Jul 08, 2011 02:53 PM
By J.K.Chande.Penumbra Press, Canada. www.penumbrapress.com ISBN 1894131835 Hardcover. $29.95
Reviewed by Mahadev Desai
Respected and distinguished Sir JayantilalKeshavjiChande, popularly known as JK or Andy, has written a critically acclaimed and engrossing memoir of his life and times in Tanzania.
Andy’s father, KeshavjiChande immigrated to the then British territory of Tanganyika (now Tanzania) to build a better life. Jayantilal (Andy) was born in Mombasa, Kenya on May 7, 1928 but grew up in a nondescript dusty village Bukene, fifty miles north of Tabora, where his father had owned a (duka) shop. Andy attended the only one-roomed Indian Public school, under the tutelage of the only Indian teacher who taught 40 students of varying ages, in Gujarati medium. There was no newspaper or radio. Andy had only Gujarati comics, marbles and volleyball for recreation. He was very close to his father and helped him with odd jobs in his shop in his spare time. He was devastated when his 35 year old mother passed away in 1942. After two years, his father went to India and got re-married. Andy’s kind and loving step-mother took care of the large family.
After finishing primary school, he left for India and joined St.Peter’s Boy’s School at Panchgani, in Maharashtra State and for higher education went on to Wadia College in Pune.He was privileged to be a witness to India’s Independence in 1947 and fourteen years later to Tanganyika’s. Harold Macmillan had committed himself to letting the winds of change blow down the slowly crumbling walls of British imperialism in Africa. And Tanganyika, Uganda and Kenya were granted independence in 1961, 1962 and 1963 respectively.
Due to family circumstances, Andy had to break off his studies and return home. The business had expanded, diversified and prospered. His father and uncles mentored him in all aspects of business. Andy worked diligently and assumed greater responsibilities in Chande Industries Ltd. It became the largest exporter of coffee from Tanganyika and second largest in export of beeswax to Europe. He lauds his exemplary father, “I came to know him as a man who was humble, devout and almost ascetic, a person of absolute and unwavering integrity. He neither smoked nor drank and was a strict vegetarian. He worshipped at the temple regularly and supported many local charities…He paid his workforce fairly and treated his employees with respect. And importantly for the business, he had a knack for getting on with people He also imbued me with a rigorous work ethic.”
Andy’s father had known the Madhvani family (legendary corporate tycoons in Uganda) for over thirty years. The relationship was further cemented in 1955, with the marriage of 25 year old Andy with Jayalaxmi (Jayli), 18 year old daughter of MuljibhaiMadhvani.” The wedding itself was a very grand affair, as perhaps befitted a union between members of two of the foremost Indian families in East Africa”.
In 1956, Andy was invited to join the local legislative council (LEGCO) but his father wanted him to devote his energies to business. He bided his time and after two years he accepted appointment on both Executive Council (EXCO) and LEGCO. The political landscape in Tanganyika was changing. Tanganyika led by the visionary nationalist Dr.JuliusNyerere, known as ‘Mwalimu’ (Teacher), was preparing for independence. Andy heeded his father’s advice and looked after his business and family. Four years later, Keshavji passed away in 1959. “His funeral became another spontaneous manifestation of the tribal, racial and religious tolerance that has always been the bedrock of Tanganyikan society.
Tanganyika became independent but Andy laments that it had been woefully under-prepared by its colonial masters for the responsibilities of nationhood. MwalimuNyerere, a “visionary leader par excellence of the Tanganyikan nationalist movement,” in 1960, became Tanganyika’s Chief Minister and later the Prime Minister. And finally, in December 1962, First President of the United Republic of Tanzania. Andy who was a close friend of Mwalimu, describes him as “a humanist, without a racial bone in his body. “Like Gandhi, he was “a man of great principle and one similarly opposed to the use of violence as a means to political end.” He was an African socialist. The foundation and objective of socialism is the extended family. He developed his concept of ‘Ujaama’ (family hood) over the years. The economic decline and political crisis led to Arusha Declaration in 1967, which “identified hard work, intelligence and the land as lynchpins of the country’s future development. “It saw the summary acquisition by the state of the Chande family’s milling business and other business assets.” But Andy did not feel bitter. The former President of Tanzania, Benjamin Mpaka commended Andy, “It is a tribute to his resilience and patriotism and that of his family not only that they acquiesced in the edict, but that he scrupulously agreed to manage the transformation of this critical sector of the economy.
Aware of these attributes and of his business competence, President Nyerere bestowed on him the chairmanship and stewardship of the boards of many public enterprises over many years. Chande was appointed as CEO of the new national milling conglomerate of eight nationalized milling companies on a five –year tenure. He retired from that post at the end of 1972.The indefatigable Andy ,at the behest of the President Nyerere acted as Chairman of many major Corporations: Air Tanzania Corporation; the Tanzania Tourist Corporation; the Tanzania Harbours Authority; the Tanzania Railways Corporation; Tanzania Standard Newspapers Limited; Tanzania Hotel Investment Limited; to name a few. Add to that “my various boards’ responsibilities elsewhere, or my chairmanship of non-profit foundations, such as Museum and Library services and the African Medical and Research Foundation.”
He commends second President of Tanzania, Ali Hassan Mwinyi, who “laid the ground work for the significant economic and social progress that has been made since 1995 when Benjamin Mpaka became the 3rd President and carried the economic reforms further by opening up the economy.” He however takes the donor countries to task for attaching strings to the aid or loans they gave.
He can be proud of a few firsts he has chalked up –a first non-white Round Tabler in the world, and later on the first World President of the Round Table movement. He became the first non-white President of the Dar-es Salaam Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture. He also played a prominent role in the Rotary and Freemasonry movements. Through membership of these humanitarian organizations, he was able to help many causes including education, health, and environment, he felt deeply about.
He also took interest in ‘sustainability’, “the art of existing today in a way that safeguards tomorrow”. He commends the Rotary movement in “acting as a catalyst in establishing that closer linkage between protecting the environment and eradicating poverty that is so dear to my heart.”
Andy has received many well –deserved prestigious awards and accolades for his outstanding contribution in the corporate sector as well as other noteworthy humanitarian projects. To name just two- He was made an Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire on the 29th of August 2003, the first of its kind given to a Tanzanian citizen. The glittering investiture ceremony was held at the residence of the British High Commissioner.
In January 2005, the former President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam honored him with the prestigious PravasiBharatiyaSamman Award.
The memoir has amusing anecdotes as well, one of them about Dodoma winery, which was to be under Andy. As part of his milling empire! The wine produced with the help of an Italian expert, from grapes grown on a prison farm “was dubbed Chateau Migraine by the expatriate community in Tanzania.” It also has 16 pages of vintage black and white as well as colored photographs.
Andy is a devoted family man, living with his beloved wife Jayli whom he married in 1955. They have three sons and three grandchildren.
This mesmerizing autobiography is a story of Andy’s colorful, fulfilling and rewarding life and experiences, a glowing testament of his business acumen, resilience, loyalty, patriotism, philanthropy, and harmonious relationships with people of all races. It is bound to resonate with the Indian diaspora.
Owing to huge popularity, there have been three hard cover printing and one soft cover printing of “A Knight in Africa”, and also a Swahili version ‘Shujakatika Africa: Safari kutokaBukene’ in August 2007.
