(Late) Gehimal Janjimal Khilnani
Late Gehimal Khilnani [(born 1893 in Bhiria, Sind] was a dedicated educator who founded a high school in Karachi in 1935, quickly earning a strong reputation for quality education. After the 1947 Partition, he migrated to Mumbai and re-established the school in November 1947 near Victoria Terminus, making it accessible to refugee students living in camps. Due to growing demand, he opened another branch near Dadar in 1948, consistently maintaining high academic standards with SCC results often between 90-95%.
He later formed the K.J. Khilnani Trust, under which the school moved to its own building at Mori Road, Mahim, and another school - the Sadhu Vaswani High School was started in Chembur, both serving largely Sindhi communities. Among the first schools in Mumbai to support refugee students after Partition, these institutions played a crucial role in preventing educational disruption. Gehimal Khilnani passed away in December 1957, after which his nephew Sitaldas Balani continued his legacy, with the schools still thriving today.
Key Facts
- Birth Date: 1893
- Place of Birth: Bhiria, Dist. Nawabshah,
Sind (Pakistan) - Permanent Address: Mumbai, India.
As Educationist
Late Gehimal Khilnani was basically a teacher by profession. He started a High School in Karachi in 1935. The quality of education imparted in this school attracted attention and the school became much sought after.
After partition of the country in 1947, Gehimal migrated to Mumbai and started the high school in the same name, in Nov. 1947 at the hired premises at Bori Bunder, Mumbai, which is known as Victoria Terminus for Central Rly. The refugee students, who stayed in Refugee Camps at various locations in Mumbai, found it convenient as they used to travel by local trains to come to school.
Considering the demand for the school admissions, Gehimal opened another branch under the same name, just outside Dadar Railway Station [Western Railway], once again at the hired premises in 1948. He maintained the quality of educational standard as in Sind and no wonder the SCC results of this school were between 90 and 95%. He formed the K.J. Khilnani Trust and a few years later school had its own building at Mori Road, Mahim, Mumbai, just adjacent to Jethi Behn colony, which is inhabitated by Sindhis. Another school at Chembur Colony, Mumbai, which is also mostly inhabitated by Sindhis was started in the name of Sadhu Vaswani High School by the same K.J. Khilnani Trust.
Additional Information
- Gehimal was a simple and man of principles. One of his significant contributions was to build moral character of his pupils. He never compromised on the principles of honesty & truthfulness.
- He had established the practice of meeting and interacting with the parents of students at regular intervals with a view to get feed back on the physical & mental development of their wards.
- He was deeply religious and God fearing man and was embodiment of Simple Living, High Thinking.
Finale
K.J. Khilnani was one of the very few schools in Mumbai, which started almost immediately after the partition, to cater the educational needs of refugee students, who would have been otherwise left high & dry and perhaps would have lost a year. These schools deserve to be commended for yeomen service rendered to Sindhi community at the crucial juncture.
Gehimal expired in December 1957 and his nephew Sitaldas Balani took over the reins of schools run by the Trust. All these schools are doing well.