From working as a casual labourer in printery shops all over Suva to being the boss of his own printing business, Shahzaad Ali has now been in business for the past 40 years.
Born in Vunisea Village on Kadavu, the 72-year-old businessman left school in Year 5 to help his parents support their family of 14.
This week on Point of Origin, we had a chat with Mr Ali at his shop at Gulam Nabi St in Nausori Town.
Mr Ali said prior to moving to Nausori, his family used to live in Vunisea on Kadavu where his father worked as a businessman buying local mats, crabs, buabua (Fagraea Gracilipes) timber and other supplies on Kadavu to be sold in Suva.
“When I was six years old, my family came to Viti Levu and we settled in Vuci Rd here in Nausori,” Mr Ali said.
He said being the second eldest of 12 children meant he had to help his parents support their family.
“In 1963 when I was 13 years old I had my first job and worked at Gulam Nabi and Company here in town.
“Then I worked for Rewa Lodge which was like a restaurant at that time.” From there, he worked at an ice factory located at Main Rd, Nausori where the current Crest Chicken Ltd mill now sits.
“Then we moved to Sawani where I started working at sawmills. I worked for Rambisessar & Sons, Ram Autar & Sons, Bake Singh & Sons. Aside from logging, sawmills made cases that farmers use to store and transport produce such as banana, ginger, dalo and tomato which were sent to the islands or sold at the local market. It wasn’t until 1969, at the age of 19, that he was introduced into the world of printing.
“When my older sister got married, her husband told me that I was working too hard at the sawmill so he took me to work with him in Oceania Printery Ltd in Marks Lane, Suva.”
Interesting to note that there were no printing shops in Nausori in the 60s even though missionaries were using the printing press brought by the Rev David Cargill to Fiji in 1838, to print mission literature in Rewa between July 1839 and 1844.
Mr Ali worked at Oceania Printery for four years before moving to Suva Bookshop and Stationery at Greig St, Suva in 1973.
“After that, I moved to Suva Printing and Publishing on the corner of Suva St at Toorak.”
From there he went to work for a new printery called Sadhana Printery that was at Marks Lane as well.
“My boss from there, Dewan Chand Maharaj, now runs a printing press in Walu Bay called Quality Print.”
It was in 1980, after a slight dispute at his working place, that Mr Ali started planning to open a shop of his own.
“I thought to myself that I knew a little bit about printing so why don’t I buy a small machine and start one printer.” He registered his printery business, Ali’s Printing — Nausori, in August of that same year.
“I bought a small hand-fed platen press machine worth $500 to start off with.”
Later, he was also able to acquire a Letterpress machine for his business. In 1989 he employed a printer, Anruth Kumar — commonly known as Bob, who has been working for him from then ’til today.
“It was Bob who started Multilith offset printing in my press when he came in in ’89 and we have been using it ever since.
“All the machines that I am using now are the same machines I was using since 1980.”
Through his printing business, Ali was able to buy his own house, bought land, built three other houses, travel to Mecca and Medina, India, Pakistan and other countries.
“It is a small business but we work week to week, Friday to Friday.
“We have never done canvassing of customers from 1980 ’til now.
“Just express jobs for customers who come here – you give it today you take it tomorrow or after five hours.”
He said being devout Muslims, they didn’t put up any boards or signage for their business but rely on God to bring them customers and their income.
“God is feeding us, He provides for us.”
Ali said after starting his business, he never struggled but only worked harder.
“Everything is within walking distance and I like it that way.
“My house in Nadali is within walking distance to my shop here in town and the mosque that I go to pray in.”
While Ali lives here in Fiji with his wife, both his daughters are overseas with their individual families.
“We are not a millionaire or billionaire or anything like that, but we just work hard for our bread and butter every day.”
