Dhirubhai Shah

Dhirubhai Shah was born into a Jain family in the village of Bela, Taluka-Rapar, District of Kutch, in Gujarat state. After obtaining degrees in commerce and law, he started his legal career in Gandhidham. Public contacts encouraged him to consider a career in politics. His hard work and commitment to the development of the Kutch region made him a leader in his community.

He built a firm foundation for his political philosophy during his tenure as the leader of the opposition in Gandhidham municipality. He served as its president and vice president for eight consecutive years. Dhirubhai Shah has attended a number of national and international conferences. Besides the All India Presiding Officers' Conferences in New Delhi, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, and Bangalore, he has attended the 44th and 45th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conferences held in Wellington, New Zealand and Trinidad and Tobago, respectively. He was elected as the Asian Region Member of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (C.P.A.) in September 2000 and attended the 47th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference held in Canberra, Australia. On November 19, 2003 he was appointed chairman of the Gujarat Finance Commission.

He was honoured with the Glory of India award in 1998 by the India International Friendship Society at a seminar on "Economic Development and National Integrity" held in New Delhi. He was also given the Gujarat Gaurav Award in 1999 in the field of parliamentary procedure by the International Association of Educators for World Peace, a United Nations agency. He also had the honor of attending the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II, the patron of the C.P.A., in London in March 2002 and represeng India on the occasion. He also attended the mid-year meeting of the C.P.A. held in Kiribati in 2002.

Dhirubhai Shah died at his residence in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India on March 17, 2008 (11:00 p.m.–11:30 p.m. approx.), suffering from a sudden heart seizure while he was with his family, suffering a heart attack at his daughter's wedding on January 29, 2005, and slipping into a coma. He was 56 years old. His body was cremated on March 18, 2008, at noon. A public prayer was held in his remembrance at Kutchi Bhuvan, Paldi, Ahmedabad, on 19, 2008. Also, a similar prayer session was held in his hometown, Gandhidham, on March 21, 2008.

On March 25, 2008, a special condolence session was held in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat and Speaker Ashok Bhatt conveyed condolences to the family, among others, and the house was adjourned for the day. It was a historical moment wherein a high honor was posthumously given to a former speaker of the assembly.

On December 20, 2011, Narendra Modi honored the statue of Dhirubhai Shah in Gandhidham, Shah's hometown, in Kutch district, a function attended by over 10,000 people. Modi described the late Shah as a man full of life who lived a fulfilled life. Unveiling his portrait at a function in town, Modi said, "Dhirubhai was one of the rare political leaders who combined values, and who never cared for posts or offices of profit or projecting political heirs. His contributions to the Sindhi community in the Gandhidham-Adipur-Kandla belt in Kutch district will be remembered for a long time." Modi related how Dhirubhai, even after 1,158 days of illness, bore a smile of contentment while departing. His death was compared to that of the late Arvindbhai Maniar, Vasantbhai Ganjendra Gadkar, and Makarand Desai.[3]