Jayantibhai Mehta

Jayantibhai Thakorlal Mehta, Kolkata-based businessman and philanthropist turned 95 on February 19, 2012, making him one of the senior-most members of the Palanpuri community. All those who come in contact with the nonagenarian find it difficult to believe his age when they see his healthy physical appearance and amazing mental alertness.

During a recent trip to Mumbai, Mehta spoke to Stephen Rego, Editor, Palanpur Online, about his life, and the secrets behind his long life and amazing health.

Palanpur Online: What are your early memories of Palanpur?
Jayantibhai Mehta: Actually, I have not had too much of direct contact with the city that is my home town. My father’s family moved to Kolkata from Palanpur in 1902 and set up a jewellery business in Dalhousie Street in the city, under the name Thakorlal Hiralal.  This was in partnership with Hiralal Mehta who was an uncle of Kirtilal Manilal Mehta of Gembel, one of the first Palanpuri families to move to Antwerp decades ago.
The firm soon became very popular and was jeweller to leading families across North India – Kolkata, Kanpur, Delhi, Lucknow etc….
At that time there were about 400 Palanpuri families in Kolkata – mainly involved in the jewellery or tea business. Now there are just a handful left, as in the 1950s and 1960s many moved back to open businesses closer home – Mumbai, Surat, Navsari etc.

So I was born and brought up in Kolkata and came regularly to Palanpur as a child during my holidays and spent time with our relatives there. I did live there briefly, attending school for a short while.

But I was not very academically inclined and changed schools often moving, to Panchgani during my final years in school. But I never completed my matriculation, and joined the family business at a very young age in the 1930s.

Jayantibhai with his family

PO: What were the highlights of your business career?
JM: I was the eldest son and my brother Kanti Mehta joined the freedom struggle and later became a respected leader of the workers’ movement in the coal mines areas. So I was soon given the responsibility of managing the family business.

Our core jewellery business expanded over the next couple of decades, and we developed a good reputation in the eastern and northern parts of India. But I was always looking out for new business opportunities, and in 1963 I ventured into an entirely new line of business, textiles, one of the first from the community to move out of the traditional diamond jewellery line. My partner was close friend L.N. Jhunjhunwala, who had been an associate for many years and we set up Bhilwara Textiles, and a couple of associated companies. Our brand Mayur Suitings eventually became one of the well known names in the field.

We also bought over the British India Corporation, a trading company in Kanpur. These new business ventures expanded rapidly and we had manufacturing units in Bhilwara and in MP. Over the next few decades, I travelled across North India and was in Delhi almost every two weeks.

In the 1960s, my eldest son Satish Mehta moved to Mumbai and set up an office there with the aim of expanding the diamond business. Finally, by the 1980s, I got less directly involved in the textile business, though I continued to be a partner with a financial stake.  I continue to be associated with the jewellery business in Kolkata even today, though the day to day affairs are handled by others.

PO: You are now involved in philanthropic work as well. Please share a few details with us.
JM: It was over a decade ago that a family marriage brought me in touch with Mafatlal Mehta. I was greatly inspired by the work that he was doing, and decided to dedicate money, time and effort to doing something similar. For some years now, I have been actively involved in setting up and then running a hospital for kidney patients in Kolkata, named the Manjulaben Mehta Kidney Hospital in memory of my late wife.

It is part of a larger medical institution set up in Kolkata by Padmashri Dr Devi Shetty called Rabindranath Tagore Institute of Cardiac Sciences. The campus houses 27 specialty hospitals with a total of 700 beds. The 40 bed kidney hospital is today the largest of its kind in Asia.

There is a huge demand for such special care – we have a waiting list of 3-4 months. Our philosophy is simple -- no one who needs care is sent away. For those in need we have a screening committee (which I head and also other Palanpuris like Mukesh Bhansali and Sevantibhai Parikh as its members) that decides whether they should get subsidized or free treatment. We review such cases regularly, often meeting three to four patients a day. And if someone genuinely needs financial help I get personally involved in seeing that it is made available – from family trusts, or through other trusts, or even by convincing friends and others from the community to provide funds.

(on l) Jayantibhai with Mafatkaka and
(on r) with Mukesh Bhansali and Sevantibhai Parikh

PO: How do you manage to do so much at this age? What is the secret of your good health?
JM: I have enjoyed very good health for many decades now – I can hardly recall having to see a doctor, or even suffering from minor ailments like cold, coughs and headaches. And I have none of the health problems normally associated with old age – diabetes, cholesterol, cardiac etc. Recently there is a small problem in my jaw, but doctors have said it is not anything serious.

I believe that my philosophy of ‘control of the tongue’ has been one of the reasons behind my good health. By this I mean two things – control what you eat, and be careful about what you say. Do not have anything in excess, not even too much food. And certainly avoid extra sweets, and fried food. Also remember that it only takes one careless word to cause strife among family or friendsand bring unhappiness.

Another important thing is one’s attitude to life. Remain balanced both in periods of happiness and of sadness. Take everything as it comes, and be positive. Don’t go too high during the happy times and don’t be dragged down by sadness.

I also play cards very regularly – for a few hours on most days.  I have been doing this for many years and there is a regular group of us friends who play for pleasure. It is not for gambling, but as a hobby, and when I am immersed in a game, I am totally relaxed and can put aside all other cares.  It is perhaps also one of the reasons I am still mentally alert!

Finally I say charity is the best religion. Don’t give too much importance to money, let it not cause tensions and rifts. You have to leave it behind and cannot take it with you when you leave this life.