Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un
“Surely we belong to God, and to Him we return” — Holy Qur’an, 2:156

“Life is a great and noble calling, not a mean and grovelling thing to be shuffled through as best as we can, but a lofty and exalted destiny.” — Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan III (1877-1957), 48th Ismaili Imam.

By KAMRUDIN RASHID
(with Malik Merchant contributing to the tribute)

Beloved husband of Gulshan for 74 years; cherished father of Azim, Tazmin, Narmin (Nimi), and Hanif (Chiko); and proud grandfather and great-grandfather, Pyarali Gulamali Nanji (Member of the Order of Canada, C.M.), whose life was defined by the inspiring values of hard work, kindness, and generosity, died on August 20, 2025, at the age of 95, just one month shy of his 96th birthday.

Mr. Nanji’s funeral was attended by a vast crowd on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at the Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre in Scarborough, Ontario. The diverse group of attendees, including representatives and leaders from organizations and businesses, past and current leaders from the Ismaili Muslim Community, and family members, all came together to pay their respects. This diversity underscored the wide range of people he influenced and the respect he garnered.

Mr. Nanji, along with his young family, was among the thousands of South Asian refugees who, under the rule of Uganda’s dictator, Idi Amin, were stripped of their citizenship and assets and declared stateless. They found sanctuary in Montréal, Canada, thanks to mercy flights organized by the Canadian government. The Nanji family, who stayed in temporary lodgings at the downtown YMCA, were deeply grateful for the kindness they were shown in the face of catastrophe. Their gratitude towards Canada was profound, and they pledged to pay that kindness forward when they had the means to do so. Relocating to Toronto, Mr. Nanji started a hugely successful packaging firm. The family, committed to giving back, decided it was time to fulfill their promise.

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“My father was so impressed by the way we were treated, the way our host country took us in during our time of need. It was always his goal to be able to give back.” — Nimi Nanji-Simard, quoted in Global Heroes.

“He was fearless, a great man, impatient to make the world better.” — Nimi Nanji-Simard, quoted in Toronto Star

“In my life, I have learned something; that if God gives you the opportunity, try to share it. First of all, you have to make sure that you are taking care of your family, your community, and then the whole country. So, I thought we have to pay back to the country and the world… and for more than 20 years, we have been doing this.” — Pyarali Nanji, quoted in a UNHCR press release

“It is beautiful what you said about giving back, and even more so, giving opportunity… You can be assured that we will spend it well, this donation. We will spend it to give people opportunities. And maybe in life there is a chain, that people suffer and go through exile and deprivation, and then if they have opportunities, they can give back. And the cycle continues if everybody does what you did.” — Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, quoted in a UNHCR press release

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Today, we are all witnesses to the profound impact of Nanji’s philanthropy, a legacy that resonates deeply with the thousands of residents of Toronto and the province of Ontario. His name, proudly displayed on hospital buildings and plaques, serves as a poignant reminder of his generous gifts to our community. 

The Nanji Ambulatory Center, Nanji Kidney Care Center, Nanji Acute Kidney Care Center, Nanji Neck and Head Surgery Center, and the Nanji Emergency Response Center at Sunnybrook Hospital, and the Nanji Ambulatory Care Center, Nanji Orthopedic Center, Nanji Diagnostic Center, and Nanji Academic Center at North York General Hospital, are just a few of the many tangible manifestations of his extraordinary contributions. Like my family and I, thousands of Canadians have directly benefited from Nanji’s millions of dollars to Canadian hospitals in and around the Toronto area, a testament to his unwavering commitment to our well-being. His legacy, a beacon of hope and continuity, will continue to inspire future generations.

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The multimillion-dollar contribution to Seneca College’s school of nursing, the most significant gift in Seneca’s history, is a testament to the donor’s unwavering commitment to education and healthcare. Seneca renamed the school as the Seneca Nanji Foundation School of Nursing. This name reflects the exceptional support this gift will provide to students and the significant impact it will have on health care for all Canadians.

One of Mr. Nanji’s most touching and profound contributions was a significant gift to support eye care initiatives at the University of Toronto’s Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences in 2017. The generous donation established a five-year term Chair for the Department, which was held by Dr. Sherif El-Defrawy, an eye surgeon, researcher, and award-winning teacher. A substantial portion of the funds was dedicated to capacity-building global health missions. These missions, led by El-Defrawy and other faculty members, have made a significant impact in Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Haiti, among other low- and middle-income countries, bringing hope and progress that inspire us all.

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“We spend our days performing cataract surgery and corneal transplantation surgery, restoring vision and sometimes allowing people to see for the first time in their lives,” El-Defrawy explained. The training sessions, designed to provide a platform for local surgeons, have been instrumental in allowing them to observe and then perform operations under supervision, playing a crucial and valued role in the process.

During the worldwide COVID-19 crisis, the Nanji Family Foundation donated $1.6 million to be split equally among 16 Canadian hospitals to help combat COVID-19 through research and staff support.

In April 2022, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the South Asian exile from Uganda, the Nanji Family Foundation granted $1 million in funds to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, for tertiary education scholarships in support of its Aiming Higher campaign. The contribution helped provide sorely needed financial support to refugees pursuing higher education by funding scholarships for health-related university studies in their countries of asylum.

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In mourning Mr. Nanji’s death, the Oakville Valley’s Health Markham Stouffville Hospital called Mr. Pyarali G. Nanji, a visionary philanthropist, transformational leader, and cherished friend. Writing on Instagram, the Hospital said that, through the Nanji Family Foundation, “Mr. Nanji and his family have been among our hospital’s most generous supporters for more than three decades. Their extraordinary generosity has strengthened the care we provide for every patient who walks through our doors, and our Gulshan & Pyarali G. Nanji Mental Health Services remain a lasting reflection of his belief that ‘the greatest wealth is health’. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the entire Nanji family. His kindness, vision, and dedication will live on through the countless patients and families whose lives he helped transform. At Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation and Oak Valley Health, we are deeply grateful to have been part of his remarkable legacy — one that will continue to inspire and bring hope for generations to come.”

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Visitors to the iconic Aga Khan Museum in Toronto will note that its beautiful auditorium has been named after Gulshan and Pyaraly G. Nanji Family Foundation following their transformative multi-million-dollar donation to the Museum. This generous gift, with its global reach, will impact millions of people, deepening their understanding of Muslim arts and cultures and their connection with the world.

In recognition of extraordinary contributions, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, the Governor General of Canada. The citation in his honour stated:

“Pyarali Nanji is a prominent philanthropist in Canada, devoted to giving back to the country that welcomed him. His family foundation has made transformational charitable contributions to numerous local, national and international hospitals, institutions and organizations, including Sunnybrook Hospital, the Aga Khan Museum and the Seneca Nanji School of Nursing. (Please see The Governor General of Canada: Mr. Pyarali Gulamani Nanji).

On a personal level, Mr. Nanji’s support has been instrumental in my initiative to help international students access higher education in Canada. Mr. Nanji’s contributions also significantly boosted efforts to raise funds for the Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKF, C) through its annual World Partnership Walk. The Nanji family’s role in broadening Canadians’ understanding of international development is truly significant, as noted in AKF’s tribute to Mr. Nanji. The family’s efforts have inspired millions to walk in solidarity against global poverty and played a transformational role in improving the quality of life globally.

I cannot end this tribute without mentioning Munira Premji, a personal friend, who shared her own touching and heartfelt tribute to Pyarali Nanji in the following words:

“Now and then, a life reminds us what it means to live with purpose, humility, and generosity — Pyarali Nanji’s was such a life. I was deeply saddened to learn of his passing, a man whose generosity and faith touched my life in the most personal ways. He was an extraordinary gentleman — a man of purpose and vision. A philanthropist who gave generously to causes that mattered to him and his family in the areas of education, healthcare, arts and culture, and social welfare. His giving had an immense and personal impact on me. In the past 10 years, as I battled three advanced cancers, I found myself repeatedly at the doors of hospitals his philanthropy had touched:

• In 2015, I was treated at the Breast Centre Clinic at North York General Hospital;
• I received radiation at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre; and
• when I broke my ankle, it was the Nanji Orthopedic Centre that looked after me.

“And I am only one person. His contributions supported millions of people during their most vulnerable times. But what I will remember most about Pyarali Nanji is his character. Two words stay with me: his smile and his humility. He knew of my health challenges, and each time I saw him in Jamatkhana, he would greet me with a warm smile, a simple hand gesture asking how I was doing, and then raise his hands high. I always understood that to mean: trust in God, have faith. His faith informed how he lived, and I took much inspiration from him.

“Pyarali Nanji — as you journey onward, I imagine the doors of heaven opening wide — and God welcoming you home with the same smile you shared so freely here on earth. Your promise became a legacy, your legacy became hope, and your hope will continue to serve generations long after your passing.”

We express our deep-felt gratitude to Mr. Nanji, a man who has touched each of our lives with his contributions to humanity. His legacy of philanthropy and kindness, a beacon of hope, will continue to inspire and guide us. We pray that his departed soul rest in eternal peace. Ameen. We also pray that his family derive courage and fortitude in the face of their significant loss, and that they may also be in a position to emulate the philanthropic legacy he left behind. He will be remembered with deep love and respect by all whose lives he touched.

Date posted: September 6, 2025.

Condolence messages: We invite readers to submit their condolences, memories and tributes to Pyarali Nanji, Member of the Order of Canada, by clicking LEAVE A COMMENT. If you encounter technical difficulties submitting your feedback, email your message to mmerchant@simerg.com, subject: Pyarali Nanji.

Featured picture at the top of this post. Mr. Pyarali Nanji and members of his family, along with Prince Amyn Aga Khan, leaders of the Aga Khan Museum and the Ismaili Council for Canada, as the Canadian philanthropist makes a transformative, multi-million-dollar donation to the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto.

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About the writer: Born in Zanzibar, Kamrudin Rashid lived in both Zanzibar and Pemba from 1946 until after the 1964 Zanzibar Revolution that saw the island merge with mainland Tanganyika into a unified country called Tanzania. He then settled in Dar es Salaam before making Canada his home in early 1975. Kamru was in Pemba during Mawlana Shah Karim’s historic visit on November 18th, 1957. Kamru has served the Ismaili community in honorary and professional capacities for over six decades, and continues to serve and contribute to Ismaili institutions today.

The following articles were referenced for this tribute to Pyarali Nanji:

• The Governor General of Canada: Mr. Pyarali Gulamani Nanji
• Toronto Star: Pyarali Nanji, philanthropist, dies at 95
• UNHCR Canada: Nanji Family Foundation gives $1 million
• Aga Khan Museum: We mourn the passing of Mr. Pyarali G. Nanji
• Global Heroes: Refugee Family Celebrates 50 Years in Canada
• Pyarali Nanji Obituary (2025) – The Globe and Mail
• Temerty Faculty of Medicine: A Vision for Giving Back — With Restored Sight Comes Opportunity and Hope
• Aga Khan Foundation and World Partnership Wal: Message of Condolence