Nanji Kalidas Mehta

Mehta was born on 17 November 1887 in Gorana village, near Porbandar, in the Princely State of Porbandar, British India. He was born in a Gujarati Hindu family of Lohana caste. He left for East Africa at the age of 13 in 1900. He married young and had four children. 

Mehta was a visionary entrepreneur who played a major role in the economic development of East Africa. His businesses created jobs and opportunities for both Indians and Africans. He was also a noted philanthropist, and he donated generously to educational institutions, hospitals, and other charitable causes.