Dictionary of Indian Biography/Bengali, Sorabji Shapurji
BENGALI, SORABJI SHAPURJI (1831–1893)
Born Feb. 15, 1831: son of a Calcutta merchant: educated at the Education Society's school (now Elphinstone High School) in Bombay: employed in the Bombay branch of the Bank of Ceylon and subsequently in the Commercial Bank of India: went, in 1853, to the Mercantile Bank and, in 1858, became Assistant to Muncherji Framji Cama: was well read in Gujarati and English and brought out several Gujarati periodicals. In 1868, he visited Europe. He assisted Naoroji Furdunji (q.v.) in advocating social and political reforms: they were joint Honorary Secretaries to the Parsi Law Association from 1855, which obtained certain legislative measures for the Parsis: in 1871 he was consulted by the Governor of Bombay on the new Municipal Act, became a Member of the Bombay Corporation, and, in 1876, a Member of the Bombay Legislative Council; was a Fellow of the Bombay University: owing to his exertions, the Indian Factory Act of 1881 became law: in 1881 he was made C.I.E. and Sheriff of Bombay: in 1885, was a member of the Abkari Commission: died April 4, 1893.