So Long Tula Ram Jaduram
AShratika Naidu
day to remember for the people of Labasa as they bid farewell to one of its township’s pioneers, Tula Ram Jaduram on Thursday.
Mr Jaduram died from a short illness while admitted at the Labasa Hospital on Monday.
The 84-year-old contributed to the Northern economy in various ways. Even during the coronavirus pandemic he worked with his siblings and built Takia Mall in the main street of Labasa Town.
During the funeral at his residence in Delailabasa, his younger brother, Paul Jaduram recalled Mr Jaduram’s words of advice and said: ‘To be a builder in life, first you have to be honest. When you construct a building from the ground up, and see it after a few years you feel a sense of achievement.’
“My brother was known for his disciplined personality,” Mr Jaduram said.
“He was strict on timeliness; His workmanship was superb and like none other I have come across.”
He said his brother was always motivated to improve peoples’ skills in construction and in life skills.
“His attentiveness, sacrifices, determination and his initiative paved the way to his successful career.”
Education and Contribution to Economy
Mr Tula Jaduram completed his primary education at Saint Mary’s and All Saints, Labasa and secondary education at Shri Vivekananda High School (now called Swami Vivekananda College) in Nadi and Dayanand Anglo Vedic (DAV) College, Suva. Simultaneously he pursued his woodwork and joinery course through an intensive night class routine.
He then went on to earn his Certificate in Architectural and Engineering from the then Derrick Technical Institute now known as Fiji National University in Samabula.
In 1956 he returned to Labasa and began his construction career and built his first double story building project where the Jaduram Plaza (Hotel Northwinds) stands today.
His specialty was in building contractions, hardware, joinery, structural steel, plumbing and boat builder.
In 1960 he married the late Helen Shute Jaduram.
Early 1960’s he joined the Fiji Police Force as a volunteer special constable and rose to the rank of inspector.
In 1972 he built the Takia Hotel.
While being an officer he continued his construction career.
In 1982 he established his own construction company named Jaduram Industries Limited (JIL).
He was nominated as a councillor for the Labasa Town Council and was also elected member of the Labasa Town Council.
He was also a chief fire officer for Labasa Town Council.
He was instrumental in voluntarily constructing Labasa’ s first Fire Station House in Jaduram Street where the Kohli and Singh Solicitors Office is situated now.
He constructed and completed countless contracting projects around Vanua Levu and Viti Levu that paved him a legendary status in the construction community.
Hobbies
As a youngster he enjoyed hockey and cricket and represented Labasa in hockey at national level.
He extremely enjoyed fishing, hunting and competitive shooting and travelling the world alongside his beloved wife, the late Helen Jaduram.
He was known as an excellent marksman after shooting through the hole of the old Fiji Penny.
Background
Tula was born on June 20, 1937 in Nasea, Labasa.
His grandparents Jaganath and Bachoni were Girmityas from the Northern part of India.
They came through separate ships and got married in Labasa.
Their only daughter Jagwanti got married and bore 12 children, Tula was the seventh sibling. He has a twin brother Tota who is currently residing in New Zealand.
Their grandfather, a businessman, had numerous properties in Labasa Town.
Tula is survived by his three children, Shalendra Jaduram, Nilesh Jaduram and Tanya Jaduram.
He has nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren.