Habib Ismail Ali

Children

Ahmed Habib Ismail 1899–1980

Ali Asghar Habib

Dawood Habib 1901–1950

Mahomedali Habib 1904–1959

Sakina Ismail Habib 1895–1954

Habib Bank, Bombay 1940s

A SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF LATE MR. HABIB ESMAIL

Esmail Ali of Jamnager, the pioneer came to Bombay in search for his share of the trade of the new growing city of Bombay. He established a small factory of art work. During his first days of hard work, a son was born to him in 1878 whom he named Habib.

The young child was growing up into a sweet attractive, intelligent and strong little boy. Mr Esmail was very fond and proud of his boy and bestowed all his love and care in him. Education in those days was difficult and expensive, in spite of that young Habib was admitted in the Fort and Propriety High School of Bombay. At school the boy fulfilled Mr. Esmail’s hope by coming at the top of his form, proved his ability on the sports field. His teachers spoke highly of him and the youngster was marked for as promising boy.

The year 1891 upset all the plans of his parents for during the year Mr. Esmail died suddenly, leaving behind a widow, a son, a daughter and a small factory.

At the tender age of 13, the boy was called upon to take care of his widowed mother and orphaned sister. It was not possible for young Habib to run the factory, because Mr. Esmail, was Manager, Engineer and principal worker.

Habib’s mother took him to his uncle Mr. Cassim Mahomed, the owner of Khoja Mithabhai Nathoo, merchants and manufacturers of Copper and brass utensils, for employment in his shop.

It will not be out of place to narrate in short, about the firm of Khoja Mithabhai Nathoo, for Habib Esmail’s life was interwoven with the firm. Mr. Mithabhai Nathoo a pioneer from Jamanager, by dint of sheer hard work, honesty and intelligence was able to establish a big Copper and Brass utensil shop at Kansara Chawl, Kulbadevi in the year 1841 and name his shop "Khoja Mithabhai Nathoo". His son Mahomed Mitha Nathoo carried on his business after his death and at his death, the business was left to Cassim Mahomed Mitha Nathoo, the maternal uncle of Habib Esmail.

The good kindly gentleman Cassim Mahomed looked pensively at young Habib and began to smile. He asked the widowed mother how and where could he use such a young boy. The pushing young boy interjected that he would learn fast and will be useful soon. The widowed mother said that Cassim Seth was his guardian and father now and she left the boy in his hands.

The good Cassim Seth took the boy in hand with the following words of advice, which the young lad never forgot to the end of his days.

Faithfulness, honesty, intelligence and hard work only will make you successful.

The fresh shop assistant, was going through this apprenticeship without any pay. His first remuneration after six months was Rs.5 per annum.

Young Habib was never unmindful of his duty towards his late father his widowed mother and his benevolent uncle, who was now a father to him. The one idea in the head of this young man was to make good. He worked night and day. In the morning he was at the shop door before it opened and went home Late at night, when the attendants wanted to close the shop. He worked because he must work, it was his duty. It never occurred to him what he was paid. He always believed in doing something for nothing, as a sure method of going up. For everybody does something for something. It was no smooth royal road to success. There were plenty of obstructions by jealous people and unfortunate accidents of time. These things never bothered him for he invoked God’s help, worked incessantly, with courage borne out of faithfulness, honesty and singleness of purpose.

At the age of 18 that is in 5 years, he became a junior partner in the old firm of Khoja Mithabhai Nathoo and became the President. of Copper & Brass Merchants Association.

In deference to the wishes of his ailing mother Habib married at the age of 16. Couple of years later the good mother died, who was responsible for the sterling character of Habib. By her actual loving and timely words of advice, the mother of Habib was able to engrave in his mind and character, some golden rules of life.

The first was faithfulness, second honesty, third hard work, fourth love, fifth courage, sixth generosity and charity.

Habib’s marriage to Rehmatbai Janmohamed was blessed by six children. Four boys and two daughters, one daughter died soon after her birth. Habib’s marriage was a lucky and happy one. His wife was a brace hardworking and charitable woman.

Early success by God’s Grace, gave tremendous encouragement to the junior partner of Khoja Mithabhai Nathoo. He celebrated his promotion to partnership by capturing most of the local business, by his personality, intelligence and terrific capacity for work.

He was as mindful of the owner of the shop, as his customer. He advised and helped his customers in making their purchases judicious and economical. He gave his customers value for their money, believed in giving full measure, weight with a true balance, with him honestly was not only the best policy but a matter of faith. His customers dare not buy their requirements from his competitors, because they were afraid Habib will scold them. Habib had the power and courage to reprimand his customers, because he gave them service and his honesty gave him that strength.

The establishment was doing the best business of its long existence, but was not good enough for this energetic partner. He had lot of imaginations and he began expanding business. All big and lucrative customers in Bombay were his clients. He created contact with all big Brass and Copper merchants at Karachi, Madras, Calcutta and Rangoon. In order to cope up with the ever increasing demand, he established a big factory in Bombay and several small factories around Bombay at places like Dharematar, Renas, Alibag etc. where Kansaras (a community expert in mettalergy) were available.

Next he turned his attention to the export markets of East Africa, created two more shops in the bazzar and was handling more than 50% of the total business. At this stage, he thought he had exploited the brass and copper utensil business to capacity, and nothing more was left for his inexhaustible energy and imagination to this line.

Something in him forced to do other trade, besides the Copper and Brass utensil business.

Essentially he was a metal trader, so he started copper, brass, tin and lead scrap business in partnership with M. Gulamali Abdulhusain. The local business was rather small for his liking unless he found a market, he could not buy scrap in a big way.

God’s mercy, his imagination and capacity found him a big merchant at London in the firm of E. Suren. From exporter he became the biggest importer of brass and copper sheets from England and Germany. The growing international trade used to keep him busy from morning till late after midnight. He never looked at the watch to finish his work, he would go only after the work was finished. There were no holiday in his calendar. He would take a holiday only when the business was slack.

In 1912, he sent out to Europe his first representative to look after his business and in order to handle efficiently any other new business of which he may think. He was a man of foresight and vision.

It was simultaneously he started exporting old iron scrap and manganese ore to Italy. Cotton to almost all the parts in Europe and oilseeds to France and Italy. Two branch offices were established one at Geneva and the other at Vienna. All this huge business, he used to do, in a very small office at the back of his shop, with one assistant and accountant as his full staff. Beyond financing this big business, he started financing traders in other line and was considered an important Shroff, amongst Bombay’s Mercantile Community and bankers. His credit was first class and by God’s help, he was able to make the firm of Khoja Mithabai Nathoo amongst the few top class houses in Bombay.

He started the import business simultaneously. From a pin, bicycle to heavy factory machinery was handled by his Import Department running under the name of Mithabhoy & Co. This department was in charge of his two working partners Mr. Vannali & Dulabji.

Business with Europe was fairly organized so he turned his attention to Japan and China Hosiery, Yarn, Glassware, Cutlery etc. were imported from Japan and cotton was exported to Japan and China. Cotton exports to China were very large and the terms of payment were after delivery, therefore it was found necessary to open an office at Shanghai.

The demand from Italy for scrap iron and manganese ore was, so great, that he had to open a ship breaking yard. He bought quite a number of ships, few of them were S.S,. Lindula, S.S. Paris, H.M.S. Highflier a big battle ship and many others. These big ocean liners were broken and its materials sold in various markets.

Besides buying manganese ore from Killick Incxon, Shiviaj pure Syndicate and many others, he owned manganese mines in C.P. and took a mining licence for Goa.

In all his various trade in so many countries of the world, he was up against competition of the old established houses. He never complained about competitors and their methods. He fought every competition with God’s help and his resourcefulness.

The worse competition, he had to face was in his early days in brass and copper utensil business, with the firm of Alimahomed Jivabhai. The fight continued for two years. No quarters were given and none asked. During the struggle Alimahomed Jivabhai suffered heavy loss, whilst Mr. Habib was able to make a very small profit in both the years. The aggressors Alimahomed Jivabhai was an old established rich firm having three partners, thought they would be able to crush a lonely young man, who was recently entrusted with the firm of Khoja Mithabhai Nathoo. Habib’s resourcefulness, imagination , capacity of work and God’s help, almost defeated the competitors and after two years a peace was signed. Thereafter a few years later the firm of Alimahomed Jivabhai went into liquidation.

The secret of his success was that he found varieties in which he would not lose, changed his designs fast and did very small losing trade, just enough to make bigger loss to the competitors.

At the age of 35, he commanded a world-wide organisation and ready to deal in any thing that was remunerative. He was the King and number one man in the rubber and camphor markets. He bought and exported huge quantities of wool, hide and skins. In 1922 he started the firm Habib & Sons, which handled the ready cotton Jatha and commission business in the forward hedge contract market.

How he handled all these various business efficiently, is a wonder. He was a genius. He had a terrific memory, his mathematics were superb. At one and the same time, he could talk on phone and did multiplication and addition of his calculations.

A strict disciplinarian. Sternly punished carelessness and readily forgave honest mistakes. Himself worked hard and expected the same from his staff. Demanded unflinching loyalty and honesty paid his men very well. An inefficient man would not be able to go through the strain. He rewarded his men fast and in a big way. Punished them firmly but with reluctance. A brave and cheeky man. Would put up a fight with any European Officer however big and with any number of men however strong, if he thought he was in the right. A swindler or a dishonest seldom got away without a severe thrashing. Behind all this sternness was a very kind heart, Genuine mistakes were freely forgiven. His debtors got most generous treatment. One metal merchant owed him Rs.38,000/- and had suffered a big loss. This man came to Mr. Habib , with Rs.4,000/- cash, Rs.1,500/- worth of silver utensils and about Rs.7,500/- worth of gold and diamond jewellery of his wife, and asked him to accept all these in full satisfaction of his debt. Habib received him kindly, offered his drinks took Rs.4,000/- in cash and asked his debtor to take away his silver utensils and his wife’s jewellery saying that now his time was bad and that he would need them. The debtor was overjoyed and tears of gratitude flowed from his eyes. He went home blessing him. No poor man, went from his door with empty hands.

He served the firm of Khoja Mithabhai Nathoo for 40 year.During this long period, he never made loss even in a single year. This he attributed to the grace of God. People said it was due to his cleverness and ability.

On one Sunday morning, 16TH AUGUST, 1931 BRAVE, GENEROUS, KIND and CHARITABLE MR. HABIB ESMAIL, PASSED AWAY peacefully without any struggle or hardship of death. The Doctors pronounced that he died of heart failure at the age of 53 years.

"Seth Habib Ismail was buried in the Ismaili graveyard in Dongri and all his philanthropic institutions are still in the hands of the Aga Khan, Ismaili community." per:Aly Hadi Madany.

Habib Ismail Businesses & Charities

After his death the following Institutions were dedicated to his memory:

Habib Esmail Memorial Trust

Habib Hospital

Habib High School

Habib Silk Mill

Habib Bank Limited

Habib Insurance Co. Limited

Habib Trading Co.

RAHMATBAI HABIB MATERNITY HOME: dedicated to the memory of HIS BELOVED WIFE.

RAHMATBAI HABIB HIGH SCHOOL: dedicated to the memory of HIS BELOVED WIFE.