AT the end of the indenture system in 1916, Fiji began to attract entrepreneurs from as far as Europe and Asia.
While most were European, Australian and English traders, some Indian businessmen also braved the 12,000km sea journey and travelled to Fiji in search of opportunities to make money.
Levuka was the capital and most of Fiji’s trade and business was centred there but Suva and other towns were growing and attracting more and more interest.
Most entrepreneurs from abroad, however, gravitated to Levuka and established their first business ventures there.
Among them was Jamnadas Maneklal who ventured into clothing and tailoring and established J Maneklal and Sons.
Kishore Maneklal, the company’s present day managing director and grandson of the late founder, said his grandfather was just 17 years old when he came to Fiji and began his business.
“My grandfather came from India in 1917,” said Mr Maneklal.
“He settled in Levuka and started his tailoring business there as he was a professional tailor.
“Suva was still to be developed, that’s why he chose to do his business in Levuka.”
Mr Maneklal said in the mid-1920s, his grandfather went back to India to get married but his love for Fiji remained.
“He came back with my grandmother in 1928.
“From that one store which he started, we now have two outlets in Suva and Lautoka.”
Mr Maneklal said the two buildings his grandfather bought in Levuka Town were still standing. A persistent reminder of the business’ humble beginnings.
“Those two buildings belonged to my family until 1969.
“My grandfather sold them in 1969 to the Vagh and Narsey families and then he returned to India.
“Before Whales Tale and Vagh, the tenant for the single storey building, was a Chinese family by the name of Low Lum.
“All my family members, including my uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters, were born in that building.”
Mr Maneklal said his grandfather’s purpose of visiting Fiji was only to do business. “He was a very talented tailor and he knew that he would excel in this business.
“He grew very quickly and managed to own two buildings in Levuka Town in mid-1920s.”
Mr Maneklal said his father, the late Chabildas Jamnadas had three siblings.
“My uncle and two aunts were born in Levuka.
“They have passed away except one aunt who lives in Australia and is 87 years old.” Mr Maneklal said in 1958, his father, Chabildas Jamnadas, moved to Lautoka to test the waters there.
“In 1958, the copra business shifted from Levuka to Suva. “So the business in Levuka all of a sudden went down.
“As a result of that, in 1958, my dad moved his business from Levuka to Lautoka.
“My grandfather, however, remained in Levuka and kept doing his clothing and tailoring business there.
“My dad started selling books and electronic products in his shop in Lautoka. “In 1969, my grandfather sold his two properties which were located in Levuka.
“He returned to India in 1982 and passed away there.
“When my grandfather sold his properties in Levuka, that marked the end of an era because that was when our family business in Levuka completely shut down.
“After completing my studies, I also moved to support my family business in Lautoka”.
Mr Maneklal said in 1993, he opened up a Suva branch of their electronics goods store.
“After I joined the business, we started to bring high quality equipment and electronic products.
“A lot of branded stuff was brought in such as speakers, amplifiers, sound systems, car radios, watches, et cetera.
“While other shops were selling cheaper stuff, we went for the high-end and quality stuff.”
Mr Maneklal said his brother, Prakash Maneklal, today managed the Lautoka shop.
“I manage this shop (Suva shop) while
he manages Lautoka.
“I have two sons, one is supporting me in business.”
Mr Maneklal said like every other retail venture, there were always ups and downs in business.
“At one point, we were relying entirely on tourism but that changed after Government introduced high import duty on electronics.
“When that happened, we had to change the line to more local-oriented stuff.
“That happened after 2000, when duty on electronic goods was increased.”
Mr Maneklal said the COVID-19 pandemic had also hit businesses hard.
“We are all hopeful for a better future.”
