Vanmali Kasanji wearing Wellington Indian Sports Club blazer

In this portrait of Vanmali Kasanji (1915-1983, India/New Zealand), he is wearing a blazer with the monogram 'WISC' on the pocket - the uniform of the Wellington Indian Sports Club. He used the photograph for his passport.

Vanmali was born in the village of Kosad, Choryasi Taluka, District Surat, in the State of Gujarat, India, on 15 May 1915. He migrated to New Zealand in 1929 on the ship Tofua when he was 14 years old (with his father). His brothers (Dullabh, Nautam and Raman) had migrated to New Zealand earlier (his two sisters Gautam and Mani did not come to New Zealand).

Vanmali lived in Wellington from 1930, in Aro Valley and Miramar. He was a fruiterer, a fruit and vegetable carrier, and worked in light engineering.

In 1948 he married Ruxmani Vanmali Kasanji (from Vasvari, Olpad Taluka, Surat, Gujarat), and she migrated and joined her husband in Wellington, New Zealand. They had a son (Ramesh, born 9 April 1950) and a daughter (Lalita, born 5 December 1956).

Vanmali was a member of the Wellington Indian Association, and played hockey for the Wellington Indian Sports Club. He died in Wellington on 1 November 1983.