Jimmy Chawala was the name in the news last week when the southern businessman chipped in a whopping 16 million baht to the Step by Step charity project led by idol du jour Artiwara "Toon" Khongmalai.
On his cross-country run from Betong to Mae Sai to raise money for 11 public hospitals, Artiwara and his procession arrived on Nov 12 at Nakhon Si Thammarat, Jimmy's hometown, and the fabric tycoon donated the cheque to the project in an emotional encounter that became the TV event of the week.
As he became headline news, people everywhere were wondering, who is Jimmy?
To Nakhon Si Thammarat people, Jimmy and his charitable nature are something of an old story. Known as a wealthy entrepreneur, Jimmy has donated to various charitable organisations for many years. He's created scholarships, organised school lunch funds, and contributed to courses for underprivileged people.
Artiwara 'Toon' Khongmalai is presented with Jimmy Chawala's charitable donation.
"The money I give isn't just from me," Jimmy said. "What my family has made over the decades is possible because we have been received by the grace of Thailand and Thai people. What I have made is the money from Nakhon Si Thammarat people who shop at my store and support my family."
The 59-year-old explained that he usually divides his revenue into three portions. The first part is to cover the cost of operations, the second given to his wife to keep as family security, and the third part is strapped with a green rubber band -- "to give me peace of mind", he said. Once this third portion gets fatter, he would return it to society, especially to Nakhon Si Thammarat people.
"While we can, we should do what we want to do. We should do things that give warmth to our hearts," he said.
Jimmy's ancestor came to Thailand during the reign of King Rama V. His father, Ramsingh, was a professional muay Thai boxer in the 1950s who fought under the name Ramsingh Sit Suriya, and had matches at the prestigious Rajadamnern Stadium in Bangkok. Later he started working as a travelling fabrics salesman.
In the 1970s, Jimmy was sent to Bishop Cotton School in Shimla, India. When he returned in 1975, his father unexpectedly passed away and the 18-year-old Jimmy took over his father's fabric business in Nakhon Si Thammarat. The store has been hugely successful over the past 42 years, and he feels indebted to the province as well as to Thailand for giving his family a chance.
The story of Jimmy's charitable causes are known among the people in the province. Before the 16 million baht donation to Artiwara's super-run, two years ago Jimmy made a legendary donation of 28 million baht for the restoration of the golden tip of the historic pagoda in Wat Phra That Woramahaviharn. Like many others, Jimmy revered King Rama IX since he was a young boy who went around selling fabric with his father, and often wrapped the goods with newspaper on which featured stories about the late king. The restoration of the pagoda, Jimmy said, would be dedicated to King Bhumibol.
Early this month, there was a fire in a building near Jimmy's fabric store, and the smoke caused him to be hospitalised. Once recovered, Jimmy gave 1 million baht to the firefighters and pledged to support his two shopkeepers who helped him when the accident happened.
In every big donation he has made, Jimmy always goes by the logic that the money comes from the people of the province who give it to him -- when they buy from his store -- and he only saves it up to return to society.
"I have the money today, but tomorrow I may not have anything," he said. "When the people give me their money, what should I do with it? Should I give it all to my children? Maybe not, because they can make their own money. So what I have left I want to give it back to the country."
