Harchandrai Vishandas: Difference between revisions

|publisher=Sain Publishers, 2001 Original from the University of Michigan|pages=19–99–126}}</ref> He was born into a Bharvani family<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4OArAQAAIAAJ&q=seth+harchandrai+vishindas|title=The Quarterly review of historical studies, Volumes 19–20|author=Institute of Historical Studies (Calcutta, India)|year=1980|publisher=Institute of Historical Studies 1980|pages=91}}</ref>known for its public-spirited members.  

Harchandrai was elected mayor of the [[Karachi Municipal Committee]] in 1911 until 1921.<ref name="nadeemf.paracha">{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1134284|title=Visual Karachi: From Paris of Asia, to City of Lights, to Hell on Earth|author=Nadeem F. Paracha|work=dawn.com|accessdate=10 March 2016}}</ref> Under his mayorship, civic improvements led to the installation of [[Gas lighting|gas lamps]] along the city's streets and the introduction of [[Footpath|footpaths]].<ref name="Dawn">{{cite news|last1=Balouch|first1=Akhtar|title=Harchand Rai Vishan Das: Karachi's beheaded benefactor|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1095266|accessdate=31 October 2016|publisher=Dawn|date=16 September 2015}}</ref> Electricity was introduced in Karachi in 1913 by Mayor  Harichand Rai. That’s why Karachi was called (and still is) ‘city of lights.’ Interestingly, it didn’t become common in US till 1920, even though the electric bulb was invented there. He was also responsible for [[Public works|development works]] which led to shifting the course of the [[Lyari River]], which opened up land for development.<ref name="Dawn"/>

Harchandrai was the first [[Sindhi people|Sindhi]] to join the [[Indian National Congress]]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-wNbAAAAIAAJ&q=harchandrai|title=The Encyclopaedia of Indian National Congress: 1906–1910, The Surat imbroglio|author=A. Moin Zaidi, Shaheda Gufran Zaidi, Indian Institute of Applied Political Research|year=1978|publisher=S.Chand, 1978 Original from the University of California|pages=171–555}}</ref> and served the cause of [[Indian independence movement|national independence]] with dedication. He was influential in Congress; the 28th session of Congress in 1913 was held in [[Karachi]] largely due to the efforts of Harchandrai, his father Seth Vishandas and [[Ghulam Mohamed Bhurgari]]. He and his father served as chairman and Secretary of reception committee for that session.<ref>{{cite book|title=They Too Fought for India's Freedom: The Role of Minorities edited by Asgharali Engineer|year=2006|page=218|isbn=9788178710914|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-XQCYl6T1vIC&q=Seth+Harchandrai&pg=PA218|last1=Engineer|first1=Asghar Ali}}</ref> and he later presided over many Congress conferences in Sindh.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jb21AAAAIAAJ&q=harchandrai|title=Source material for a history of the freedom movement in India, Volume 3, Issue 1|author=N. R Phatak, Bha. Ga Kuṇṭe, Bombay (India : State). Committee for a History of the Freedom Movement in India, Maharashtra (India). Gazetteers Dept|year=1965|publisher=Government of Maharashtra 1965 Original from the University of California|pages=42–43–48}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UvptAAAAMAAJ&q=harchandrai|title=The path not taken: G.M. Sayed|author=Khadim Hussain Soomro|year=2004|publisher=Sain Publishers, 2004 original from the University of Michigan|pages=30}}</ref> Harchandrai was a believer of [[Hindu-Muslim unity]] and was a [[Sufism in Sindh|Sufistic]]. The [[Theosophical Society]] made him a member. <ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3BghAAAAMAAJ&q=harchandrai|title=The Role of minorities in freedom struggle|author=Asgharali Engineer, Institute of Islamic Studies (Bombay, India)|year=1986|publisher=Ajanta Publications, 1986 original from the University of Michigan|isbn= 978-81-202-0164-4|pages=179}}</ref>