[narrow gauge]] rail line and bridge connecting their Bilaspur railway site with their brick-kiln across [[Arpa (river), Chhattisgarh|Arpa River]] at [[Lingiyadih]]. This privately owned line was dismantled in 1948 after independence of India.<ref name=n/>

The old road bridge across Arpa river of Bilaspur town connecting to [[Sarkanda]] area, which was also built by his father Jagmal Gangji in 1926 was made two-lane and refurbished by Mulji Jagmal & brothers in 1941.<ref name=n/>

==Miner==
Mulji Jagmal inherited his share in Basra Colliery located in [[Jharia]] coalfied belt, which was founded by his father Jagmal Gangji and his brothers, Ramji Gangji of Jharia,<ref>{{cite book |title=The Indian and Eastern Engineer: An Illustrated Monthly Journal for Engineers in India and the East |date=1922 |pages=280 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y900AQAAMAAJ&q=gangji+bilaspur |access-date=29 March 2024 |language=en}}</ref> Shamji Gangji of Raigarh,<ref name=s>{{cite book|title=Commercial & general directory of C. P. & Berar|year=1941|page=174|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RFg1AQAAIAAJ&q=shyamji+gangji+raigarh}}</ref> Jiwan Gangji of [[Bankura]] and others.<ref name=n/> Jiwan Gangji also owned Pinalgoria Colliery at Nawagarh in [[Purulia district]].<ref name=n/><ref>Indian Coal Statistics by India (Republic). Dept. of Mines Manager of Publications, 1915 – Coal pp:17</ref>

Further, in 1921–22, at young age he discovered coal near [[Pali, Chhattisgarh|Pali]],<ref name=n/> in erstwhile [[Central Provinces and Berar]] while doing railway contracts and founded [[Donganala Colliery]]<ref name=d>{{cite book|title=Gazette of India|year=1954|page=254|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JBkPAQAAIAAJ&q=MULJI+JAGMAL+BILASPUR|quote=Mulji Jagmal Sawaria Donganala, Pandilafa Colliery}}</ref> which he operated jointly with his younger brother Ranchhod Jagmal Sawaria.<ref name=n/> Thus Mulji Jagmal gets credit to not only discover but also establish first working coal mines in Central Provinces of British India.

He started in decades of 1930–40 the limestone and dolomite mines near [[Akaltara]] at Latia-Pakaria,<ref name="g"/><ref>Geological Survey of India (1949). Records, Volume:84."Pakaraia Quarry:There are two quarries close by one in Latia and another in Pakaria. The owner, Mr. Mulji Jagmal, is not now working the Pakaria quarry which has an area of 18 acres and is now filled with water. The northern quarry — Latia-Pakaria quarry as it is called — is 24 acres in area and is worked at present."</ref> Jairamnagar and at [[Jairamnagar|Khaira]].<ref name=n/><ref>{{cite book|title=Commercial & general directory of C. P. & Berar|year=1941|pages=138, 665|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RFg1AQAAIAAJ&q=+jagmal}}</ref> He also owned a manganese mine near [[Tumsar]].<ref name=n/><ref>{{cite book|title=Records of the Geological Survey of India, Volume 83|year=1951|publisher=Government of India|page=641|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JusdAQAAMAAJ&q=moolji+jogmal}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=India |first1=Geological Survey of |title=Records of the Geological Survey of India |date=1939 |publisher=Geological Survey of India |pages=378 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1onNQiIQ5hQC&dq=bilaspur+mulji+manganese&pg=PA378 |access-date=29 March 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

After independence of India, in 1953, he was responsible for discovery of [[chromite]] near Pali in Madhya Pradesh, now a part of [[Chhattisgarh]]. He discovered Chromite near his Donganala colliery in on a hillock at a village called Agaria. Upon his information later the area was surveyed by [[Geological Survey of India]].<ref name=g>{{cite book|title=Records of the Geological Survey of India, Volume 84|year=1953|publisher=The Survey- Geology|page=371|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fewdAQAAMAAJ&q=mulji+jagmal}}</ref><ref name=n/><ref>{{cite book|title=Records of the Geological Survey of India, Volume 88|year=1958|publisher=Government of India|page=84|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SaQIAAAAIAAJ&q=Moolji+JAGMAL|quote=Sri Moolji Jagmal, Contractor, Bilaspur had informed Madhya Pradesh government.. of finding Chromite in hillock...}}</ref>

==Others==
Mulji Jagmal also owned a huge brick kilns at Torwa, [[Lingiyadih]] and Lal Khadan area. The bricks made were largely supplied to railways. In 1935, Rai Sahib Moolji Jagmal Savaria and Ranchhod Jagmal laid a private 1.9 miles long narrow gauge rail line connecting their Bilaspur railway site with their brick-kiln across [[Arpa (river), Chhattisgarh|Arpa River]] to Lingiyadih. This line was dismantled in 1948 after independence of India.<ref name=n/>

He started factories manufacturing match boxes and fire-works in Bilaspur at Jagmal Chowk, named as Laxmi Match Works<ref name=n/><ref>{{cite book|title=All-India Trade Directory and Who's who|year=1943|publisher=Barque & Co. Lahore|page=126|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gZ9WAAAAIAAJ&q=bilaspur}}</ref> in year 1936 and was the first match factory<ref name=n/> in the Central Provinces and Berar.<ref name=c>{{cite book|title=Commercial & general directory of C. P. & Berar|year=1941|pages=138, 665|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RFg1AQAAIAAJ&q=MULJI+JAGMAL}}</ref>

He owned large valuable estate in Bilaspur, Lingiyadih, Raigarh, Jharsuguda, Jairamnagar and at also agricultural lands, farmhouses and mansion in his native state in [[Kutch]] at [[Anjar, India|Anjar]] and Kumbharia.<ref name=n/>

==Public life==
He was appointed as a member of District Council of Bilaspur and was also on Advisory board to Bilaspur Municipal Committee and town planning. He was awarded title of Rai Sahib by British in 1941 for his works of public welfare and charity.<ref name=n/>

He encouraged to keep alive the [[Gujarati culture]] and the all Gujaratis living in and around Bilaspur, used to assemble at his house in decade of 1940s to play [[Garba (dance)|Garba]] and hold [[Navaratri]] celebrations and thus all Gujarati people united to form later an umbrella organisation of Gujarati Samaj.<ref name=n/><ref>[http://www.gujaratisamajbsp.in/history.html History – Gujarati Samaj – Bilaspur] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413145454/http://www.gujaratisamajbsp.in/history.html |date=13 April 2014 }}</ref>

==Philanthropy==
Jagmal Gangji Sawaria father of Mulji Jagmal, built Kaleshwarnath Shiva Temple temple at Pithampur also other Shiva & Laxminarayan Temple Bilaspur at Jharsuguda and Amarkantak, further he donated silver gates at Kedarnath Temple, whereas his brother Shamji Gangji donated marble tiles at Kedarnath.<ref name=n/>

He donated four of his shops in market area for maintenance of the Hindu temple built by his father Jagmal Gangji in 1890, which stands near [[Bilaspur railway station]]. He with his brother had built a charitable hospital and dispensary at [[Ratanpur]] on 13 February 1940, which was opened by Her E. Lady Wylie, wife of Governor of Central Province [[Francis Verner Wylie|Sir Francis Verner Wylie]].<ref name=n/><ref name=km/><ref name="s"/>

After his death, in year 1969, his wife Smt Laxmi Bai, built a hall-cum-guest house, in his memory, which is named as ''Rai Saheb Moolji Jagmal Mahila Satsang Bhawan.'' It is used for [[satsang]] by local Hindu women and also provides free staying facility to overnight travellers, especially to [[sadhu]]s and poor people.<ref name=n/>

==Death==
He died in year 1956 due heart attack at Bilaspur.<ref name=n/>

==Legacy==
Present day Jagmal Chowk and Jagmal Block in Bilaspur are named after his father, Jagmal Gangji Sawaria. Jagmal Block was also known as Mulji Jagmal Marg.<ref name=n/>

Further, he instituted a fund for Mulji Jagmal Running Trophy for yearly Football tournament held by railway department, which are held at railway sports stadium, which also was erected by him in year 1935.<ref name=n/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sawaria, Mulji Jagmal}}
[[Category:1899 births]]
[[Category:1956 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian people in rail transport]]
[[Category:Indian businesspeople in the coal industry]]
[[Category:People from Kutch district]]
[[Category:People from Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh]]
[[Category:Gujarati people]]
[[Category:People from Gujarat]]
[[Category:Indian businesspeople in mining]]
[[Category:Rai Sahibs]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Chhattisgarh]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian philanthropists]]
[[Category:Kutchi people]]

Mulji Jagmal Sawaria - Revision history

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