Born on 22nd August 1902, in a
humble family, Mr. Dinshaw Byramji Avari studied in an orphanage as his mother
had passed away and his father had to work during the day. He passed his
Matriculation exam studing on the light of a candle and passed his B.Com
studing on the light of a hurricane lantern and became the first person of his
village to have become a B.com graduate. He paid for his college education by
giving tutions. He then joined the Sunlife Insurance Company of Canada working
as a clerk while at the same time working as an Insurance Agent.
His determination to succeed was
exemplified by becoming the highest selling insurance agent of his territory,
while simultaneously holding a day job with the same company. This showed his
perseverance which resulted in his being appointed as Manager of Sunlife for
Karachi and with record business having been achieved, he became General
Manager for Sindh, Balochistan, NWFP Punjab and Afghanistan.
An additional accomplishment was
his becoming the first Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) in Asia.
When he could no longer progress,
being Asian, he switched careers to become a hotelier, investing his savings
and borrowing the rest to purchase Bristol Hotel Karachi, on the condition that
he and his wife Khorshed be trained in the business. This remarkable ability of
changing course at age 42 to learn a new trade is a lesson in adapting to
changing times and multifarious circumstances. Proving there is no substitute
for hard work, he was at the Empress market in Karachi daily at 4:00am,
virtually forcing the hotel venture successfull through sheer force of will,
sweat and industry.
Within a few years, realizing the
scope for first class hotels he built Beach Luxury Hotel Karachi, in barren,
marshy grounds. The first Governor of Sindh Sir Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah,
told Khorshed that Dinshawji needed his head examined for building a hotel in
such a locality. However the move was a huge success and from 35 rooms the
hotel grew to 150 rooms, with banquet halls, swimming pool and other luxuries
unknown in Pakistan. He proved wrong his friend the Governor and all who
laughed at him for investing in this venture, while being responsible to turn
around this marshy land into an elite locality known as New Queens Road (now
M.T. Khan Road), which is today the prime area of Karachi.
The highly dynamic Dinshawji,
brought many firsts to Pakistan. He introduced buffets which we take for
granted today, but at the time was criticized for treating guest like dogs,
making them stand and eat. He introduced Chinese food, Lebanese Shawarma, the
subcontinent's first Japanese restaurant, and hotel swimming pools. This
innovativeness manifested itself many times in business, social community work.
While still building a business
Dinshawji was deeply involved with social causes, like the war effort, he was
decorated by the British Government, a founding member of Rotary and trustee of
many Parsi trusts including Karachi Parsi Anjuman. Apart from numerous other
social activities, he was also:-
1. Trustee BVS Boys & Mama
Parsi Girls schools, and BMH Parsi Hospital
2. Deaf & Dumb Center -
founder and president
3. Pakistan Sea Scouts founder
member
4. Member Society for prevantion
of Cruetly to Animals
5. Hotels Association of Pakistan
- founder president
6. Member Sind Red Cross / Red
Crescent Society
Having gained experience of
hotels, and even operated Pines Hotel Nathiagali for a few years, he purchased
Nedous Hotel Lahore, renaming it Park Luxury. Subsequently, he built the 5 Star
international standard hotel on this site and opened the Lahore Hilton in
January 1978, dedicated to his late wife Khorshed, who passed away the previous
year. It was renamed Avari Lahore in 1988.
Anecdotally, the president of
Hilton reffered to Dinshawji as "not a very young man who is most dynamic
and young in spirit, thoughts and ideas". This attribute to his dynamic,
young thinking spirit spoke volumes for his attitude to life, ability to clinch
new ideas, and openness to listen to all as he believed everyone has something
to contribute.
Believing in the Zoroastrian
motto "content with what I have but discontented with what I am", he
planned the tallest, grandest Karachi hotel. During construction, problems of
Rupee devaluation, cement & steel shortages contractual problems and floods
were overcome with his determination and wisdom and Avari Towers opened in
April 1985. As hotel accommodation was declining at this time, he wisely
developed plazas at the hotels to provide quality office space, providing
steady income.
Being a self made man he never
forgot the down-trodden and poor. His doors were open to all 24 hours a day.
His motto was to trust everyone at face value unless they proved him otherwise.
With these principles his strength gave strength to others and his love and
kindness have been felt by all and sundry.
He passed away on December 18,
1988. However his legacy continues to this day his principles and philosphy
institutionalized forming the foundations of the Avari family and Group.
On Death Anniversary Dinshaw Byramji Avari (Philanthropist), a Commemorative Postage Stamp of Rs.8/- denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post on December 18, 2016.
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