'We travelled on camels and donkeys... paid Rs100 rent'

My first day in UAE: Businessman Maghanmal J. Pancholia helped lay the foundations of Dubai's modern-day industry after his arrival from India in 1942,

Seventy three years ago, when Maghanmal J. Pancholia first arrived in the Gulf to join his father's business, the teenager had no clue that he was destined to be a part of the great success story of Dubai that has transformed from a hamlet to a bustling metropolis at breathtaking speed.
His autobiography Footprints - Memoirs of an Indian Patriarch tells it all - the metamorphosis of a 17-year-old through seven decades of hectic life in an alien land and the enduring charm of Dubai life.
Pancholia, who started his life in Dubai by joining the family business in 1942, was destined to be a part of Dubai's success saga.
Pancholia's track record for entrepreneurship did not go unnoticed. His Highness Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum, the late Ruler of Dubai, appointed him to the board of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) while the British Political Agent Sir James Craig took him on the board of Al Maktoum Hospital.
Inaugural visit
From then, there was no going back for the man, who also has a penchant for social work and community services. Pancholia founded the Indian High School and was its honorary chairman for almost 20 years (1961 to 1980). He was the founder-trustee of the India Club and was chairman of the Indian Association Dubai for four terms.
Looking back, the Indian patriarch, now 91, justifiably feels that he has accomplished his mission. Pancholia opened his heart and shared memories with Khaleej Times.

72 YEARS IN EMIRATES> 1942 Maghanmal J. Pancholia arrived in Sharjah from Karachi to join his family business > His Highness Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum, the late Ruler of Dubai, appointed him to the board of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry > Sir James Craig, the British Political Agent, took him on the board of Al Maktoum Hospital > Founding shareholder and director of the Dubai Electricity Company from 1961 to 1980 > Indian High School was founded by Pancholia and he was the honorary chairman for 20 years (1961 to 1980) > Founder-trustee of the India Club > Chairman of the Indian Association Dubai for four terms

The nonagenarian recalled his first visit to the region.
He arrived in Sharjah from Karachi in 1942 aboard a Chinese Cargo ship called 'Woo Sang'. The fare was Rs23 and the voyage took eight days after touching the ports of Gawadar, Muscat and Bander Abbas.
"My father and three elder brothers were already in business in Sharjah and Dubai while I had joined DJ Sind College in Karachi for higher education in 1942. However, I could not pursue my degree due to protests and the closure of colleges in the wake of the Quit India Movement started by Mahatma Gandhi. I had to come to the Gulf [Trucial States] where our Thattai Bhatia community had a long-time presence," he said.
In those days, ships were docked on the sea and travellers had to take small boats to reach the Customs House. This took approximately half an hour. Life was very difficult and expatriates had to do all work themselves. Pancholia joined his father's business of foodstuff trading which he had started after the collapse of the pearl business due to the global recession in 1930.
"Life was very difficult without electricity, especially in summer. There were no roads and hardly any cars. Camels and donkeys were the mode of transport," he said.
But Sharjah had the Royal Air Force Airport about two to three kilometres from town, which was built during wartime, where Pancholia's family had a small sales outlet to cater to British expatriates.
Sharjah and all other emirates were small villages with populations varying from 4,000 to 6,000 each without any public amenities.
Family business
However, after living in Sharjah for a few months, Pancholia had to return to Karachi and to his birthplace Thatta for his marriage. His next trip to the Gulf was to Dubai in 1943, when he joined his elder brother who was in the currency exchange and gold trading business.
"I expanded our family business by diversifying into textiles, food stuff and investments. Those days, there was very little international trade. As most of the trading was with locals, we had to learn Arabic and Persian languages. We learnt those languages by interacting with both Arabs and Iranians," he recalled.
Pancholia said relationships were very personal and cordial back then and based on trust.
"The economy was not in good shape due to the collapse of the pearl industry. We used to pay frequent courtesy calls to Rulers. We approached them for help whenever there was a problem and they helped us solve it immediately."
There were no formal procedures or permissions required to start any business.
"We simply had to rent a shop and start the business. Annual rent was Rs100 or Rs200, depending on the size of the shop. When we started our electricity supply company [Indo-Arab Electricity Company] in 1957 in Dubai, we did not require any permission from authorities. The business licensing system started only in 1961 and licence fees for any business was just Rs100."
After the formal launch of the Dubai Electricity Company in 1961, things started improving. More Indian expats started moving to Dubai. Even foreigners were allowed shareholding in the company until 1980 when the company was nationalised.
Pancholia was one of the founding shareholders and was elected director of the Dubai Electricity Company from 1961 to 1980. Formal supply of electricity changed things in Dubai rapidly. More electronic shops opened and electronic items were imported which changed the lifestyle of residents in Dubai, he said.
"I could never imagine that Dubai and the UAE would change for the better so much and so fast thanks to the vision and open-door business policy of the past and present Rulers."
Achievements
Looking back, Pancholia feels that his life in Dubai has been successful both in terms of business and social work. "Thanks to His Highness Shaikh Rashid who granted me a large plot of land for the purpose of education, I founded the Indian High School. I could also serve Dubai on the boards of Dubai Electricity Co, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Al Maktoum Hospital for 15 to 20 years."
Pancholia was also keen to expand his operations in India. He launched educational, social and medical institutions in India. His family businesses - Arabian Trading Agency and Maghanmal Jethanand Group - are involved in real estate, electronics, steel, luggage, watches and investments.
"The best advice I received from my father was to be honest, helpful and friendly to others in life. I try to live up to my motto of 'simple living and high thinking'."
Pancholia says his favourite leader is His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who with his vision has modernised Dubai and the UAE in the shortest possible period.
His favourite book is A Tribute to H.H. Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and preferred movie is Mother India.
In his book Footprints - Memoirs of an Indian Patriarch, the nonagenarian has documented his life's experiences and the history of Dubai's evolution from a pearling hamlet to one of the most sought-after modern cities in the world today.
Karachi to Sharjah in eight days and Rs23 My first day in UAE
"I arrived in Sharjah from Karachi in September 1942 aboard a Chinese Cargo ship called 'Woo Sang' by paying a fare of Rs23 only.  The journey to Sharjah took eight days after touching the ports of Gawadar (Pakistan), Muscat (Oman), and Bander Abbas (Iran).
"Life was very difficult in those days as there was no electricity, especially in summer. There were no roads and hardly any cars. Camels and donkeys were the mode of transport at that time.
"Fortunately Sharjah had RAF Airport about 3km from town which was  built during war time, where we had a small showroom to sell day-to-day items to the British. Sharjah and all other States, now called Emirates, were small villages with population varying from four to six thousand each without any sort of amenities and the standard of living was difficult.
"There were no formal procedures or permissions required to start any business. We simply had to rent a shop and start textile or foodstuff business. Annual rent was Rs100 or Rs200 depending upon the size of the shop.
"In those days, there was little international trade done and we conducted most of the business only with locals. We had no choice but to learn Arabic and Persian languages to do trade with them. We learnt Arabic and Persian not by going to school or employing a teacher, but by interacting with locals, both Arabs and Iranians on a daily basis. Hence, most of business community members of those days including myself had working knowledge of both the languages. Hardly any foreigners used to visit Dubai in those days.
"Relations between all the inhabitants were very personal and cordial, everything was based on trust. The economy was not in good shape due to the collapse of the pearl industry. We used to pay courtesy calls on the Rulers and visited them frequently. We approached them for help whenever there was a problem, and they helped us solve it immediately.
- issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com

Maghanmal Pancholia

Young Maghanmal Pancholia in conversation with British Political Agent Sir James Craig and Shaikh Khalid Al Qasimi at a function of the Indian Association Dubai in 1962.

Laying the foundation stone for the Indian High School in 1968.

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