Abdul Karim Sorabjee

A pioneering Indian engineer who built India's first railway line connecting Mumbai and Thane

Abdul Karim Sorabjee (1830-1898) was a visionary Parsi engineer whose work laid the foundation for India's modern railway system. As chief engineer for the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, he oversaw construction of the 34km railway line between Mumbai and Thane completed in 1853 - India's first operational railway. His engineering innovations included pioneering use of steam locomotives in tropical conditions and developing cost-effective construction methods for Indian terrain. Sorabjee's contributions are commemorated at the Victoria Terminus (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus), where he designed the iconic clock tower.

Despite his technical brilliance, Sorabjee faced challenges as a minority engineer in British-ruled India. He documented these experiences in his memoir Engineering in Bombay, which provides rare insights into colonial infrastructure development. His work enabled economic integration of India's regions and facilitated the country's industrial growth. Modern historians like Dr. Anuja Bhandari highlight his role in overcoming cultural barriers to advance technical education among Indian engineers. Sorabjee's legacy lives on in the Sorabjee Engineering Scholarship established in his honor.