Bhimji Parekh

Bhimji Parekh was a Surat based entrepreneur and the first Indian to import printing machinery to India. In 1662 he began working as the broker for the English East India Company in Surat and after a decade became one of the most influential Hindu merchants of Surat.

Bhimji Parikh or Bhimji Parekh was a Pushtimarg, a member of Vaishnav sect of the Hinduism. He is remembered today primarily for trying to introduce printing in vernacular to India. Bhimji Parikh started to work for the English in 1662 as a broker in Surat. During 1668-1671 he tried to get an English printer to print some “ancient Braminy writings”. The printer was sent in 1674 but the experiment proved to be less than satisfactory as the English printer refused to teach the art to Indians.

His importance in the Hindu mercantile community is best seen from the events that took place in Surat in 1669. That year the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb ordered persecution of the Hindus of Surat and as the worsening conditions for the Hindu merchant became unbearable Bhimji Parekh led the boycott of 800 Hindu merchants. The merchants stopped their business operations and threatened to leave Surat. The boycott started in November and lasted until December 20, 1669 when the Mughal authorities assured the merchants of more tolerant behavior in religious matters.