Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c5.s3.t12.5

v1.c5.s3.t12.5

H N Mody was known for his many charitable endowments in Hong Kong, including towards the building of a Seaman’s Institute and a Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home. However, his outstanding contribution to the growth of Hong Kong was his work to establish the University of Hong Kong at a time when few considered it important that this largely commercial colony have its own institution of higher education. Mody pledged then a huge sum of $1,50,000 provided that the sum could be matched from other sources. He persisted with the project in the face of initial indifference until finally, the foundation stone of the main building of the university was laid in March 1910, a year before he died. On the 90ᵗʰ anniversary of the inauguration of the University of Hong Kong on June 17, 2002, a bronze bust of Mody was installed in the Main Building in recognition of his role in the establishment of the University.