AS India takes on England in their cricketing showdown in England, we take a look at the unique legacy of Vijay Merchant—the legendary batsman whose exploits against England still inspire generations. The Indian cricketer and industrialist was not just a sports icon but also a dedicated philanthropist. In fact, Merchant left an indelible mark on the disabled community of India. He founded NASEOH, the NGO for the disabled. He was the founding President of National Society for Equal Opportunities for the Handicapped (NASEOH) from 1968 to 1987. Merchant devoted his time, resources, and influential voice to champion the rights of persons with disabilities. His commitment went beyond financial support. Merchant actively shaped the organisation’s vision, ensuring it worked toward creating equal opportunities for the differently abled.
“God has been kind to me in many ways. There is only one way to repay my debt to him: by helping the handicapped and the disabled,” Merchant used to say.
Merchant’s legacy continues to inspire, bridging the worlds of sports, business, and social change.
Beyond his cricketing fame, Vijay Merchant’s humanitarian work reflected his deep empathy and belief in inclusive progress. His leadership helped position NASEOH as a pioneering force in advocacy, blending his strategic acumen with genuine compassion. Merchant’s story is a powerful example of how privilege and influence can be harnessed. To drive meaningful social transformation.
As president of NASEOH, he didn’t believe in just donating canes and Braille machines. He created sustainable livelihoods through cloth agencies, fruit vending stalls, and telephone booths. For the physically challenged, he provided mobility solutions ranging from wheelchairs to three-wheeled cycles and Jaipur Feet prosthetics.
Two other pioneers of NASEOH
The fact that Vijay Merchant founded NASEOH is not known to many. But he was not alone. Along with Merchant, two other prominent people played a vital role in setting up NASEOH. Dr. Noshir Antia and Capt. H.J.M. Desai. Dr. Antia, was a medical expert and an humanitarian. He conceived the revolutionary idea of creating a unified platform to champion equal opportunities for all categories of disabled persons. His philosophy of empowerment over charity became NASEOH’s guiding principle, transforming how society perceived disability rights. Alongside him, Capt. Desai brought his constitutional expertise and rehabilitation experience. He gave structural form to the vision, drafting NASEOH’s foundational documents. He integrated the best practices from his work with the National Association for the Blind.
What set these pioneers apart was their holistic approach to inclusion. Dr. Antia’s medical perspective ensured NASEOH addressed physical accessibility, while Capt. Desai’s rehabilitation expertise shaped its vocational programs. Merchant brought practical business solutions and public visibility to their mission. Their collective leadership created an organization that not only provided assistive devices and livelihood opportunities but also fought for policy changes and social acceptance
Merchant’s personal involvement
Vijay Merchant founded NASEOH, but there were other charitable things he did that set him apart. His hands-on approach. He personally followed up with beneficiaries of his charities to ensure they were effectively utilising the assistance provided, demonstrating his belief in accountability and long-term impact.
Beyond material support, Merchant championed social inclusion in the most personal ways. Over 21 years of dedicated service, he arranged and personally hosted 17 weddings for blind, handicapped, and leprosy-affected couples at his Hindoostan Mills compound. These weren’t just ceremonies – Merchant ensured each couple started their married life with complete household setups, providing everything from kitchen utensils to daily necessities. This holistic approach reflected his understanding that dignity comes from both opportunity and social acceptance.
Merchant’s collaborative spirit extended to diverse initiatives, including a remarkable blood donation drive that collected 2,000 bottles for the Tata Blood Bank, showcasing his ability to inspire collective action for humanitarian causes.
Merchant, the legendary cricket player
While Indian youngsters like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill create waves in England with their exciting strokeplay, almost a century ago, Merchant made a mark of his own. In India and England. Merchant’s batting brilliance placed him among cricket’s elite, with a first-class average of 71—second only to Sir Donald Bradman—though his Test average of 47.72 belied his true mastery. His career spanned Bombay’s domestic cricket (1929–1952), where he dominated with 44 centuries—11 of them double-hundreds, including a monumental 359* against Maharashtra in 1943-44. His Ranji Trophy record was staggering: 3,639 runs at 98.75, with six centuries in seven consecutive innings during the late 1930s and early 1940s.
Merchant’s international career, though limited to 10 Tests (all against England), was marked by grit and grace. After missing India’s 1932 England tour due to political disputes, he debuted in 1933-34. His 1936 England tour cemented his legend: 1,745 runs at 51.32, including a defiant 114 at Old Trafford. He was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year.
NASEOH’s work today
Today, NASEOH continues its transformative work by empowering adults with disabilities aged 18-35 through comprehensive vocational training and skill development programs designed to create equal opportunities in employment and income generation. The organization reaches approximately 6,000 individuals with disabilities annually through its tailored interventions, which address diverse needs ranging from job readiness training to entrepreneurship development. By focusing on capacity building rather than charity, NASEOH equips participants with market-relevant skills, adaptive technologies, and placement support, enabling them to achieve economic independence and social inclusion. These need-based programs maintain the founders’ vision of creating systemic change while adapting to contemporary workforce demands, ensuring persons with disabilities can compete on equal terms in mainstream employment sectors. You can support NASEOH by making a donation here.
Merchant’s life’s work embodies the powerful intersection of compassion and pragmatism. He proved that true leadership means using one’s influence to create opportunities for the most marginalized. Today, his spirit lives on through every individual empowered by NASEOH’s programmes, serving as an eternal reminder that society’s progress is measured by how it uplifts its most vulnerable members.
(Some edits were carried out in this blog in July, 2025)
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Kumara was a professional journalist for over 15 years, with stints in The Telegraph and Reader’s Digest. He grew up hating maths and physics. He is a post-graduate in history. Kumara believes that cricket and Seinfeld have answers to most questions that life throws at you.
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