Nestled in a picturesque location in the shadow of the majestic “Mountain of the Sleeping Giant” lies S.Kumar Shopping Centre.
Proprietor, Satendra Kumar, affectionately known as Sattu kaka to residents in the area, explained how the business was established.
“In 1956, our land lease expired at Natova, Sabeto, located near the Sabeto Village,” he said.
“It was a 10-acre piece of land and my father Joe Karan was a sugarcane farmer.
“I was only three years old and the then Colonial Sugar Refinery offered my father this piece of land to build a house.
“I was the youngest in a family of four.
“My father built a small bure home and we stayed there for nearly two decades.”
Because of financial constraints Mr Kumar managed to receive education up to class six only.
“I was assisting my father on the farm.
“In 1960, my father was employed at the CSR as a labourer.
“He was supporting the family with whatever money he earned.
“My father retired at the age of 55, after six years of being employed there.
“I replaced my father and worked at CSR for four years.”
Mr Karan’s retirement from CSR gave rise to the birth of their business — the first grocery shop in Natova Sector, Sabeto.
“My father pioneered S.Kumar Shopping Centre in 1965, with the help of my brother.
“At that time, it was a small wooden store.
“Every basic food item was sold.”
The responsibility of running the family shop fell on the shoulders of Sattu kaka after his elder brother left to stay in Suva.
“My brother went to Suva in 1976.
“I used to assist my father in the shop, especially in the evenings, since I was a full-time farmer, during the day.
“I was planting vegetables and also had a tobacco farm.
“My experiences with my father in the shop, taught me how to be a shopowner.
“I did not know anything about how a business operated.”
Mr Kumar took over the running of the shop from 1979.
“My father passed away in 1979 after succumbing to diabetes.
“I became the sole controller of the business.
“My shop has never ceased business at anytime.
“I invested and transformed the wooden building into a concrete one.”
Despite his enthusiasm, it was not plain sailing for the young businessman, as he endured many hardships, especially from Mother Nature.
“My shop and house had been completely destroyed twice, during hurricane Oscar and Kina respectively.
“But I never gave up or lost hope. “Slowly, little by little, bit by bit, day by day, I managed to rebuild, and here I am.”
Mr Kumar turns 70 on October 14 this year.
However, he still tills the land, owns cattle, looks after his sickly wife and attends to his customers.
“I neither drink beer nor smoke, I lead a healthy lifestyle.”
Mr Kumar has been married to Verenaisi Nasau, who hails from the chiefly mataqali of the Lumuni clan in Sabeto, for 40 years.
The Kumars are a classic example of how success can be achieved through hard work, sacrifice, dedication, respect and love.
More than half a century later, S.Kumar Shopping Centre proudly remains in the same family and at the same location, serving the people of Sabeto and its surrounds.
It continues to thrive and serve the people of Sabeto, and visitors alike.
