By Nasir Aijaz

As a result of my ongoing quest for locating the members of Khilnani families who migrated to India and other countries from Bhiria, a tiny town and the Karachi city of Sindh in 1947 as a result of partition of Indian subcontinent, very recently I found two names – Rajiv Khilnani and Vinita Khilnani. Both are settled in the USA and are known figures of the world of art. Rajiv is a painter and actor while Vinita is an actor, comedian and singer. It’s perhaps a coincidence that two Khilnanis chose the fields which do not relate to their education. Rajiv is an MBA while Vinita has double masters – MS in biology and master’s in public health.

After I published their profiles based on the information gathered from different websites on their professional life, I somehow succeeded to establish personal contact with them for knowing their family background.

It took a few days to make him pass on some information as Rajiv responded to my queries in bits because of his busy life. Every day I used to send him a question or two, and he would answer, recalling his family life in Sindh. It emerged from the conversation that Rajiv belonged to a family that was settled in Karachi. The hometown of Khilnanis was originally the Bhiria, a small town of Naushehro Feroze district (formerly Nawabshah) but a few families had shifted to Karachi where they had well-established businesses. They were well-settled and had played a significant role in the development of Karachi. Rajiv was from one of those families.

The following is the conversation with Rajiv.

Rajiv please would you share some details of your parents/ancestors. Where did they live in India after partition, as I am currently writing a series of articles on the Khilnani family that had a great role in promotion of education as well as in philanthropic work in Sindh? Rai Bahadur Dewan Kauromal Chandanmal Khilnani was a renowned educationist and social reformer who authored more than fifty books.

As far as I know and remember, my family never left Pakistan at the time of partition. My dad was born in Karachi and his father died when he was about 5 years old so his mother decided to stay back in Karachi. I was born in Karachi as well. All I know is I belong to the Rewachand Fathechand side of Khilnani family.

But would you please share more details about your family – your father’s name, other family members, any family member still living in Karachi, your life in Karachi, education, other memoirs, when did you leave Karachi etc. etc.

My dad passed away 10 years ago. His name is Jashan Khilnani. His brothers Parmanand, Khemchand, Chutru, Gopal, and Dharam Khilnani (all deceased). Sisters Bhagwati & Sarojni Seth. My dad had a stepbrother Harriman Khilnani whose family moved to Bombay during partition. My grandmother’s name is Kartar Devi. Prof. Sunil, a renowned author of several books, is my first cousin, from Khemchand Khilnani. He is my dad’s elder brother’s son. He is currently settled in India.

Khemchand Khilnani had moved to India during partition. Bhagwati and Sarojni moved to India after marriage. Chutru moved to London, I believe in the sixties.

We used to have a big family house on Garden Road (Off Bandar road) across from Naz and Nishat cinema. I believe we even owned one of the cinema.

Our family house was in possession of the government for a long time and acted as Radio Pakistan building. We got it back from the government in late sixties and sold it in early eighties and moved to Clifton area in early eighties.

While the house was still in government’s possession, our family lived near the Bhutto family residence in the Old Clifton area (I wasn’t born then)

Most of my family members went to Karachi grammar school for education. I did not go there. I went to Saint Michael’s Convent in Karachi for my High school. I did my MBA from an American University that had a Campus in Sea View at one point. Southeastern University Washington D.C.

Do you or other relatives speak Sindhi?

I don’t speak Sindhi but can understand it. Some of my cousins speak Sindhi.

Do you have contacts with other Khilnanis in India or in other countries?

I am in touch with some of my relatives in India. Lives have gotten so busy, hard to keep in touch.

I am also in touch with cousins in USA. But our family is really spread out between West and East coasts.

Do you know Vinita Khilnan, also an artist in USA?

I have met Vinita and even acted with her in a small project. We have been trying to figure out if we are related. She asked her father and he wasn’t sure either. I have never met her father but if I recall correctly he is a doctor in the Los Angeles area.

Do you feel proud of being a Sindhi, a Khilnani having roots in Sindh?

I am very proud of my roots.

Rajiv Khilnani apologized for having insufficient information about the Khilnani family members saying, “It’s just that our family is so big, spread out and have such a generational gap that I don’t have answers to give. More importantly accurate answers to share.”

On my request for sharing some old photos of his family and home in Karachi, Rajiv said, “I am trying my best to track down some old photos for you with little success. I live in Los Angeles and my family who might have some old photos live in a whole different town.”

“I will try my level best to send you a photo or two, but can’t promise.”

And after a few days Rajiv shared a photo of his grandfather.

Also read: Meet Rajiv Khilnani, a Visual Artist & Actor 

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Nasir Aijaz, Chief Editor, Sindh Courier, is a Karachi-based senior journalist. He is author of nine books on literature, history, language and some other research works.   

The post Rajiv, the last Khilnani who left Sindh first appeared on Sindh Courier.

By Nasir Aijaz

Today is the 100^th birthday of Niranjan Manohardas Khilnani, an eminent historian, scholar, professional writer, analyst of national and international affairs, and the astrologer who had a knack of predicting accurately.

Born on November 27, 1922 in Sukkur Sindh (now a province of Pakistan), to Manohardas Khilnani and Shrimati Amrit Devi (Ambi d/o Kundandas Keswani), Niranjan was the grandson of renowned educationist, author and social reformer Rai Bahadur Dewan Kauromal Chandanmal Khilnani, hailing from Bhiria, a town in Naushehro Feroze (formerly part of Nawabshah district) and known as Sahihti Pargana.

Niranjan M. Khilnani, who passed away on December 14, 2012, was the youngest one to secure a PhD from Bombay University at age 25 in 1947. He had retired from Foreign Service of India while serving at a senior position.

Career

After partition he became the youngest lecturer at Hindu College, Delhi University. In 1951 he joined the Ministry of External Affairs where he rose to the level of Director, Historical Division. In 1952 Dr. N. M. Khilnani was awarded Fulbright fellowship and he did his post-doctoral Research at Yale University, where he won a prize for writing the best term-paper on New Deal Policies of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

He served with the Ministry of External Affairs from 1951 to 1980. He was the External Affairs Ministry’s expert on Latin America, Sikkim, Bhutan and Nepal. Dr. Khilnani attended the coronation ceremony of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. In 1968, he visited Peru, Chile and Ecuador on a Human Rights Fellowship of the United Nations. In 1972 he represented India at the Second United Nations Geographical Conference in London. Khilnani was associated with CHOGM Conference and the 7th Non-aligned Summit in 1983 in New Delhi. After his retirement from the Ministry of External Affairs, Khilnani served on the Sarkaria Commission for Center – State relations. In 1990 Khilnani visited Moscow as a visiting Professor.

Authorship

Dr. Niranjan M. Khilnani wrote extensively for the national and international press. Some of his articles are ‘The denuclearization of South Asia’, ‘Vacuum in the Punjab’, ‘Mrs. Indra Gandhi’s exit from the Indian Scene’, and ‘Denuclearization of South Asia’.

He also authored more than 15 books. His books Panorama of Indian Diplomacy, Realities of Indian Foreign Policy, Road to Independence (1857 to 1947), Four Diamonds of Anand Bhavan, Indira Gandhi-the Iron Lady of Indian Politics, won acclaim. Here is the list of some of his books:

The Punjab under the Lawrences; British power in the Punjab, 1839-1858; Glimpses of Hindu America: Story of India’s Relations with Latin America; Four diamonds of Anand Bhavan: Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi a perceptive analysis of Indian political experience from 1929 to 1987; Emergence of New Russia: Panoramic Survey of Russian History; Panorama of modern Indus Valley; New dimensions of Indian foreign policy: Prime Minister Narasimha Rao’s Era X-rayed; Socio-political dimensions of modern India; The denuclearization of South Asia; India’s political and economic policies towards her neighbors; India 1990: 1991 to 2001 AD; Panorama of Indian diplomacy: From Mauryan epoch to post-Nehru era; Iron Lady of Indian Politics: Indira Gandhi in the Balanced Perspective, India’s Road to Independence and Realities of Indian foreign policy.

Dr. Niranjan M. Khilnani was blessed with a great sense of humor and creative wit. He was a dynamic personality and was extremely popular and enjoyed social gatherings.

Personal Life

Dr. Niranjan M. Khilnani married Chitra (Shanta d/o Hassanand Tolani) who lived in New Delhi. His elder son is Ravi Khilnani who married Sunita with children Rishav and Kanika. His younger son is Vijay Khilnani, an electronics engineer, who married Poonam Khilnani. They bore a daughter Divya Khilnani.

Niranjan Khilnani’s brother Ashok Khilnani lives in Los Angeles, California who married to Renu Khilnani. They have sons Madhu- Mark Khilnani, Keerti – Keith Khilnani. Several other members of Khilnani family also live in America.

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Nasir Aijaz is a senior journalist and Chief Editor, Sindh Courier, based in Karachi, Sindh. He originally belongs to Bhiria City of district Naushehro Feroze, the hometown of Khilnani Dynasty. 

Photos provided by Mr. Vijay Khilnani from New Delhi 

The post Remembering a Great Scholar Niranjan Khilnani on his 100th birth anniversary first appeared on Sindh Courier.

A doctoral degree is no mean feat. The years of hard work, exhaustion and tenacity culminate in the Ph.D., an achievement that requires great courage, skill and strength.

And Dr. Pramila Khilnani has done it making Sindhis around the world to hold their heads high as she is the first ever Sindhi girl having acquired the Ph.D. degree in Digital Transformation.

Digital transformation is the integration of digital technology into all areas of a business.

Dr. Pramila Khilnani has been awarded Ph.D. in Digital Transformation by the JJT University, Jaipur Rajasthan India.

Dr. Pramila, who is currently working as a Sr. Director at L&T Infotech, hails from Khilnani family of Bhiria, a Sahiti town of Sindh, Pakistan who migrated to India and settled in Mumbai during partition in 1947. She is born and brought up in Mumbai. She is daughter of Heman Topandas Khilnani who retired from the Central Public Works Department (CPWS) of Government of India and is now 82.

Dr. Pramila also holds following degrees and diplomas:

Master of Arts in Political Science from University of Mumbai; Master of Arts in Social Work (MSW) from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Mumbai; Post Graduate Diploma in Finance Management (PGDFM) from Welingkar Institute of Management and Development, Mumbai; Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management (PGDHRM) from IGNOU, Delhi; Project Management Professional (PMP) – PMI, USA; and Business English Communication (BEC) – University of Cambridge.

Apart from above she has many publications to her credit including – Membership – University College London Centre for Blockchain Technologies (UCL CBT); Patent on Knowledge Management – Applied registration in India; Disruption Caused by Digital Transformation and Critical Success Factors for Business – Research Journal; A study in ‘Building Self Confidence’ during uncertain times to move into New Horizons – Research Journal; Multi-Author Book Publication – Management and Industry (New Horizon Research Group); Microsoft Dynamics 365 – Best-suited in changing environment – An Article – L&T Infotech Blogs; IoT Propels Streaming Analytics into Mainstream – An Article – L&T Infotech Blogs; Transforming the Manufacturing Value Chain with Digital ERP – An Article – L&T Infotech Blogs.

She faced many challenges in achieving her doctorate degree.

Most of the research was conducted during lockdown due to Covid-19. The data gathering exercise was really tough, and had contacted 601 respondents who were Project Managers, Project Leads, and IT professionals working in Information Technology of whom only 400 responded positively. She contacted each of them through emails, social media, and by making personal calls to request them to fill the online questionnaire.

“The research topic is new and unique, and limited in-depth reading material was available. The Research Guide was also out-stationed, so could not meet her in person that brought in a lot of limitations,” Dr. Pramila told however she steered this research by seeking guidance through multiple online channels, telephone discussions with co-researchers and other scholars.

“Dr. Pramila’s courage and dedication have led her to earn this, and we are extremely proud of her,” her father Mr. Heman T. Khilnani and Uncle Dwarko T. Khilnani, said.

“The Sindhis around the world would surely feel proud to know that a Sindhi girl has been awarded this degree,” they said.

Mr. Heman is the elder son of Shri Topandas Tuljaram Khilnani, who had migrated to India in 1947. Shri Topandas was Abdar in Irrigation department of Sindh when the partition took place. Shri Topandas had joined a job in Textile Department in India after the partition. He had passed away on October 2, 1970. Her Uncle Dwarko T. Khilnani is the Secretary General, Sahiti Panchayat Mumbai and President of Reserve Bank Sindhi Sabha, Mumbai, and is the only Indian author of 36 editions of Foreign Exchange Management Manual. He is also Director of two companies – Privi Specialty Chemicals Limited and Blossom Industries Daman.

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Sindh Courier

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