Oman: Kanaksi Khimji, founding father of Indian schools, passes away at 85
Businessman was instrumental in starting the first Gujarati Medium School in 1941
Muscat: Sheikh Kanaksi Khimji, the director of Khimji Ramdas Group (KR Group) companies and the patriarch of the group passed away today, Thursday, February 18.
The most iconic figure of Indian diaspora in Oman, Shiekh Kanaksi, popularly known as Kanaksi bhai, was 85.
Born in Muscat and educated in Mumbai, Sheikh Kanaksi Khimji led the KR group in its journey to become a formidable business entity in Oman, as well as in UAE and India.
KR Group
The business interests of Khimji Ramdas group is wide and varied. The Khimji Ramdas Group deals with a variety of commodities and activities from shipping and building materials to foodstuffs such as tea, coffee, sugar, flour to textiles, and other luxury durable items, among others.
KR Group also exports Omani goods such as dates, lemons and fish to various other places in the West of Indian Ocean such as Zanzibar, Mombasa, Aden, Karachi and Bombay.
As the president of the Mahajan Community, Kanaksi Khimji was involved in a variety of community and social welfare activities that brought him closer to the people and won him accolades and honours for the philanthropic works that he was involved in.
Schools closed
His remarkable contribution in the field of education for the Indian diaspora in Oman is notably praiseworthy. As a mark of respect and love towards Sheikh Kanak, Indian Schools remained closed today.
His efforts brought to fruition the thriving network of Indian schools operating in Oman today. The Gujarati medium school that he was instrumental in starting in 1941 in Muttrah, is today a flourishing network of 21 Indian schools, with the alumni of these schools trailblazing in their chosen fields around the world.
As the founding member and chairman of Oman Cricket, Sheikh Kanak’s immense contributions in motivating the youngsters in Oman towards the path to pursue the sport, has been commendable.
Indian Ambassador to Oman Munu Mahawar expressed his condolences at the passing away of Sheikh Kanaksi. Condolence messages poured in on the SM channels, especially on the Twitter handle of the KR Corporate group.