“The best form of charity is to provide not subsistence but the means of obtaining subsistence.”
The history of the Petit Family is synonymous with the history of charity in Bombay and Poona. It is to the distinguished Petit family that the country owes the foundation of this wonderful Institution.
In 1785 Nusserwanji Cawasji moved from Surat to Bombay. He started his humble career in Bombay as a shipping agent and dubash. His sagacity in business catapulted him to success in trade with France. He was affectionately called, “Le Petit Parsi”, meaning a small Parsi.
His son Maneckji at the young age of 17 took over the family business when his father died suddenly. His rise in commercial circles was meteoric. He soon became rich and famous and purchased his own ship for trade between India and China.
One of Maneckji’s two sons, Dinshaw Petit was knighted in 1887 and was the first Baronet. Maneckji’s second son was Nusserwanji.
It was this Nusserwanji who built the Parsi Orphanage in the name of his son Jamshedji when the latter died at a very young age of 32. It was his son’s dream to build such an Institute for destitute Parsi boys. Nusserwanji gave shape to this dream and succeeded in setting up this orphanage within 6 months of his sons death.
Six months after Jamshedji’s death, his father, Nusserwanji and his mother Dinbai succeeded in giving shape to their beloved sons cherished dream and established the “J.N.Petit Parsee Orphanage” at Lalbaug Bombay. History was made on 19th October 1888 when the doors of this Institution were thrown open for the reception of destitute Parsee boys.
Mr. Navroji Cooper, B.A., was the very first Principal of the Institute and continued there for 24 years. The Managing Committee included some of the most illustrious and learned Parsee gentlemen of the time…. Baronets, doctors, engineers, lawyers, educationalists and businessmen.
Keeping in mind the aim and the desire of the founder, the Committee after great deliberation adopted a course that was part academic and part technical. To make the character of the Institution thoroughly practical, short-hand, typewriting, book-keeping, carpentry, coopering (making of casks), printing, cabinet-making, shoe-making, cane-weaving, cooking, tailoring were introduced.
The whole of the Petit clan too came forward to help with money. It became a Movement of love and caring for fellow-men. After Nusserwanji’s Death in 1891, with no male successor left behind him, his brother, Sir Dinshaw Petit and his progeny took over the reigns of the Institute.
The school finally established itself in its present permanent site in Pune in 1948. Till 1962 the school was still an Orphanage for Parsee boys only. It was then realised that the vast facilities offered by this school and its campus was being utilised by only about 450 Parsee boys and it would be a pity if it could not be shared by the boys of other communities also. After 1962 the school was thrown open to boys of all communities as day-scholars.
The School Motto taken from the family crest is very apt “CONSEQUITOR-QUOD-CUNQUE – PETIT” (He obtains whatever he seeks).