Jamshetjee Nesserwanjee Petit Institute

Jamsetji Nusserwanji Petit institute

Jamsetjee Nesserwanjee Petit Institute, Fort

J N Petit Institute. A neo-classical structure, it was completed in 1898 at a cost of Rs 2,29,000. The building, which housed a library and reading room, was commissioned by Bai Dinbaijee Nussarwanjee Petit as a memorial to her son and husband.

Origin of Petit surname:

Mr. Nasserwanjee Cowasjee Bomanjee, one of the members of the family and founder of the present branch migrated to Bombay from Surat. He carried on business as agent to French vessels arriving at the port as well as to the East India Company’s vessels. It was while thus employed that he acquired the patronym Petit by which his family is known. Nasserwanji was a man of small physical built and his French constituents accordingly would refer to him as “Petit”. The nick-name stuck to him and his immortalized successive generations. [1]

 J.N. Petit Institute junction of D.N. Road, P.M. Road and Napier Road, Mumbai.Originally started as Fort improvement Library by Parsi students in 1856 , it was shifted to the present building in 1898 and was christened ” The Jamshetjee Nesserwanjee Petit Institute ” after its donor J. N. Petit. According to Mr Savio Lobo, architect and research person, the building was designed by architect Merwanjee Bana. The structure was constructed in yellow Malad stone relieved by bands of finely carved Limestone at regular intervals, to which was added a floor in 1938 with an RCC flat slab roof. saveheritage.com mumbaiheritage

 With the use of marvelous stained glass, painted arches, and original aisle roof , it is a neo-gothic sculpture of “The

Raj”.

Jamsetjee Nesserwanjee Petit Institute, Fort : The Jamsetjee Nesserwanjee Petit Institute was established in 1856, with the object of diffusion of useful knowledge by making available to the members works of literature, philosophy, science, as also eminent magazines and newspapers. It also arranges lectures on literary and scientific subjects.J. N. Petit Institute Fort 1856 no of books 21,000 including a rare copy of Firdausi’s 11th century epic poem The Shahnama, maharashtra.gov.in