From army dreams to hardware Queen: The remarkable journey of Nitina Patel

In the heart of Lautoka City stands one of the country’s oldest and most respected businesses – Bombay Trading Pte Limited (Lautoka).

Established in 1936 by Ambalal Patel, this historic hardware company is proudly recognised as Fiji’s first and oldest hardware store.

For nearly a century, Bombay Trading has remained a symbol of resilience, family legacy, and entrepreneurial excellence.

Today, the company continues to thrive under the leadership of Nitina Patel, the granddaughter-in-law of the founder.

She carried forward the family legacy with remarkable strength, integrity, and vision.

After the passing of her grandfather-in-law, her father-in-law Shashikant Patel and her husband, Nehal Patel, she stepped into a leadership role in 2000, a move that surprised many in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

“After the passing away of the men in the business, I took up the challenge and came on board… and proved that women can overcome any hurdle in life,” Ms. Patel said with conviction.

History

Originally from Gujarat, India, Ms Patel had never intended to run a hardware chain. As a young woman, she dreamed of joining the Indian Army, a dream she was forced to give up due to family decisions.

She later explored interests in modelling, acting, and even began law studies, but once again, family responsibilities redirected her course.

“Despite being married at the age of 19, I refused to give up on my dreams of being independent in life,” she recalled.

Ms Patel married young to honour her parents’ wishes, but insisted on creating a life that extended beyond household duties. She quickly immersed herself in the family business, learning its foundations directly from her grandfather-in-law and eventually helping to grow and modernise the company.

Ms Patel has lived in Fiji for more than 30 years, but her journey also took her to the United States, where she resided for 15 years. There, she focused on raising and educating her two children while continuing to manage Bombay Trading remotely.

Both of her children attended Drasa Avenue School in Fiji; her daughter graduated from Central High School and her son from Natabua High School. Under her watchful guidance, they pursued higher education in the US and are now employed in reputable firms.

“I had no intention of coming back to Fiji because I thought the economy here wasn’t sufficient to pursue a career or business,” she said candidly.

However, life had other plans. When her husband was diagnosed with diabetes, she made the selfless decision to return to Fiji to care for him. After his passing, she fully stepped into the role of business leader — not out of obligation, but out of commitment to her family’s legacy and vision.

Taking the reins

Taking over the hardware business in Fiji was no easy feat. As a woman of Indian origin, Ms Patel encountered numerous cultural and societal challenges.

“As a woman in Fiji handling a hardware business, I faced a lot of challenges coping with the Fijian culture, atmosphere, environment, and way of living. Eventually, I moulded myself into the Fijian way of life,” she said.

Despite these hurdles, Ms Patel never wavered. She proved that resilience, adaptability, and strong values can pave the way for success — no matter the field.

Since officially joining the company in 2000, Ms Patel has successfully overseen its expansion. Bombay Trading now operates two thriving branches in Lautoka. She manages all facets of the business, from procurement to customer service, staffing, finances, and long-term strategy, demonstrating exceptional leadership.

“Hard work and honesty are the keys to success,” she said, echoing the values instilled by her elders.

“I truly value learning to enhance my personal growth, especially in expanding my general knowledge,” she said.

Feedback: charles.chambers@fijisun.com.fj