The ever popular captain of HRH Prince Aga Khan Band, Karachi. Rai Rajabali Gulamhussain was born in the middle-class but well-known family of Karachi in the year 1904. His mother was sister of Vazir Bundeali Kassim, the great Ismaili Philanthropist and his father a descendent of a very old Sindhi family, one of the very few who settled in Karachi during the Imamat of Aga Hassanali Shah, Aga Khan I. His father Huzur Mukhi Gulamhussain served Karachi Port Trust for many years and honourably retired when old. He was a member of Shia Imami Ismailia Council Karachi for long and served the community for many years. Very orthodox and staunch they have been religiously serving the Imam and Ismailis since the nineteenth century.

Born with a ball in his had, Ra Rajabali showed great promise, of becoming a great sportsman, even in his childhood. He has his early education in Sindh Madressa-Tul-Islam and St. Patrick’s High School in Karachi. At the age of 15 years, he captained his school’s hockey team and won the Inter-school hockey tournament in the year 1919. After leaving school he joined Karachi Port Trust. From then on he played various tournaments and won laurels for his teams. From the year 1927 to 1940 he was regular member of Sindh XI (hockey) which participated in All-India provincial hockey tournaments and in the Aga Khan Gold Cup hockey tournament, Bombay, which is still considered as the Blue Riband of hockey in India. At that time Rai Rajabali was considered as one of the best full-backs in hockey in the sub-continent. Besides hockey, he regularly played first class cricket tournaments for Young Khoja Ismailia Sports Club, Garden and Aga Khan Sports Club, Kharadhar for a number of years. Played tennis tournaments for Young Men’s Muslim Association, Karachi and was also prominent in football, playing for various teams.

In his peak days, Rai Rajabali was one of the greatest all-round sportsmen the Islamili community every produced in this sub-continent. Nay, his record of service to the sports world, in and outside the community, as well as 37 years’ solid and continuous service to the band and various other Ismaili institutions marks him out as the most outstanding  all-rounder of the Ismaili world. A champion in real sense of the word, an example to be followed by Islamili youths of today.

In 1927, he joined the band as one of its founder members. In 1929 Rai Saheb found a life partner in Khatijabai, also a devoted social worker, who bore him 4 sons and 2 daughters, out of which two sons have already joined the band following the footsteps of their illustrious father. In 1936, Rai Rajabali was unanimously elected Vice-Captain of the band. In 1938 on the sad demise of Captain Rahimbhai Datoo, Rai Saheb was the automatic choice for the post of the Captain, which he still holds and discharges the duties most sincerely and faithfully.

Today, the band befittingly and proudly celebrates the Silver Jubilee of their great leader and Captain Rai Rajabali. A tribute and honour which he so richly deserves. The members of the band earnestly pray to Almighty for his long life, health and prosperity<<back