Hari Punja

Hari Punja, OF, OBE (born 1936) is an Indo-Fijian businessman and Chairman of Hari Punja Group of Companies. Hari Punja and Sons Limited is a very diversified (and probably the largest) company in Fiji.^[1]

Hari Punja was born in Cuvu, Sigatoka, Fiji and received his education in Fiji and Australia. He trained as a chemical engineer. Punja joined the business in 1960. He has served as a mayor of Lautoka^[2] and on a number of prestigious boards such as Fiji Broadcasting Commission and Fiji Sugar Corporation.^[2] He served as a Senator^[2] from 1996 to 1999.

Punja has been married to Tara for about fifty years and has five children: Rohit, Ajai, Sanjay, Deepa, Leena.

Honors

Punja has been bestowed with many credentials and honors. Some of these include:

• Order of the British Empire (OBE)^[2]
• Justice of the Peace (JP)
• Order of Fiji: Bestowed by the President of Fiji, Ratu Sir Kaisese Mara
• The Fiji National Millennium Committee recognized Hari Punja as an outstanding contributor in shaping the nation of Fiji during the 20th Century
• He was named as one of the 10 most successful businessmen living outside India in "The Encyclopedia of the Indian Diaspora" (2006) by Professor Dr. Brij Lal (Australian National University)
• Punja was rated the 6th most influential person in the Pacific region through a poll carried out by the Australian-based Pacific Magazine.

References

1. "Be rich to help poor: Punja". Fiji Times. January 25, 2007. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
2. Stewart Firth, Daryl Tarte, University of the South Pacific (2001). Twentieth century Fiji. USP Solutions, University of the South Pacific. p. 198. Retrieved 2010-07-21.