KABWE - BROKEN HILL
LIFETIME STORIES AND EXPERIENCES OF A BUSINESSMAN FROM ZAMBIA - Mahesh Ranchhod
Some would have had a difference of Opinion in meaning/s, when the author initiate’s his book under “Preface” with humbly seeking an excuse in advance on possible errs/apologies due to called upon his “Senior Moments” but in contrast this book is sheer bliss and more "like wine, beauty and wisdom".
Surely, this being the best tonic for reminiscing with dementia patients in my unpretentious opinion, well written, commencement of this accounts starts with Mr Mahesh’s background and the family’s lineage from the West Coast of the Indian Sub-continent.
Added with plenty of Wit through- out the read, well thought out strategized book in different chapters under different headings, talk the talk walk the walk in every sense, his business enterprises spanned across the Central to South African region.
Some may say or think contents matters are over exaggerated in substances by the author, that is certainly not the case, we grew up to witness all unfold within our environment as Kabwe (Brokenhill) flourished as per reminisced in the book during/around that era.
Like many typical Indian families, this particular oriented individual was well prepared in hard work that had an eye/ tentacles in all sorts of voids in its under -takings, bequeathing it with the art of Business ventures, what really differs and sets Mahesh apart from many, the fact in creating opportunities at a whim was his family ongoing mantra that he adopted through learning the art in seizing opportunities at a very young age, acquired from within his surroundings.
In his pre-requisite mindset, a well deliberated opportunist phrase was thought out constantly , an automated adaptable call is sounded “Why not” that is a classical summed up trait, thought out systematised process, prepared to take calculated risks with readymade safety nets that he overcomes so swiftly through a well-thought-out Business plan with immeasurably self-confidence, knowledge, business acumen, judiciary expertise, men-management, etc, that in self, is self- luck/Karma making machine, as they say “Some People dream of success while others wake up and work hard for it, success is strength that ripples through and through one’s tenacity" !
If you are one of those, like many of us who have tottered through the contemptible Colonial era, one will certainly value Mahesh’s insight and experiences that is certainly on par with many historical known patriotic public figures who had had experiences or skirmished against the Callous Colonials in their times, many battled so many countless injustices, lived it throughout their Colonial brutal reign, inadvertently to get even a small hope in justice for many of us, made us feel worthy and respectable, ensuing this, it is a joy to read about a silent beacon, in the shadows that stood up for the likes of us all and yet we had no inkling of Mahesh’s surreptitious contributions at such a high level, thanks for sharing.
On February 3, 1960, in Cape Town, South Africa, a visiting British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan stunned the South African Parliament with his famous “Wind of Change” speech, what followed thereafter was historic.
We all envisaged Independence would see better living through its concept and actions, open up so many business opportunities and different possibilities across the board for us all as equal citizens. People of that era and particularly the nation that they represented all envisaged a new dawn on the horizon waiting in wait, no matter where one came from.. Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi..etc.
Thereon, times were startlingly somewhat starting to get difficult for some reason, it was difficult to pin point exactly why this was so, but what followed disastrously for many, that was never expected, we now come to know “Africa was slowly dying at a slow pace, its people relentlessly mowed down by starvation and disease. Among the perpetrators of this holocaust were the International Monetary Fund, the former colonial powers and the multinational corporations and commodity cartels” as per described by one investigative team!
Tragically what continually transpired from difficult times, in 1989, sadly 150 million people in Africa were severely malnourished, 70 million more than in the mid-1970s.
How did this tragedy come about so swiftly and summarily; Mahesh’s book has given us a bit of a historical insight as to how the newly formed independent nations struggled, drastically changed laws to stay afloat, trying on one hand to water down the rising flames from the upsurge of the Rise of Africanization, diffusing and in the process making Overseas British subjects pay a price, balancing the books in the development, all this against the might in defending the ugly face of Neocolonialism in Africa that had now clearly shown its fangs.
Author’s Wit & Wisdom: LIFETIME STORIES AND EXPERIENCES OF A BUSINESSMAN FROM ZAMBIA by Mahesh Ranchhod extends his coverage across the Atlantic Ocean to the West Coast USA along the shores of North Pacific Oceans where he rejoins his family and eventually settles. WHY?
Like many Asian from the Indian Sub-Continent, when Independence came along, Indians were offered the choice of obtaining either British or Zambian citizenship. Given three months to decide, the country of his/her citizenship, the only country he/she was eligible to go to, would not admit him/her was found unacceptable, and he/she would be jailed, later to be deported to England. Colonial born Asians were among those who chose to leave for Britain, but despite having an Overseas British passport, British officials refused him/her entry under Commonwealth Immigrations Acts and instead sent him/her back to where one embarked from.
Many have since shut shops, what- ever business they were in or left employment, and moved to better- pastures abroad, some have crossed lands/oceans, many have bettered themselves on many different levels, many of their offsprings are prominent public figures, never the less some also opted and chose to stay behind for different reasons as citizens and many are still residing in Africa to this very day.
Saying goes “a good book has no ending” sparks one’s imagination, and the story doesn't truly end because it lives on in one’s mind, that is what it does to me….Thanks Mahesh for sharing, as the saying goes "History is written by the victors” but the likes of you who have narrated their history from the Flip side of the coin, that to me is “far beyond being victorious”.
https://www.zambianhistory.com/kabwe--broken-hill
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FVWHT1XQ/ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_XRET4D5VNB5JYJRK2AB6