George Jacob (Jacob - first name) arrived in Qatar as a young CA trainee. He had cleared most of the papers for CA. On his arrival as an auditor with what is now EY, he learnt that the last set of papers he wrote did not fetch him the coveted CA, demanding his attending to them again. But out here in the field, he was indeed neck-deep in work. His boss would not let him go even after 10 pm. But he had to go to appear for the exams again. And only at that juncture did he realise that he was depriving the young man of a great freedom to grow. He was regretful, and immediately, he took to compensating - he asked Jacob to find the best hotel in Mumbai and stay there and learn well, and if he clears the examination, all the expenses involved including travel, would be on him.
Jacob flew to India, found a conveniently located flat, stayed there and prepared and appeared for the examinations. Cleared them, and came back. A good amount was given to him by the boss. His auditor position put him in touch with several higher ups, who were eager to offer him opportunities with them. British Airways wanted him to take care of their accounting of the Asian region. But Jacob was not eager to get such jobs. He was on the look out for starting something on his own! In his stint at auditing he came across the Al Kaabi chief Mr. Mohammed Nasser Khatab Al Kaabi. He invited him to join Al Kaabi, as he found Jacob a very promising young man with whom he found time to engage in conversation. Jacob considered the invite, but made a condition, not as an employee, but as someone able to start something. Mohammed said, you join, and let us see. So that was the beginning of what is more than four decades long partnership.
But nothing happened in those days. No ventures, no initiative. Then, Qatar Ambassador to India was ....., a nephew of Mohammed. Whenever he was free, he would come to the company. In the usual banter, once he asked, what is that you want to do? Is there anything I can do for you? Jacob was prompt with idea, of starting something small. A business venture. The man went out, came back in half an hour, with the necessary permissions!! What else? Money - they decided to start with 50000 QR as the initial investment - 51:49. He handed over the money in no time. Jacob had secured the nod from his sponsor, Mohammed Al Kaabi by then. He visualised a carpentry shop, and took St. Joseph as his model. And the whole thing was set up in no time. Some 7 carpenters were brought from Kerala. And the capital was exhausted. Then he sought the help of the sponsor. So another 10000 in partnership was pledged, and the company got rolling. On his side, his brother in law also was involved. In four years, it earned 4 million QR. He recalls with relish those days of fervent action, ready at the shop by 5 am, dispatching the workers by 7 am, getting works and completing it and all that....Later on, taking into consideration, the possible likelihood of family fissures on account of business, he pulled out of the company, and let his brother-in-law run the same with another partner. And Jacob started one on his own. By 80's his brother in law wound up the project and went home.
Later on, with his acumen for numbers, he entered the money market and it was a big hit. The Sponsor also was equally interested. It became a kind of passion. It required vigilant eyes and constant alertness and prompt actions. It was flourishing business, and sponsor gave his car which had a telephone (a very rare thing in those days), which was a privilege to him as the member of the advisory council, to his new young partner. He was the only Malayalee having such a car in those days.
Businesses flourished. But health suffered. Initially, while he had an attack of hernia, and the condition was critical. It was a skillful Dr. Jagan Chacko (son of the illustrious P.T. Chacko) who helped him in that situation. He had been to Canada for a visit, and it aggravated. There they had no counsel to give other than that of surgery. All that took away time and focus, and being away from the intense watchfulness cannot be fit for a job of money market. So he gradually pulled himself out of it.
Gradually projects developed and a big team around that. Till an accident caused ill-health set in, it was a life of constant run and race. From A to Z, he had his eyes on the details. He would do the recruiting of hands - from labourer to the manager - all by himself. He knew personally each one of the big team of about 400 plus staff. It all came to a grind with the new venture in education, in partnership with Rajagiri-Kochi was in progress of implementation.
Supervising the new school project construction site, he raised his head while walking bended under a low floored construction, and hit head on the beam fiercely. He managed to step out and continue his tasks. People observed he was walking in a drowsy manner, as if drunk. And they all knew, he didn't have any such habits. Yet he drove, and went around. At night he woke with a splitting head ache. And early morning met Dr. Jagan. They took him to the Hamad hospital, and immediate scanning was recommended. He recalled that when the project of installing the CT scanner at the hospital was in execution, he had commented of the prospects of having to lie down under it in future. And exactly that was happening.
Seeing the scan report, the doctors were appalled. The brain had tilted to a side, and there was a blood clot. One of the doctors told very casually, 'we will drive a hole in the skull and get the blood out'. It was really threatening. This could not be done immediatlely as he was on medication for thinning the blood. That aspect had to be addressed. So it would take a week. A room had to be shared among 3 patients. No other room available. The nurse who was in-charge had some obligation to him having been his staff in the initial phase of her career. She recommended that they go home, and she would not let the registers indicate 'admitted status', and when there was room, they could return. And that was what they did. Next day, the room was available. After a week, the procedure was done. When asked for the result, the doctors were not 100% happy, though it was said to be successful. The entire clot could not be removed.
Jacob sir trusts it was all God's help - by night the rest of the clot matter also oozed off through the tube! He was back - in the field of action, continuing the projects. But not the old energetic go-getter. He has limited his operations, and withdrawn from various fields. He, once used to long drives, no longer drives his car. However, his working hours still prolong to 9.30 to 10.30 pm. And invariably, he is at the school, to guide and support its growth as the new venture with a different dimension than that of the typical ventures he had been with.
He recalls with shudders the impact of COVID. A fast track project was already initiated. 300 strong workforce. 200 had been recruited and were in the project. Shortage of staff, deadlines and regular threat of COVID. Somebody develops temperature, the entire batch has to be withdrawn. Sometimes only 2 hours of work could be undertaken. Restrictions on transport required more buses. It was a sacary time. However, finally, the project was accomplished within the deadlines! A major feat, and a great and unforgettable experience.
COVID revealed a very employee friendly feature of the entrepreneur - then, as well as now, before the new month begins, the salary due to the employee is credited in their account without fail, whereas several others schools faced pay-cut or deferal of payment! When Mr. George, the art teacher who was on extended service met with death, in spite of having settled all his due, thanks to the foresight of Mr. Jacob, the family could avail the insurance amount due to them. It was a great blessing in distress.
A very perceptive mind, as an experienced connosieur in the field of human resource, he is able to assess the potential of a candidate from the very first conversation - long years of people management has taught him adequate assessment science - not aptitude tests warranted!
That is where we are meeting - Rajagiri for its tradition of academic excellence and Al Kaabi with its expertise in development projects; together to create a conducive learning environment and systems, world class. I guess, the initiative had come through Mr Sunny Pallikkaparambil FCA, chartered accountant and long time financial consultant for Rajagiri institutions. It was their friendship as contemporaries in attaining the coveted CA status, that led to roping in Rajagiri, when Mr Jacob thought of this eduventure, lest it becomes an adventure. That his son-in-law, Dr Aju Abraham, an accomplished psychatrist, and a board member of Rajagiri School Doha, is a Rajagirian, adds to the Rajagiri heritage of Rajagiri - Doha.
Now celebrating the golden jubilee of his tryst with Qatar, he has witnessed the growth of Qatar from a rural, rustic, smalltime township to a megalopolis of world standards. The challenge is to match our presence as Rajagiri to this world class infrastructure the young nation has built up.
The school team sees in him a fatherly figure - compassionate and very receptive to their personal problems and needs. The Principal Sanjeevkumar vouches him for the gentleman he is - Jacob the just, who does not fail to pay the salaries due on or before the last day of the month, invariably - rain or shine, covid or post-covid! That, to him, is a rare experience among Qatar Indian schools. He recalls how Mr. Jacob receives the school officials - most of them Malayalees, which made them at ease. When he sees them at the Management office room, he beckons them in: 'baa saare' (Come in, sir); and once they step in, 'para sare' (tell, sir).
With not-so-small a business empire around him, and more than 70 years behind him, he is still on his quest, the entrepreneur's zest untrammelled, with his eyes for every detail, but making very less of noise; and trusting the Lord, and drawing inspiration from His servant, the Thirumeni or Parumala...
Inspiring success story of a coddling entrepreneur.
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