Khora Ramji Chawda

Khora Ramji Chawda
Born	1860 Sinugra, Cutch State
Died	1924 Jharia
Occupation(s)	Railway contractor, coal mine proprietor, financier, philanthropist
Known for	Pioneer Indian railway contractor and coal mine owner in Jharia coalfields; founder of Khas Jharia Colliery; philanthropist

Khora Ramji Chawda (1860–1924), widely referred to as Seth Khora Ramji, was a distinguished figure in early 20th-century India as a railway contractor, coal mine proprietor, financier, and philanthropist, primarily based in Jharia near Dhanbad.

Life-sketch

Born in 1860 in Sinugra, Cutch State, he hailed from the industrious KGK community. British officials acknowledged him as a foremost railway contractor and the pioneer Indian to challenge the European dominance in the Jharia coalfields. In 1895, he founded the Khas Jharia Colliery and by 1910 had expanded his operations to include five additional collieries. Beyond this, he held financial interests in over ten collieries within the Jharia coal region and was active as a private banker. Together with his four brothers, he formed a partnership under the Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) structure for their colliery and railway contracting enterprises. Alongside his brother Jethabhai Lira Jethwa (1862–1932), he co-owned Khas Jinagora Colliery under the firm name J. & K. Ramji.

Railway Contract Works across British India

British archives document Seth Khora Ramji's extensive involvement in railway construction projects:

Notable assignments included: - 1880: Construction of 100 miles for SPDR & NWSR, incorporating the Hubli locomotive shed - 20 miles on SMR - 177 miles between Hotgi and Gadag (1882–84) on SMR with his brothers - 22 miles on EBR plus a bridge on ABR - 1888: Building 128 miles from Bilaspur to Jharsuguda including a Hasdeo River bridge on BNR - 1894: Development of Jharia branch line on EIR - 1895: Track laying on ECoSR along with a bridge over Rushikulya River near Ganjam - 1903: Construction of a bridge over the Ganges River on the Allahabad–Lucknow section (32 miles) for GIPR

Transition from Contractor to Coal Entrepreneur

The final railway project undertaken by Khora Ramji was in 1903, involving the construction of a Ganges River bridge on the Allahabad–Lucknow route for GIPR. Following disputes with Engineer-in-Charge A. B. Gale, he withdrew from railway contracting altogether. Prior to this, between 1895 and 1901, he had already initiated two collieries in Jharia. Although Gale later extended new contract offers, Khora Ramji chose to concentrate fully on developing coal mining operations, supported by his brothers and their descendants. He also expanded into private banking within Jharia. By 1920, he had earned the title Seth Khora Ramji and was featured in the British-published Encyclopedia of Bengal, Bihar & Orissa. Despite having formal education only up to fourth grade, he adeptly managed technically complex projects such as railway bridge constructions.

Coal Mining Ventures in Jharia Coalfields

Khora Ramji and his brothers founded numerous collieries throughout the Jharia coalfields, including Khas Jharia, Jeenagora, Jamadoba, Balihari, Fatehpur, Gareria, Bansjora, and Bagadih. They collaborated with prominent individuals like Diwan Bahadur D.D. Thacker at Pure Jharia Colliery and held stakes in Indian Jharia Colliery (Tisra) through Khimji Walji & Company. Furthermore, Seth Khora Ramji was a partner in Khas Jeenagora Colliery under Goa Petha Chawda & Co., alongside other notable investors; this interest was divested after his passing in 1930.

He is recognized as the first Indian to disrupt British control over the Jharia Coalfields. The 1920 Encyclopedia of Bengal, Bihar & Orissa credits his entry into coal mining as instrumental in overturning stereotypes of economic backwardness within his community. The extension of the East Indian Railway line from Barakar to Dhanbad during 1894–95 exposed coal deposits near Jharia station where Khora Ramji was engaged in railway contracts. Seizing this opportunity, he acquired land and mining rights from the Raja of Jharia between 1895 and 1909, establishing the foundation for his coal enterprise. He also encouraged fellow Mistri contractors to invest capital into mining ventures.

His collieries—Jeenagora, Khas Jharia, and Gareria—are listed in the 1917 Gazetteers of Bengal, Assam, Bihar & Orissa. According to Diary of Golden Days at Jharia, Seth Khora Ramji led the first officially recognized association of coal mine owners under British administration in 1920.

Shipping Enterprise in Cutch State

The shipping fleet owned by Seth Khora Ramji and his siblings operated out of Cutch State, enabling the trade of dry fruits and spices through ports such as Tuna Port and Mandvi. Their trade network extended to destinations including Muscat, Mombasa, Mzizima, and Zanzibar. Following Khora Ramji's passing, his grandson Jivram Jeram took charge of the maritime business until 1945.

Demise

Khora Ramji passed away in 1924 at Jharia.

Charitable Contributions

As a dedicated philanthropist, Khora Ramji made substantial donations to his birthplace Sinugra. His contributions included constructing a Hindu temple, digging wells, erecting a welcome gate, building a Chabutro, and founding a primary school—currently known as Seth Khora Ramji Prathmik Shala (established 1910). In collaboration with other Mistri colliery proprietors, he helped establish the Jharia Anglo-Gujarati School in 1905. He possessed over 500 acres of agricultural land, the yields from which he generously distributed to those in need.

In 1920, during an important charitable function and yagna held at Sinugra, the Maharao of Cutch, HH Sir Khengarji III Sawai Bahadur, honored him by sending a Paghdi through a royal envoy. Between 1889 and 1900, Khora Ramji, along with Jetha Lira Jethwa, financed the construction of the Kutch Kadia Kshatriya Dharamshala in Mathura while engaged in railway contracting activities.

Khora Ramji was also a patron of the 1921 AITUC conference at Jharia organized by colliery owner Ramjush Agarwalla. Due to health issues, his eldest son Karamshi Khora represented Seth Khora Ramji & Brothers at the event alongside notable labor leaders including Joseph Baptista and Diwan Chaman Lall. The gathering featured prominent representatives from various mining companies, underscoring the family's significant role within regional labor and industrial sectors.

Heirs

The mines were collectively held as a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) by Seth Khora Ramji’s five brothers and were apportioned among them following his demise. Ambalal Khora upheld the family tradition as a railway contractor until he tragically died in a railway accident.

Mine Collapse & Fire Incident

After their father’s death, Karamshi Khora—the eldest son—oversaw the operations of the Khas Jharia and Golden Jharia mines. On 8 November 1930, underground fires caused both collieries, which extended to depths of approximately 260 feet, to collapse. This catastrophe resulted in an 18-foot ground subsidence that demolished their residence and bungalow along with extensive surrounding damage. At that time, these mines were managed by Karamshi and Ambalal Khora. Other collieries that remained unaffected by the fires were under the management of Mulji Akhoy Chawda, Bhimji Narayan Chawda, Jiwram Jairam Chawda, and Devram Jethabhai Jethwa.

Expansion of Mining Ventures

The family’s successors broadened their coal mining interests through partnerships with the Ojha family and others, notably founding Shampore Colliery located at Mohuda.

Coal Mine Nationalization in 1971

During the nationalization drive of coal mines by the Indian government in 1971–72, the remaining coal mining assets owned by the Khora Ramji family—including joint ventures such as Shampore Colliery with Jayantial Ojha—were taken over by the state.

See also

• Jagmal Raja Chauhan
• Mulji Jagmal Savaria