J. R. Gangaramani
Born
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
OccupationBusinessperson
SpouseUsha
Children
  • Shalini
  • Natasha
  • Heera
Awards
WebsiteOfficial web site

Jawaharlal R. Gangaramani, is an Indian businessperson and the Partner of Al Fara'a Group[1] which has presence in the UAE, Saudi Arabia & Oman.[2] In 2010, the Government of India awarded him with the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award, for his services to the field of social work.[3]

Life

Jawaharlal Gangaramani was born in a sindhi family[4] in Mumbai. After graduating in Structural Engineering from Bombay University in 1971 and starting his career in Mumbai, he moved to Dubai, in 1974, to work as an engineer in a local construction company and got involved in the construction of Dubai World Trade Centre.[5][6]

In 1980, he split with his employer and joined Al Fara'a General Contracting Company, along with founder Adel Saleh,[7] a UAE businessperson. The company, has since, grown into a conglomerate, Al Fara'a Group, with 11 companies and 18,000 employees under its umbrella, and presence in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman.[8] Al Fara'a General Contracting has taken up a new name, Al Fara'a General Constructions, and remains the flagship company of the group. The group has interests in construction, real estate, infrastructure, interiors and education.[6][9]

Gangaramani was listed by the Arabian Business.com as 45th among most powerful Indians in the Persian Gulf region.[6] Forbes Middle East listed him as the 21st among top 100 Indian leaders in the region.[10] He lives in the UAE with his wife, Usha and three daughters, Shalini, Natasha and Heera.[8][11] He is also counted among the richest Indian in the Persian Gulf, Rediff.com placing him at 18th position.[12]

Social activities

Gangaramani's contributions to the society have been widely reported in the media[5][13][14] and generally acknowledged by public institutions.[15][16][17] He has established two institutions, Al Fara'a Foundation and R. P. Gangaramani Charitable Trust, to channel his charity activities.[17]

Gangaramani supports many non-governmental organisations such as Special Care Centre in Abu Dhabi, the Hope Centre in Al Ain and Zayed Higher Organisation for Humanitarian Care, Special Needs and Minor Affairs, involved in the education and personal development of under-privileged children.[13][14][16] He also supports Deepalaya, Children's Rights in India (CRY),[18] Oxfam India and Jeev Sewa Sansthan, NGO s based in Mumbai, and engaged in welfare activities related orphan children.[17]

On the education front, Gangaramani has recently entered into an agreement with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, UAE to support a three-year integrated programme for the promotion and development of emaratis.[13] He supports a training centre in Al Ain, which provides vocational training to unskilled labourers.[17]

Al Fara'a Group, under Gangaramani, was one of the first business groups in the UAE to offer support to the returning labourers during the Amnesty in 2012.[17][19] He has also contributed for the construction of the headquarters for Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam (Association of Bahrain Keralites).[15]

Awards and recognitions

Gangaramani (1st from right) stands with others along with President of India at Pravasi Bharatiya Samman ceremony

References

  1. ↑ "Al Fara'a". Al Fara'a. 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Pazhassi Raja Puraskar". Zawya. 27 August 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  3. ↑ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  4. ↑ "Sindhi". YouTube. 28 October 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  5. 1 2 Daniel P George (8 January 2009). "UAE-based businessman bags Pravasi Bharatiya Samman". The Times of India.
  6. 1 2 3 "Arabian Business". Arabian Business. 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  7. ↑ "Al Fara'a Corp Profile". Al Fara'a. 2009. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  8. 1 2 "Personal profile". Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  9. ↑ Yamurai Zendera (17 November 2013). "Interview". Construction Week. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  10. ↑ "Forbes ME". Fobes Middle East. 2014. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  11. ↑ "The National". The National UAE. 10 January 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  12. ↑ "Richest Indians". Rediff.com. 14 February 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  13. 1 2 3 "GoDubai". GoDubai. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  14. 1 2 "Gulf News". Gulf News. 11 January 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  15. 1 2 Soman Baby (14 January 2008). "Gulf Daily News". Gulf Daily News. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  16. 1 2 "Consul General Dubai" (PDF). Consul General Dubai. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 Mujeeb Kalanad (2010). "Kasaragod". Kasaragod Vartha. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  18. ↑ "CRY". CRY. 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  19. ↑ "Amnesty". UAE Interact. 4 December 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  20. 1 2 Deepthi Sreenivasan (9 May 2014). "The New Indian Express". Article. The New Indian Express. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  21. ↑ "PR Log". PR Log. 27 August 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  22. ↑ "Global Indian Achiever of the Year". Construction Week India. 12 September 2012. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  23. ↑ "Honorary Doctorate". Dubai City Info. 24 June 2008. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
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