B. S. Abdur Rahman

B. S. Abdur Rahman
B.S.Abdur Rahman
Born(1927-10-15)15 October 1927
Kilakarai, Madras Presidency, British India (now Tamil Nadu, India)
Died7 January 2015(2015-01-07) (aged 87)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Other namesSena Aana, House of Buhari
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, philanthropist, educationist
Known forFounder Chancellor of
B. S. Abdur Rahman University
Founder of ETA Ascon Star Group
Founder of Star Health and Allied Insurance
Founder of West Asia Maritime
Founder of Amana Investments
Founder of East Coast Constructions & Industries
Spouse(s)Muthu Zulaiha Beevi, Rahmatunisa Azeez
Children6[1]

Buhari Syed Abdur Rahman (15 October 1927 – 7 January 2015) was an Indian entrepreneur, philanthropist and educationist. He had a range of business interests in the UAE and India (in Tamil Nadu) including maritime shipping, real estate, insurance etc. He founded numerous schools, colleges, hospitals and universities. He was one of the 24 Indians to feature in The 500 Most Influential Muslims, an annual publication which ranks the most influential Muslims in the world.[2][3]

Abdur Rahman was the Vice-Chairperson of Emirates Trading Agency (commonly known as ETA Star) and Ascon Group, a Dubai-based conglomerate from 1973 to 2015. He is the founder of B. S. Abdur Rahman University (earlier named Crescent Engineering College), one of the first privately owned engineering colleges in Chennai. He was the Chairman of East Coast Constructions and Industries, West Asia Exports and Imports, West Asia Maritime, Buhari Group, Amana Investments in Hong Kong and Transcar India. He was also the Vice-Chairman of Coal & Oil and Coastal Energy. He founded India's first stand-alone health insurer Star Health and Allied Insurance with the help of Oman Insurance Company.

East Coast Constructions and Industries, founded in 1962, built several landmarks in Chennai including Gemini Flyover, Kodambakkam Flyover, Chepauk Stadium, Chennai Citi Centre, Government General Hospital, Valluvar Kottam, the Marina Lighthouse,[4] Apollo Hospital complex (Greams Road) and the Omandurar hospital. He died on 7 January 2015 at the age of 87.[5][6][7]

Abdur Rahman pursued a number of philanthropic endeavours, donating large amounts of money to various charitable organisations and concentrating on the upliftment of economically weaker sections through the Seethakathi Trust & Zakaat Fund Foundation.

  1. ^ BSA family
  2. ^ John L. Esposito; Ibrahim Kalın; Usra Ghazi; Prince Alwaleed Center for Muslim–Christian Understanding. The 500 Most Influential Muslims. Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, Createspace. ISBN 978-9957-428-37-2.
  3. ^ "World's 500 'Most Influential Muslims': 24 Indians in the list; Mufti Akhtar Raza Khan, Mahmood Madani in first 50". Two circles.net. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Madras miscellaney". The Hindu. 5 November 2001. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  5. ^ "An Era Ends With B S Abdur Rahman's Death". The New Indian Express. 8 January 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  6. ^ "பிரபல கல்வியாளர், தொழிலதிபர் பி.எஸ். அப்துர் ரஹ்மான் சென்னையில் காலமானார்". Oneindia.in. 7 January 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  7. ^ BS Abdur Rahman died in the hospital he built