A journey to unseen horizons

BY SUDHA NATARAJAN

Community participation and generosity of heart are traits of very special people, like Mr Liladar Pala. He has played an active role in promoting and supporting community development in Fiji and Australia, besides donating generously to various needy organisations in India.

Liladar is a life member of several religious missions in Fiji, and a Chartered Member of the Lions and Rotary Clubs in Fiji. He was President of Girnara Soni Seva Samaj in Fiji from 1960 to 1966, and Trustee of Divine Life Society also in Fiji from 1957 to 1967, to name just a few of his prestigious commitments. Along with several school boards, Liladar was also a part of the Cinema Censor Board of the Government of Fiji, and on the Advisory Board of Shree Shankarji Foundation for the Blind of India.

Appreciating his services to the community, the Fiji Government honoured Liladar by awarding him with the medal instituted by the Queen in commemoration of Fiji Independence in 1970.

In recognition of his outstanding contribution and services, the 25th Council of International Congress of NRIs invited him to New Delhi and presented him with the Government of India Award on the eve of Republic Day in 2006.

In Australia, Liladar continues his support of the community as a life member of RAIN (Resourceful Australian Indian Network) and the Sri Mandir Society, Auburn. He is also a member of the Senior Citizens Gujarati Group and Hindu Society, Parmarth Educational Centre Incorporated, and Hindu Heritage Research Foundation Limited. He also represented the Gujarati Samaj of NSW Inc. in the World Gujarati Conference in New Jersey, USA in 2006.

Early Life

Liladar Pala was born in a small village named Barvala near Hariyaali Naagher, a beautiful green and hilly province in Gujarat, situated around the picturesque mountain range of Mount Girnar. The region is popular for its ancient Jain temples with their famously beautiful marble carvings, and it is also a corridor into the lion sanctuary.

Liladar’s grandfather Kanji Jinah Pala was a jeweller, and had a large family with five sons and a daughter. They lived in a joint family and Bhanji Kanji Pala, Liladar’s father, had to look for opportunities to unknown horizons to improve their lot. Liladar’s father found such an opportunity when he sailed to Fiji in 1914, a tough and hazardous 30-day journey from Calcutta to Suva, the capital of Fiji on a ship with 300 people crammed on an open deck, experiencing severe weather conditions. But it was their determination to achieve something for themselves that inspired them. Sacrifice was the price they had to pay for leaving their families and venturing into unknown lands.

Liladar’s father established himself in Fiji, continuing in the jewellery business, and was joined by his brothers to broaden their business horizons. The Pala family soon had a shop of general business in Lambasa, Vanualevu and Suva. Liladar’s father returned to India in 1923.

Liladar was born in 1924, the second child of five siblings. In that era, education was not easily accessible due to transport difficulties and Liladar had to walk 3kms to school in another village.

Marriage Makes The Man

Liladar migrated to Fiji in 1936, and began his studies immediately, joining the family business in 1942. In 1947, Liladar went to India to find his life partner, and as was the custom, his parents had selected a few eligible girls to be his prospective bride. Liladar selected the beautiful Ramaben and married her with the blessings of his father and other elders. Ramaben loved him dearly, and cared, supported, encouraged and inspired him from the day they married till now, 65 years later. Liladar then returned to Fiji, Ramaben joined him soon after and in time, they were blessed with two sons and a daughter.

Diversifying business

Marriage motivated Liladar further, and the family worked hard to build the business into an empire. In 1954 they diversified, purchasing three theatres and expanding the business with other partners. They imported Hollywood films as well as films in several Indian languages, and their association with the film industry brought them other cultural opportunities. Hindi films were very popular in Fiji and many broke box office records bringing Indian movie moguls and famous artists such as Mohammad Rafi, Mukesh, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Parekh, Hema Malini and many others to Fiji. Liladar and his family hosted these celebrities on their trips to the island state.

In 1962, Air India inaugurated their flight to Fiji on a Boeing aircraft, and Liladar was felicitated along with other dignitaries, with a week-long holiday. This was in acknowledgement of Liladar’s service to the country and his company’s contribution to the economic development in Fiji.

Liladar and Ramaben migrated to Australia in 1988 to be with their two sons and daughter who have been here since 1983. They were lucky to have wonderful friends in Shree Sharad and Rita Devmurari, and also Shree Shivprasadji (Kantibhai) and Savitaben Bhatt. With the help of their friends they are now well settled here and are actively involved in the community.

Liladar Pala on life’s many adventures…

“It is very pleasing to sit back and reflect on the past 65 odd years and think about the challenges, hard work, rewards, disappointments and successes experienced. I find it very encouraging and pleasing that I could serve my elders such as my grandfather, father and many great saints including Mother Teresa. We also personally met and served great personalities like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and others,

Liladar diversified the family business, purchasing three theatres. They imported Hollywood films as well as films in several indian languages, and their association with the film industry brought them other cultural opportunities ramaben loved him dearly, and cared, supported, encouraged and inspired him from the day they married till now, 65 years later including many holy persons. We were very fortunate to have visited and taken extensive pilgrimages to all the famous holy places, including the 12 Jyotirlings. We also travelled overseas, and we believe that all this was possible only by the grace of God, blessings from our elders and the result of good deeds done. Our efforts, intelligence and toil had helped to a certain extent only.

Now we live with our elder son Girish, his lovely wife Preeti and our two grandchildren. The love, care and support we enjoy from our family is beyond anyone’s expectation. All our needs are taken care of and our feelings are respected to the minutest detail. What else can parents ask for?”