Ben Mohammed Jannif (25 November 1908 – 22 March 1985) was an

Indo-Fijian Indo-Fijians or Indian-Fijians (also known as Fiji Indians) are Fijian citizens of Indian descent, and include people who trace their ancestry to various regions of the Indian subcontinent.Girmit by Suresh Prasad Although Indo-Fijians constitu ...

businessman, scout leader, soccer administrator and politician. He was one of the architects of Fiji Indian Football Association and served as a member of the Legislative Council from 1950 to 1953.

Early life

Jannif was born in

Suva Suva () is the capital and largest city of Fiji. It is the home of the country's largest metropolitan area and serves as its major port. The city is located on the southeast coast of the island of Viti Levu, in Rewa Province, Central Divi ...

in November 1908,''Pacific Islands Year Book and Who's who, Issue 9'', p65 and educated at the Marist Convent School in

Levuka Levuka () is a Local government in Fiji, town on the eastern coast of the Fijian island of Ovalau (Fiji), Ovalau, in Lomaiviti Province, in the Eastern Division, Fiji, Eastern Division of Fiji. Prior to 1877, it was the capital of Fiji. At the c ...

.Ben Jannif
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', May 1985, p65 He began working at Caine's Photographic Studio in 1925, becoming a partner in 1935 and sole owner in 1953, with the company name being changed to Caines Jannif. He was also a director of the Central Manufacturing Company and became the first Indo-Fijian president of the Suva Chamber of Commerce. Between 1928 and 1938 Jannif was an administrator, coach and referee with Indian Reform League football team and was closely associated with the formation of the

Rewa Rewa may refer to: Places Fiji * Rewa (Fijian Communal Constituency, Fiji), a former electoral division of Fiji * Rewa Plateau, between the Kaimur and Vindhya Ranges in Madhya Pradesh * Rewa Province, Fiji * Rewa River, the widest river in Fiji ...

and

district football teams. Following the formation of the Fiji Indian Football Association in October 1938, he took on the dual responsibilities of Treasurer (1938–39) and Secretary (1938–44). He worked on the first constitution of the association that was adopted in 1939. He started charging gate fees for entry into soccer tournaments in 1947. He was appointed a life member of the

Fiji Football Association The Fiji Football Association is the governing body of football in Fiji. It came into existence in 1961. It is the overseeing body of the Fiji National Team and its leagues. History Football started to be played in Fiji ever since the arrival o ...

for his services to football in Fiji and continued to be actively involved in soccer administration into the 1970s. Jannif was also involved in other voluntary organisations; he joined the

Fiji Scouts Association The Fiji Scouts Association, ( Fijian Nai Soqosoqo ni taba Gone e Viti) is the national Scouting organization of Fiji. Scouting in Fiji was founded in 1914, and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1971. The Fiji S ...

at an early age and rose to become Chief Scout Commissioner. He was the first Indo-Fijian to hold the King's Scout Badge, attended Jamborees in

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

and

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

and was awarded the Silver Acorn for his services to the Scouts movement. He was one of the first locally born members to join the

Rotary Club Rotary International is one of the largest service organizations in the world. Its stated mission is to "provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through hefellowship of business, profe ...

and was its first Indo-Fijian president. He also served as Vice President of the

Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is a charity operating in England and Wales that promotes animal welfare. The RSPCA is funded primarily by voluntary donations. Founded in 1824, it is the oldest and largest an ...

, was a member of the Council of the

Automobile Association Automobile associations, also referred to as motoring clubs, motoring associations, motor clubs, are organizations, either for-profit or non-profit, which motorists (drivers and vehicle owners) can join to enjoy benefits provided by the club relat ...

and contributed to the establishment of the Indian High School in Suva, serving as a member of the school committee. He joined the Fiji Military Forces and remained an active member of the Indian Platoon until it was disbanded in 1940. In 1950 he was appointed to the Legislative Council as one of the nominated Indo-Fijian members, serving until 1953. He was awarded an MBE in the

1958 Birthday Honours The Queen's Birthday Honours 1958 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The appointments were made to celebrate ...

and an OBE in the

1985 New Year Honours The year 1985 was designated as the International Youth Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** The Internet's Domain Name System is created. ** Greenland withdraws from the European Economic Community as a result of a ...

. He died in March 1985.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jannif, Ben 1908 births Fijian Muslims Members of the Order of the British Empire Officers of the Order of the British Empire 20th-century Fijian businesspeople Scouting and Guiding in Fiji Football people in Fiji Members of the Legislative Council of Fiji Politicians from Suva 1985 deaths