B.S. Abdur Rahman, a multi-faceted personality, philanthropist, educationist, builder and founder of B.S. Abdur Rahman University, breathed his last in Chennai on 7 January. He was of 88.
Abdur Rahman was born in a middle class family on 15 October, 1927 in Kilakarai, Ramanathapuram district of Tamilnadu. He emulated the persona of his father Bhukari Aalim, who was a prominent Pearl Trader in South Asia.
Abdur Rahman dropped out of school and headed to Sri Lanka to try his luck in pearl trade when he was only 15 years old. In 1984, he entered the field of education from business by setting up Crescent Engineering College, which later developed into B.S. Abdur Rahman University in 2009. During his lifetime, Rahman launched two dozen educational institutions and half a dozen orphanages.
Abdur Rahman started orphanages and educational institutions to protect orphans and educate the poor, especially girls. He was champion of women’s education. As a man of integrity and sincerity, he was well known to all Tamil people. His field of social activity and welfare was not limited to the Muslim community alone rather he spent his wealth for the welfare of all sections of people in Tamil Nadu. In addition to his personal contributions, he was the architect behind town planning of Chennai city. He also contributed to the construction of a large auditorium named as India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi; the state-of-the-art theatre style B S Abdur Rahman Auditorium has the capacity of 300 persons.
In 1962, Abdur Rahman founded East Coast Constructions and Industries (ECCI). ECCI credited to have first constructed a flyover named Anna flyover in the whole of South East Asia. His construction company was responsible for most of the structures that came up post Independence, such as the Gemini and Kodambakkam flyovers, Anna Nagar Tower, the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk, Valluvar Kottam, Lighthouse, Raheja Towers, etc.
After he established the foundation of his empire in Sri Lanka, Rahman also went to countries including Belgium, then the hub of gem trade, and other parts of the world, including America. Later he set up bases in Chennai and Kolkata in India besides in Malaysia and Hong Kong. Rahman was ranked as one of the 24 Indians to feature in The 500 Most Influential Muslims by a publication which listed the most influential Muslims in the entire world.
B.S. Abdur Rahman’s message that the world is the winner when business is not just self but also about society should reach out to all business moguls in India and abroad.
Abdur Rahman is survived by six children – two daughters and four sons.