Defying age barriers, outwitting the grey in his hair, Mr. K V Shamsudheen has been ameliorating the lives of others for the past 49 years in the UAE. 

Shamsudheen is a name known to many, owing to his widespread indulgence in social affairs. A financial expert with scholastic knowledge in finance management, K V Shamsudheen is also the Founder & Director of Barjeel Geojit Securities LLC. He is also the Founder and Chairman of Pravasi Bandhu Welfare Trust, an NGO registered in India, working for the financial education and welfare of Non-Resident Indians.

He is the author of the book “Sambadhyavum Nikshepavum, Ningalkkum Kudumbathinum Oru Nallanaalekkai” (Savings and Investment – For a better tomorrow for you and your family)”. The book penned down by the financial expert is in his native language, Malayalam. He plans to have it translated to English and numerous other languages.

A prodigious childhood

Mr. Shamsudheen, is a man of determination, and that he has been since childhood. Born to a sound family with his father working in Ceylon, Sri Lanka, Shamsudheen was well-acquainted with the NRI lifestyle. “Since both my maternal and paternal families have had people living in Sri Lanka and Malaysia then, I grew up watching them come and go. I grew up listening to their many discussions about the challenges and insecurities that our people faced in other countries.”

“My father was a man of strong principles. He always ensured that he had not a penny of another man in his hands while his money could neither be swept away from him by another man. A downright philanthropist, he was always concerned about the welfare of others. My mother beautifully complemented to this personality of my father, doing her share.”

Having grown up under the shade and care of such parents, Shamsudheen seems to have moulded himself combining the best of both his parents. He first portrayed his excellence in finance management when he was as young as a 13-year old boy, indulging himself in the National Savings Scheme. This skill further grew with him as he grew older. 

Setting his foot in the land of dreams

Being the eldest son in the family, Shamsudheen eventually ended up sailing to Dubai in 1970. “I came here for the first time in a ship, named M V Sardhana,” he recalls in a nostalgic tone, “It was pouring heavily when we boarded the ship but here we were welcomed by the scorching heat of the summers”. Upon coming here, again Shamsudheen’s eyes were drawn to those struggling to make the two ends of life meet. 

“I also happened to confront the fact that the people here were sending money to their homeland through illegal channels. My father had strictly advised me against such ill-practices and insisted that I send the money only through a proper banking channel.”

This prompted Shamsudheen to take up his second great move wherein he encouraged his fellow NRI’s to open an NRI account to transfer money. Shamsudheen did face contempt and threats from many for this act. But being a man driven by unwavering determination and willpower, he was hardly moved by such attacks. 

A part-time job to start with

Working under the government sector in the UAE, Shamsudheen had ample time to pursue his passion in a productive way, utilizing the remaining time after work to meet people and encourage them to invest in Union Trust of India (UTI). 

Moving ahead

“Unit Trust of India was the only mutual fund in India then, I myself invested first in US1964. When I sent my application form, I requested the UTI to send me 100 more application forms. I immediately collected these and decided to distribute it among others. I went on to advise other Indian expatriates to invest in US1964. I gained no material benefits from these. But I did it out of passion, it gave me an inexplicable kind of satisfaction,” says Shamsudheen smiling. 

Later, in 1976, Along with the form from Unit Trust of India, he received a letter stating UTI’s decision to appoint him as their Overseas Agent. Subsequently, he became an Overseas Agent of UTI.

Shamsudheen went on to receive many achievements in his journey ahead. The interesting fact is that this man was into it only out of passion, or say compassion, but many a time, the take-back came in the form of money. In simple words, he was making money by working on his passion.

“During those days, NRIs were not permitted to invest in the Initial Public Issues (IPO) of Indian Companies. So, I send a representation to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Finance Minister Pranab Mukarjee, requesting the permit to let NRIs also participate in the IPOs of Indian companies. I sent the copy of the representation to all the parliament members and newspapers as well. It soon became a hot issue in the parliament and the media. As a result, the government of India permitted NRIs to participate in the IPOs, due to which a flow IPOs of India's best companies started off. All the investors in US1964 started to invest in IPOs through me. Initially, I had no monetary gain from this," Shamsudheen added.

Seeing his potential, India's largest Broker and Merchant Banker, J M Finance appointed him as their sub-broker. Thus he started getting an income from IPOs.

Eventually, what began as a part-time interest turned out to be his very profession when in 1990, he left his government job to start a Brokerage Company of his own. 

A tough phase to hurdle through

"Before registering my name in the newly established company I came to know that the broker from Bombay who initiated the setting up of the brokerage firm partnership with me had been involved in the notorious Harshath Mehta security scam and had been arrested for few reasons, regardless of my knowledge. It was a blessing in disguise as I came to know of it before I officially joined the company."
 
"But by then many of my friends had sold shares through the broker, yet the broker could not pay back. However, I stood strong and assured them that I'd pay them the sale proceeds of their shares once I received my gratuity from the government. Within months I received my gratuity and paid off all my friends. After a few years, the broker sent the payment to me" He recounted the unfortunate hurdles in a grave tone.

Later, Shamsudheen was invited by Geojit Financial Services Ltd to be a non-resident promoter of the company prior to its public issue. 
“My ambition to set up a trustworthy brokerage house in UAE was materialized when Barjeel Geojit Financial Services LLC was born in the year 2001."

Today it has grown out to become a supermarket of financial products encompassing all types of investments.

Working for the welfare of NRIs

I was deeply concerned about the many people who surrender to an unhappy life back in their homeland after leaving the Gulf. This is what led me to the founding of the Pravasi Bandhu Welfare Trust. Taking my efforts to the next level I was able to turn this abstract idea in my mind to reality with hardly any support from the numerous communities working here. It was officially registered on 16th August 2001. Following my Press Conference regarding the same, I received extensive support from newspapers and media.

A note of advice from a Man of Experience

There persists an unwritten belief amongst the families of NRIs that they must lead a high lifestyle. But most of the times, the paradoxical consequences of this are forgotten. The men who lead a normal to low life here in the Gulf countries, finding shelter in bachelor rooms and standing in long queues to have their basic needs done, find it possible to live a mediocre life back in their homeland upon returning there. But the family, contrary to this, would have been used to a life of extravagance. A sudden shift to a lower level leaves them in a deep dilemma which is why Ex-NRIs find it hard to pursue a happy life thereafter. 

I have come across so many unfortunate people who have faced such unhappy welcomes from their own family. This is why I keep pressing on the importance of saving for tomorrow. We all have to return to our homeland someday. We all deserve to live a happy life back in our country as well. To ensure this, the first thing I’d advise you to do is, invest your money in a fruitful form – in share markets. Investments in share markets prove much more successful than those in land and gold.

One Objective – Infinite Results

"The sole objective of my community service is that all those expatriates meeting me, talking to me, attending my classes, listening to my radio programmes and watching my TV programmes, should lead a very happy life ensuring financial stability when they return back to their home country." 

Along with his free financial education campaign through various media he has also encouraged hundreds of expatriates towards quitting smoking and drinking alcohol.  

In addition to this, he teaches the social responsibility of each expatriate, as to respect the rulers of the country and abide by the rules and regulations of the country that they live in. He advises each expatriate to be an unofficial ambassador of his or her country by the harmonious exchange of respect with other nationalities, cultures, languages and religions.

A river of reverence for his foster country

landed here with as less as just 2 dollars in my pocket, but today I have gained much more, which was possible because I live in this great country. I never felt a stranger here. Even when I served in the army of the UAE, I dedicated myself to the country just the way I would do for my homeland. I look upon His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum with great respect and admiration. My three generations live here, my children and their children. I love this country for what it is and I’ll do anything possible from my end towards its triumph.”

“I have been witnessing the magnanimity, compassion and tolerance of this country since I landed here in 1970,” he adds upon observing this year as the Year of Tolerance in the UAE. 

Even at 73, Shamsudheen is way more energetic than the youth. He offers classes & financial management seminars, attends related discussions and talks on radio & television meanwhile finding enough time to play the loving Grandpa to his grandchildren. A few months from now and Shamsudheen will have completed a triumphant 50 years in this nation. 

Let us take a moment to salute this amazing human being!