Jagannath Shankarseth

• Context (IE): The Maharashtra cabinet decided to ask the Ministry of Railways to rename Mumbai Central Station after Nana Jagannath Shankarseth.
• Jagannath Shankarsheth Murkute, known as Nana Shankarsheth, was an Indian philanthropist, social reformer and educationalist.

Birth and Background

• Jagannath Shankarsheth Murkute was born on February 10, 1803, into the wealthy Murkute family in Murbad, Thane.
• His father, Shankar Murkute, was a successful dealer in jewellery and diamonds.
• Shankarsheth was a member of the Bombay Presidency assembly in 1861 and later became an advisor to the governor of the Bombay Presidency in 1862.

Education and Philanthropy

• In 1849, Jagannath Shankarsheth opened the first-ever school for girls in Mumbai.
• He played a crucial role in establishing the Elphinstone Educational Institution (formerly known as the Bombay Native Institution) and founding the Bombay Native Education Society.
• He also contributed to projects such as the English School, the Sanskrit Seminary, and the Sanskrit Library in South Mumbai.
• He contributed generously to Hindu temples and played a role in social reforms, including efforts to suppress widow-burning (sati) and provide a cremation ground for the Hindu community.
• His philanthropic contributions include support for the construction of the Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum and the Bhavani-Shankar Mandir and Ram Mandir temples in Mumbai.

Development works

• He was one of the founding members of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, along with Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy and David Sasson.
• Shankarsheth was instrumental in the development of Mumbai, donating land for development and establishing numerous educational institutions.
• Alongside Sir George Birdwood and Dr Bhau Daji, he contributed to major reconstruction efforts in Mumbai, transforming it into a spacious and airy city.
• Shankarsheth was the first Indian nominated to the Bombay Legislative Council and the Bombay Board of Education.
• He was also the first Indian member of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai.
• Shankarsheth’s involvement extended to the founding of the Bombay Association, the first political organization in Mumbai, in 1852.

Legacy

• His contributions earned him the nickname “Maker of Modern Bombay.”