Firoz Merchant is ranked 34 among the richest Indians in the Arab world by Forbes . His rags-to-riches story is inspiring enough.
Even more inspiring, though, is how this Dubai-based jeweller spends his money. Mr. Merchant has helped free more than 5,000 people — many of them Indians — from jails in the UAE, paying out more than ₹20 crore. The recipients of his largesse are poor, hapless economic offenders.
The nationality of the prisoner has never stopped Mr. Merchant. “They are mostly people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other Asian countries,” he told The Hindu here. “But there have been some Africans and Europeans as well. I could also help an Omani national.”
Now, he wants to take charity truly home. The jeweller-philanthropist wants to reach out to poor prisoners in India and has already met prison authorities in Mumbai, the city of his birth.
“Though the system in India is entirely different from the one in the UAE, I am hopeful because of the attitude of our officials like Bhushankumar Upadhyay, Additional DGP, Prisons, in Maharashtra,” said Mr. Merchant, who was honoured at a public function here recently by a group of businessmen. “I am told that in India there are people who are kept in jail because they cannot afford to pay even ₹5,000 to get bail.” It all began in 2008. Mr. Merchant noticed that the number of job applicants at his firm, Pure Gold Jewellers, had suddenly increased.
Triggered by recession
“That was the time of global recession and I found that many people had lost their jobs; some of them landed in jail,” he said. “I contacted the authorities and found out that they could be freed if there was somebody to settle their dues.”
He then visited the jails and talked to the prisoners, but it was the authorities who made the selection. “They know how to prioritise, and I leave it to them,” he said. “I deal directly with the authorities and not through any NGOs.”
Mr. Merchant, who owns 125 jewellery shops in nine countries, said it was his late mother who taught him to be generous. “We could all do whatever we want, but we all have to be human beings first,” he said. “I am gratified when I learn that I have been able to help someone who is badly in need. Often, the prisoners tell me that they may not have the money to reach their village even if I buy them air tickets. I ensure that he has enough money to catch a bus to reach his village.”
