Kantilal Jivan

Kantilal Jivan Shah ( Kanti , born 1922 ; died October 22, 2010 in Mahé ) was an artist, trader and guru in the Seychelles . He was considered the most talked about resident of Mahé. He dealt with history, natural history , chiromancy , vegetarianism and worked as a cook, photographer, artist and farmer. Many well-known personalities paid him a visit, including Queen Elizabeth II , Mother Teresa and above all Ian Fleming , who created a character for him in his last James Bond novel. Together with Omar Sharif he appeared in a feature film.

Life

Jivan ran an import and export business that his father founded in 1895, but he became known as a pioneer in environmental protection and ecotourism, as well as a historian and folklorist. He was involved in various organizations such as the Alliance Francaise , the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Seychelles Environment Trust Fund . As a Hindu , he lived as a vegetarian, non-smoker and tea lover .

Because of his commitment, he was accepted into the UN Environmental Program Global 500 Roll of Honor and as an honorary member of the Norwegian Academy of Sciences . On his initiative, the Ste. Anne Marine National Park , founded Port Launay Marine National Park and passed the Protection of Shells Act . He achieved further success in animal welfare, the controlled harvest of sea bird eggs, sea turtle protection and the establishment of the Seychelles Marine Mammal Sanctuary .

Jivan died on October 22, 2010 at Victoria Hospital , Mahé at the age of 87. He had a son and a grandson at the time.

Web links

Commons : Kantilal Jivan  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Entry in United Nations Environmental Program : "Global 500 Roll of Honor for Environmental Achievement".
• Daily Telegraph : portrait
• mare-mundi.org
• nation.sc : obituary