False graft case wove city’s textile destiny

AHMEDABAD: The Manchester of the East: Ahmedabad could not have acquired this title but for the legendary textile tycoon Ranchhodlal Chhotalal’s efforts. And Ranchhodlal would perhaps never have set up the first textile mill of Ahmedabad had a malicious and false case of bribery not been registered against him.
Just days before Ranchhodlal’s 193rd birth anniversary — falling on April 29 — a city-based historian, Rizwan Kadri, discovered a rare document from the East India Company’s political department dating back to 1857.“This document consists of the minutes of the proceedings against Ranchhodlal who was suspended as an assistant superintendent of Pavagarh in Panchmahal district in 1854,” said Kadri.
“He was charged with receiving a bribe of Rs 8,000 Baroda rupees through his wife Jethiba from the chief of the Lunawada region, in May 1853 for having assisted him in succeeding to the throne.” The documents are preserved in Maharashtra State Archives in Mumbai. In June 1849, the chief of Lunawada, Fateh Singh Partab Singh, passed away. As he had no heir he had adopted his relative Dalpat Singh.
When Dalpat Singh died, the mother of the deceased Fateh Singh, Mambai, adopted Dallel Singh. However, after Mambai’s death a political turmoil surged as several competitors vied for the throne. Eventually, the Bombay Government accepted Dallel Singh as the ruler of Lunawada in 1852. “The charges against Ranchhodlal, which were proved wrong by the inquiry by special commissioner Hebbert, were orchestrated by Ranchhodlal’s colleague Surajram,” said Kadri.
“Surajram was jealous of Ranchhodlal’s knowledge of English. All the allegations against him were found to be fabricated.” Though he was finally acquitted, the service in the East India Company (from 1844 to 1854) left Ranchhodlal disenchanted. “This was the turning point in his life. He toyed with the idea of reviving Indian industry and with the help of his friend Major Fuljames, he obtained details of the English textile industry,” said Kadri. “Merchants from Ahmedabad were reluctant to invest in his project, so Ranchhodlal set up the first mill in Ahmedabad with the help of Vadodara traders.”