Mohammad Nemazee (Persian: محمد نمازی; also known as Mohammad Namazi; 1896 – April 9, 1972) was an Indian-born Iranian businessman and philanthropist. He was the founder of Nemazee Hospital which he founded in 1955[1][2] and the first water pipe system company in Iran,[3] Shiraz Water and Wastewater Company in Shiraz, Iran.

Life

Nemazee was born in 1896, in Bombay, British Indian Empire (now India).[3][4] He spent his childhood first in India and then in China.[5]

He remained in Hong Kong and Shanghai becoming one of the largest independent ship owners in 1920's and 30's until the outbreak of Second World War.[6] At which point he obtained diplomatic posting to the United states as the Economic Attaché at the Iranian embassy Washington.[1]

He later lived in the United States for several decades, where he engaged in business and maintained ties with Iranian diplomatic and commercial circles before returning to Iran in 1953 joining Zahedi Government as Minister without portfolio with the responsibility of negotiating the oil agreement between Iran, United States & Great Britain he remained in Iran under the Government of Prime Minister Hossein Ala' again in the position of Minister without portfolio.[6]

He remained in the United States till early 1960’s until he returned to Iran. According to The New York Times, he was described as a shipping magnate and trader,” indicating his involvement in international commerce prior to his philanthropic work in Iran.[7]

His commercial activities were conducted across multiple regions, including Asia, the Middle East, and the United States, reflecting the global nature of early 20th-century trade networks.[1]

After years abroad, Nemazee returned to Iran and devoted a substantial portion of his fortune to public welfare initiatives, particularly in Shiraz.[5] His philanthropic philosophy emphasized practical solutions to societal problems, combining infrastructure development with sustainable financial models.[2] He believed that private initiative could complement government efforts in addressing public health and social needs.[3]

Water Supply System in Shiraz

One of Nemazee’s work was the development of a modern water supply system in Shiraz.[1] At the time, the city suffered from inadequate sanitation and relied heavily on open gutter systems for water distribution. Nemazee financed and established a purified water network, which became one of the first of its kind in Iran.[8][9]

The system was structured as a self-sustaining endowment (waqf), where fees collected from households and businesses helped maintain operations.[10] A portion of the revenue was allocated to provide free or subsidized water to lower-income neighborhoods, while surplus funds supported other charitable initiatives, including healthcare services. The water supply became popularly known as “ab Nemazee” (Nemazee water) and formed a foundational element of his broader philanthropic framework.[11]

Nemazee Hospital

Nemazee’s most prominent work is the establishment of Nemazee Hospital in Shiraz.[2] Founded in the early 1950s, the hospital was designed as a modern medical center equipped with advanced facilities comparable to leading hospitals in the United States at the time. According to The New York Times, American physicians involved in the hospital described it as being among the most advanced medical centers globally.[7]

Alongside Nemazee Hospital, Nemazee supported the development of medical education and professional training programs.[1] The hospital functioned in conjunction with emerging academic institutions in Shiraz, contributing to the establishment of a broader medical education ecosystem. A nursing school was created on the hospital grounds, which played an important role in producing trained nursing personnel in Iran.[3]

The hospital also became a site for collaboration with international medical experts, including physicians from Columbia University and Yale University, who contributed to clinical services and training. These efforts helped elevate the standards of medical care and professional education in the region.[7]

Philanthropy and Institutional Model

Nemazee structured his philanthropic enterprises as charitable endowments (waqf), ensuring their long-term sustainability.[12]

His approach integrated revenue-generating infrastructure (the water system) with service-oriented institutions (the hospital), creating a self-reinforcing model of public welfare funding.[1]

Legacy and impact

Nemazee is associated with developments in public health, urban infrastructure, and institutional expansion in Shiraz during the mid-20th century.[1] Facilities linked to his efforts include Nemazee Hospital, a major medical center in southern Iran, and an urban water supply system that contributed to improvements in sanitation.[7]

These initiatives align with broader patterns of modernization in Iran at the time, including the use of international expertise and the adoption of contemporary medical and engineering practices.[3] Contemporary accounts note that such projects influenced later philanthropic and development activities in the region.[5]

References

  1. ^ "A Tribute to Mohammad Nemazee". Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  2. ^ niafam.com. "About Namazi Hospital" (in Persian). namazi.sums.ac.ir. Archived 2025-05-15 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  3. ^ "آشنایی با شادروان محمد نمازی". www.namazicharity.com. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  4. ^ Nemazee, Hassan (2024). Persia, Politics & Prison: A Life in Three Parts [از شیراز تا واشینگتن: بازی سیاست و سرنوشت٬ حسن نمازی]. 1st ed. USA: Marmont Lane Books. p. 21. ISBN 9781734590449.
  5. ^ "Hajee Mahomed Hassan NEMAZEE [1857-1935] | Gwulo". gwulo.com. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  6. ^ Azizi, Mohammad-Hossein; Bahadori, Moslem; Raees-Jalali, Ghanbar-Ali (2009). "In commemoration of Haj Mohammad Nemazee (1895-1972): the founder of Nemazee Hospital in Shiraz". Archives of Iranian Medicine. 12 (3): 321–324. ISSN 1029-2977. PMID 19400616
  7. ^ Times, Kennett Lovespecial To the New York (1954-10-30). "Iranian Hospital Center Said to Rival Best in U.S.; American Physicians Praise Establishment Philanthropist Built". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  8. ^ "More about the educational and medical center". Namazi Hospital. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  9. ^ "History". abfa-fars.ir. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  10. ^ "یکصدونوزدهمین سالروز تولد مرحوم محمد نمازی در شیراز برگزار شد" (in Persian). Mehr News Agency. 2014-10-13. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  11. ^ "محمد نمازی، سرمایه دار ایرانی" (in Persian). شرق. 2025-08-01. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  12. ^ "Charitable Contribution in Healthcare: What Drives Iranians to Donate Money?". ProQuest