IT is often said that grocers don’t grace.
But the age-old adage didn’t fit Sada Nand’s persona.
The former Mulo Mulo, Nadi grocer’s graciousness towards humanity has earned him praise from former residents in Surrey, Canada, and those who know him in Fiji.
As the only grocer in the area, Sada understood their struggles and never refused to shop even if they had no money.
He did it out of the need and pure compassion.
“Sada never ran a business just to make money,” said Nur Mohammed, a former Nasau resident in Surrey, who has known Sada for over 5 decades.
“If it were ‘udhar’(credit), and were left unpaid, Sada would just write it off”.
Sada’s ‘credit’ deal often remained unpaid and that he was completely okay with it.
“We’re talking about farmers and people who were just getting by. People didn’t have cash to pay every day, there were hardships faced and I knew their plight,” he said.
“We are talking about day workers, farm hands and labourers who barely earned to make do with lives.
“I just couldn’t have refused, or turned them away, their purchase could’ve been the only meal they were looking forward to.”
Business idea at age 19
Sada had worked as a store hand at Velji’s, a prominent Nadi businessman.
After a few good years under him, Velji talked into leasing the old wooden store, and both agreed.
In 1963, at 19 years, he started his business.
“A slow start, the business eventually picked up as the shop was a hub for quick shopping,” said Sada.
“I saved people the hassle of travelling to town.”
Years on, Sada bought the store at a price and served the farming community of Mulo Mulo, Solovi, Nasau and surrounding areas with all his heart, he is glad he did them a great service.
“Almost 40-plus years is what I put my time in the store.”
Canada Migration
Sada migrated to Canada in 1999 under agonizing circumstances.
He said Canada was outside his will, he revealed with a heavy heart.
“I would’ve never left Fiji had a violent attack on me and my family in 1999, I was left with no choice but to leave”, he said holding back emotions.
“My family and I were at the shop when a group of about 5-8 people broke in, tied me and my wife down and beat us up to a point they thought we were dead.
“We suffered from broken legs, hands and more. How we survived miraculously.”
“The house and shop were ransacked, destroyed.”
The couple ended up in Nadi Hospital and remained for weeks before being discharged.
It’s then they decided to leave to join their children in Canada.
Former resident praise
Nur Mohammed who has known Sada as a young boy said it was heart-wrenching to hear about a man who had always taken care of the area people go through the painful ordeal.
“Mention Sada and Nadi people will know who the man is, his name is synonymous.”
Mohammed relocated to Canada after the upheavals of the 1987 Military coup in Fiji, said during the crisis the country was at a crossroads and for safety reasons most people felt the need to leave the country.
Mohammed said Sada rode the 1987 coup, but given what he went through in 1999, it was best for him to find a haven.
Of all the people, Sada who hurt no fly but fed people was beaten to the point of being dead.
“Life’s lesson is don’t bite the hand that feeds you.”
Jagat Singh of Edmonton, Alberta and a former Mulo Mulo resident, said no shop would ever meet or beat what Sada did in the country.
“I thank him for going above and beyond, especially for the poor,” Singh said.
“He had a heart of gold filled with kindness and empathy, and it is an example of how one man didn’t care much about making a profit over love for humanity”.
“Sada is being praised by his community in Canada for his honourable act of kindness in Fiji”, said Umesh Chand, a Mulo Mulo resident.
“Thank you for being such a standup member of our community”, said Inayat Ali, who relocated to Kashmir, Lautoka recently.
“Mention Sada in the very community and people only say good things about the former resident”.
Visits
Sada said he often gets visits from former area residents living in Surrey and Vancouver and those who come on holidays from Fiji.
“A steady stream of former area residents come to pay gratitude, I did what I had to, humanity first was my mantra.
“I’m glad people still remember after these many years,” said Nand.
