Bhimji Parikh or Bhimji Parekh was a businessman. He was born in 1610 in Surat. He is remembered today primarily for having introduced the first printing press, to Bombay in 1674-75. Bhimji intended to use this printing press for "the common good" of printing "ancient manuscripts" that would be "useful or at least grateful to posterity".
Life
Bhimji Parekh was the son of Tulsidas Parekh. At various times Bhimji Parekh worked as broker for the East India Company, as a money lender, and as a printer. For services to the company, Parekh was awarded a medal and chain of gold worth 150 shillings in 1683. A notable incident in Parekh's life occurred when religious persecution in Surat had become unbearable; he organised and led a boycott by Hindu banias against Aurangzeb. Over 800 merchants left Surat en masse. The boycott was successful and in December 1669, they returned to Surat upon promises of religious tolerance. Not many years later, Parekh would play a central role in the exodus of hundreds of Hindu banias from Surat to Bombay. His grandson married a Jain lady. Parekh's family then adopted the Jainism. Parekh died in 1686 and left two under-aged sons, Vanmalidas and Shankardas, who would play an important part in the business life of Surat.
In 1674-75, a printing press had been brought to the island of Bombay for the first time. In the fifth session of the All India Library Conference in Mumbai in 1942, Sri K M Munshi claimed that this printing press had been sold to Bhimji Parekh by Shivaji. However, no evidence was found to support this claim. Correspondence between Bhimjee Parekh and the East India Company indicate that Bhimji had imported the press on his own initiative. In a letter from Surat to the East India Company dated 9 January 1670: In another letter from London to Surat, dated 3 April 1674, it is stated that: Bhimji had stated clearly in his 1670s letter to the East India Company that he wished to print "Ancient Brahminy Writings". Perhaps it is not entirely surprising the Company acceded to his request with, among other considerations, the hope that it would help spread Christian faith: The expert printer, Henry Hills, did arrive as was promised. He did not however, have the skills to cut types in Indic scripts. Bhimji, therefore, asked the company to secure a type-founder. In a letter from Surat to the East India Company, dated 23 January 1676: The company responded in a letter dated 15 March 1677: This type-founder did not arrive. Bhimji Parekh failed to realize his ambition of printing literature in Indian characters. The press might have printed some literature in English. It would be reasonable to assume that some types would have been brought with the press. Priolkar substantiates this opinion by citing two documents that suggests printed material was available in Bombay at this time. In The Gazetteer of Bombay City and Island, in a passage about innovations introduced by General Aungier: Captain Alexander Hamilton, who had travelled to India for business between 1628 and 1723, mentioned that he saw certain printed documents during his stay in Bombay:
