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|death_date = {{death date and age|1996|7|31|1911|8|22|df=y}}
|death_date = {{death date and age|1996|7|31|1911|8|22|df=y}}
|death_place = [[Bombay]], [[Maharashtra]], India
|death_place = [[Bombay]], [[Maharashtra]], India
|nationality = British  
|nationality = British
|children= [[Nusli Wadia]] <br/> Diana N Wadia
|children= [[Nusli Wadia]] <br/> Diana N Wadia
|spouse= {{marriage|[[Dina Wadia]]|1938|1943|end={{abbr|sep.|separated}}}}
|spouse= {{marriage|[[Dina Wadia]]|1938|1943|end={{abbr|sep.|separated}}}}
|relatives= See [[Wadia family]]
|relatives= See [[Wadia family]]
}}
}}
'''Neville Ness Wadia''' (22 August 1911&nbsp;– 31 July 1996) was an [[Indian people|Indian]] businessman, philanthropist and a member of the [[Wadia family]], an old [[Parsi]] family which, by the 1840s, was one of the leading forces in the Indian shipbuilding industry, having built over a hundred warships for the British and having established trading networks around the world. In addition to his succehghhssful business career, one of the Parsi community's most prominent and influential businessmen.
'''Neville Ness Wadia''' (22 August 1911&nbsp;– 31 July 1996) was an [[Indian people|Indian]] businessman, philanthropist and a member of the [[Wadia family]], an old [[Parsi]] family which, by the 1840s, was one of the leading forces in the Indian shipbuilding industry. Wadia was the last of India's aristocratic taipans, who expanded his family textile concern into one of India's largest and donated lavishly for the welfare of the Parsee community to which he belonged. Wadia was the last of India's aristocratic taipans, who expanded his family textile concern into one of India's largest and donated lavishly for the welfare of the Parsee community to which he belonged.


== Life and career ==
== Life and career ==
Wadia was born in [[Liverpool]], he was educated at [[Malvern College]] and [[Trinity College, Cambridge]].<ref name="Obituary">[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituaryneville-wadia-1308408.html Obituary -  The Independent 6 August 1996.] Retrieved 10 January 2010</ref> He married [[Dina Wadia|Dina]], the only child of [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]], the founder of [[Pakistan]] and his wife [[Rattanbai Petit]], in 1938. The wedding was largely criticized due to being an inter-faith marriage, Dina belonged to a [[Muslim|Muslim faith]], and Wadia was a Parsi. The couple had two children, a son, [[Nusli Wadia]], and a daughter, Diana Wadia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/dina-wadia-jinnah-daughter-passes-away#read-more|title=Jinnah’s Daughter Dina Wadia Dies, Leaves Behind Disputed Property}}</ref> However, the marriage did not last long and the couple divorced in 1943.
Wadia was born in [[Liverpool]] to Sir Ness Wadia and Evelyne Clara Powell. He was the grandson of Nowrosjee Wadia and Bai Jerbai. He was educated at [[Malvern College]] and [[Trinity College, Cambridge]].<ref name="Obituary">[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituaryneville-wadia-1308408.html Obituary -  The Independent 6 August 1996.] Retrieved 10 January 2010</ref> He married [[Dina Wadia|Dina]], the only child of [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]], the founder of [[Pakistan]] and his wife [[Rattanbai Petit]], in 1938. The wedding was largely criticized due to being an inter-faith marriage, Dina belonged to a [[Muslim|Muslim faith]], and Wadia was a Parsi. The couple had two children, a son, [[Nusli Wadia]], and a daughter, Diana Wadia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/dina-wadia-jinnah-daughter-passes-away#read-more|title=Jinnah’s Daughter Dina Wadia Dies, Leaves Behind Disputed Property}}</ref> However, the marriage did not last long and the couple divorced in 1943.


Although his father was born a Parsi, he renounced the [[Zoroastrian]] faith and converted to Christianity. Wadia converted from Christianity to [[Zoroastrianism]] later in life.<ref name="Obituary"/>
Although his father was born a Parsi, he renounced the [[Zoroastrian]] faith and converted to Christianity. Wadia was raised as a [[Christian]] but he later converted from Christianity to [[Zoroastrianism]].<ref name="Obituary"/>


During the late 19th century, his father, Sir Ness Wadia, played an important role in turning the city of [[Bombay]] into one of the world's largest cotton trading centres.<ref name="Obituary"/> In 1952, Neville Wadia succeeded his father as chairman of [[Bombay Dyeing]], and under his leadership the company became one of India's most successful and quality-conscious textile concerns. He was also heavily involved in the real estate business in Mumbai, and he contributed to building new wings and upgrading several hospitals in Bombay founded by his family. He established a business school named as Modern Education Society's Neville Wadia Institute of Management studies and Research in Pune and a host of charitable trusts for Parsees. After his retirement as chairman of Bombay Dyeing in 1977, he was succeeded by his son, [[Nusli Wadia]]. Neville Wadia died in Mumbai three weeks before his 85th birthday.<ref name="Obituary"/>
During the late 19th century, his father, Sir Ness Wadia, who was known as the Cotton King, played an important role in turning the city of [[Bombay]] into one of the world's largest cotton trading centres.<ref name="Obituary"/> In 1933, Neville was unceremoniously thrown into his father business where he started working as a supervisor for loading of cotton bales on to trucks which was the most junior level in each department. He slowly worked his way to the top. He was paid no salary and given only a meagre allowance befitting a lowly employee. In 1952, Wadia succeeded his father as chairman of [[Bombay Dyeing]], and under his leadership the company became one of India's most successful and quality-conscious textile concerns. Wadia founded the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council, which he headed for 12 years. He was also heavily involved in the real estate business in Mumbai, and he contributed to building new wings and upgrading several hospitals in Bombay founded by his family. He established a business school named as Modern Education Society's Neville Wadia Institute of Management studies and Research in Pune and a host of charitable trusts for Parsees. After his retirement as chairman of Bombay Dyeing in 1977, he was succeeded by his son, [[Nusli Wadia]]. Neville Wadia died in Mumbai three weeks before his 85th birthday.<ref name="Obituary"/>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 07:48, 3 January 2022


Neville Wadia
Born
Neville Ness Wadia

(1911-08-22)22 August 1911
Liverpool, England
Died31 July 1996(1996-07-31) (aged 84)
NationalityBritish
Spouse(s)
(
m. 1938;
sep. 
1943)
ChildrenNusli Wadia
Diana N Wadia
RelativesSee Wadia family

Neville Ness Wadia (22 August 1911 – 31 July 1996) was an Indian businessman, philanthropist and a member of the Wadia family, an old Parsi family which, by the 1840s, was one of the leading forces in the Indian shipbuilding industry. Wadia was the last of India's aristocratic taipans, who expanded his family textile concern into one of India's largest and donated lavishly for the welfare of the Parsee community to which he belonged. Wadia was the last of India's aristocratic taipans, who expanded his family textile concern into one of India's largest and donated lavishly for the welfare of the Parsee community to which he belonged.

Life and career

Wadia was born in Liverpool to Sir Ness Wadia and Evelyne Clara Powell. He was the grandson of Nowrosjee Wadia and Bai Jerbai. He was educated at Malvern College and Trinity College, Cambridge.[1] He married Dina, the only child of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan and his wife Rattanbai Petit, in 1938. The wedding was largely criticized due to being an inter-faith marriage, Dina belonged to a Muslim faith, and Wadia was a Parsi. The couple had two children, a son, Nusli Wadia, and a daughter, Diana Wadia.[2] However, the marriage did not last long and the couple divorced in 1943.

Although his father was born a Parsi, he renounced the Zoroastrian faith and converted to Christianity. Wadia was raised as a Christian but he later converted from Christianity to Zoroastrianism.[1]

During the late 19th century, his father, Sir Ness Wadia, who was known as the Cotton King, played an important role in turning the city of Bombay into one of the world's largest cotton trading centres.[1] In 1933, Neville was unceremoniously thrown into his father business where he started working as a supervisor for loading of cotton bales on to trucks which was the most junior level in each department. He slowly worked his way to the top. He was paid no salary and given only a meagre allowance befitting a lowly employee. In 1952, Wadia succeeded his father as chairman of Bombay Dyeing, and under his leadership the company became one of India's most successful and quality-conscious textile concerns. Wadia founded the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council, which he headed for 12 years. He was also heavily involved in the real estate business in Mumbai, and he contributed to building new wings and upgrading several hospitals in Bombay founded by his family. He established a business school named as Modern Education Society's Neville Wadia Institute of Management studies and Research in Pune and a host of charitable trusts for Parsees. After his retirement as chairman of Bombay Dyeing in 1977, he was succeeded by his son, Nusli Wadia. Neville Wadia died in Mumbai three weeks before his 85th birthday.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Obituary - The Independent 6 August 1996. Retrieved 10 January 2010
  2. "Jinnah's Daughter Dina Wadia Dies, Leaves Behind Disputed Property".

Bibliography

  • Hinnells, John R. (2005) The Zoroastrian Diaspora: Religion and Migration. Oxford University Press,. ISBN 0-19-826759-2

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