Dubai: Businessman G.B. Choithram Jethwani, chairman of the Geebee Group of Companies, a stalwart of the Indian community has died at the age of 90.
The Indian businessman breathed his last at his residence on Sunday, May 10 where he suffered a cardiac arrest.
Speaking to Gulf News, his younger brother Bhagwan Jethwani of VETCO International LLC said GB, as Choithram was popularly called, died of a cardiac arrest.
“He was seated in a chair, and suffered a massive cardiac arrest,” said Bhagwan.
GB is survived by his sons Deepak Choithram Jethwani and Girish Choithram Jethwani, both of whom head his company as managing directors. The late businessman also leaves behind his wife and four daughters.
Prominent textile magnate in Dubai Vasu Shroff, recalled fond memories with the late businessman.
“He was a social person, always up for a meeting with friends. He was a philanthropist and did much work for the Indian community. He was the last of his generation of people to transform Dubai,” said Shroff.
Setting up a business back in the 50s
GB established his flagship company in Dubai in 1950 Geebee Group with diversified interests in manufacture, exports and imports, trading and distribution.
Family background
Jethwani said their family originally were exporters of textiles to Dubai, Bahrain and Kuwait, operating out of Karachi during the pre-partition days. Following the partition, however, in 1947, GB’s family business moved to Mumbai. They established their head office in Mumbai and then started an office in Dubai in 1950.
The story goes that GB first landed in Sharjah on June 9, 1950 on a six-seater aircraft just months after his marriage.
Community efforts
GB was also involved in community interests and was a trustee in several institutions. He was also appointed as among the first honorary directors of the Dubai Electricity Company, precursor to current DEWA.
Bhagwan added that the cremation will be a low key affair keeping in mind the movement restrictions in place and the social distancing norms.
