Death centenary of man who put Matheran train on tracks
MUMBAI: In 1907, when the price of gold was Rs 18 per tola, a Bohra philanthropist spent Rs 16 lakh to build a railway line so the common man could gain access to Matheran hill station. Sunday, August 11, marks 100 years since the passing of Sir AdamjeePeerbhoy who founded the Matheran Light Rail.
A rough trip on horseback set him thinking about constructing a rail network for common Indians with nomeans to travel to the holiday spot. There was no possibility of an aerial survey or proper transport or electricity, yet the mountainous task was accomplished within six years of starting work in 1901.
The Matheran Light Rail crowned several acts of charity by Peerbhoy, including schools, hospitals, cemeteries and shelters. It also earned him knighthood from the British government.
"Sir Adamjee was also appointed the first Indian sheriff of Mumbai over such stalwarts as Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy and Sarojini Naidu," says his great grandson Hussain Peerbhoy, who has requested CM Prithviraj Chavan to issue a postal stamp to mark his 100th death anniversary. He has also demanded that Matheran railway station be renamed after Sir Adamjee.
A rough trip on horseback set him thinking about constructing a rail network for common Indians with nomeans to travel to the holiday spot. There was no possibility of an aerial survey or proper transport or electricity, yet the mountainous task was accomplished within six years of starting work in 1901.
The Matheran Light Rail crowned several acts of charity by Peerbhoy, including schools, hospitals, cemeteries and shelters. It also earned him knighthood from the British government.
"Sir Adamjee was also appointed the first Indian sheriff of Mumbai over such stalwarts as Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy and Sarojini Naidu," says his great grandson Hussain Peerbhoy, who has requested CM Prithviraj Chavan to issue a postal stamp to mark his 100th death anniversary. He has also demanded that Matheran railway station be renamed after Sir Adamjee.
