R Jumabhoy
Inaugural Excellence Award For Outstanding Entrepreneurship
Rajabali Jumabhoy, born in Lakhapur, Kutch India in 1898 was a well-known and well-regarded businessman and patriarch dubbed commonly as the ‘the Great Old Man of Scots’. He is of Gujarati extract; a community that lionized the Bombay (called Mumbai these days) commercial arena. When in India the Jumabhoy family began a firm in Singapore’s Market Street dealing in wheat flour and spices. Because of problems with acclimatization he went back to Bombay and when he returned he launched yet another business in 1922, again dealing in spices.
But it was his foray into the property business that turned his fortunes around and the post-war years saw his business prospering as he diversified into shipping etc.
When war came in 1942 Jumabhoy escaped to India fearing Japanese retribution. At the end of the war, the British saw a grave need to revitalize fallen industries and they turned to Jumabhoy for help.
In 1948, he renamed his business as R Jumabhoy & Sons and converts his family residence at Scotts Road into a commercial entity called, Scotts Holdings. A former parliamentarian and winner of the Commander award of the Order of the British Empire,
Apart from being a successful businessman, Jumabhoy contributed extensively to the community, serving in honorary capacity in at least 22 organisations before 1940, and another 27 after World War II.
He was one of the founding members of Indian Association (IA) and later went on to serve as the president of the Association twice, before and after the WW II. He was one of those who mooted the idea of a suitable clubhouse and worked towards the donation drive to raise funds.
Jumabhoy was also instrumental in establishing the Indian Merchants Association, precursor to Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and served as its first president.
Political involvement
1938-1941: Member of the Municipal Council or Commission (holds this position again from 1946-1947). This was a statutory body that sought to improve public amenities like roads, water supply etc.
1948: Elected by the Indian Chamber of Commerce into the first Legislative Assembly or Council, remaining a member until 1955.
12 Jul 1951: Appointed into the Executive Council of the Legislative Assembly.
1955: In Singapore’s first general elections, he is elected into the Legislative Council as an independent in a three-corner fight at Telok Ayer, a predominantly Chinese constituency.
1959: Retires from politics.
Awards
1930: Made Justice of the Peace under Singapore Government.
1938: Malayan Certificate of Honour under Malayan Government.
1953: Made a Commander (C.B.E.) under the Order of the British Empire.
Family
Grandfather: Bunder Kassim, a successful merchant whose trade ploughed between Arabia and Somalia. He was so highly regarded that a Somalian coastline bears his name. Originally a Hindu, Bunder embraced the Muslim faith and adopted the Islamic name “Kassim”.
Wife: Fatimabai Premji (b. 1904, Bombay-—d. 10 August 1964, Singapore). Married her on 11 May 1920. She bore him seven children, out of whom four survived.
Sons: Ameerali, the eldest and previously chairman and managing director of Scotts Holdings; Yusuf, second son; Mustafa, the youngest son residing in Penang. Daughter: Perin, residing in Karachi, married to a prominent businessman from that city.