Simon Noronha - The Man Who Persevered and Saw a Better Future

By Dr. Eugene D’Souza
Bellevision Media Network

Dubai, 31 May 2010: Coming from a humble and impoverished family, Simon who had aimed to join a religious congregation had to return to his family due to unforeseen circumstances such as the illness of his father, proceed to Mumbai to earn a living, work hard and dream of a better tomorrow. However, being not successful in starting his own business in Mumabi, Simon proceeded to Abu Dhabi,  worked for two years in a publishing house practically without any salary and persevered hoping that something good will come out of it and his life will take a turn for the better. His perseverance did pay and lady luck smiled on him and later he became one of the most successful businessmen in Dubai.  Thus, perseverance did pay and Simon could see a successful tomorrow.

Simon was born on 17th October 1956 and was second in the family of six children, three sons and three daughters of late Joseph and Santhan Noronha of Thirlapalke in Moodubelle. He acquired primary and high school education in Moodubelle passing SSLC examination in 1972.
 
Right from his childhood, Simon had been a regular visitor to his grandfather Sila Soza’s house in Kodangala where he used to enjoy accompanying his uncle, Peter D’Souza during the hunting expeditions or fishing ventures in far off Belle River. Simon would also help his uncle in ploughing the fields during the agricultural season.

After completing SSLC, Simon attended the Poorna Prajna College,  Udupi for First Year PUC and later went to the Holy Cross Formation House in Bangalore and joined Christ College for the Second Year PUC. Being tall, Simon was very good in Basketball game and even played in the Christ College Basketball team. Simon said that while in Bangalore he learnt many things from Fr. Lawrence, a Holy Cross  priest from Canada who not only taught him Basketball game but also to visit and care for the disadvantaged children in orphanages and destitute lepers  in the  asylums run by the Sisters of Charity of Mother Theresa. Fr. Lawrence would help the sisters in various works including carpentry and Simon learnt a number of things from him.
 
After completing his graduation in commerce (BCom) in 1977, Simon could not continue his training in the Holy Cross as he had to come back due to the illness of his father who was in Mumbai and was unable to continue his work and support the family. Thus, Simon proceeded to Mumbai, sent his father back to Moodubelle and managed his taxi while himself worked in the  Modi Thread as an accountant and resided in the garage of his grandfather, Sila Soz.
 
Meanwhile, the enterprising streak in Simon began to assert itself. As there was sufficient place to start some sort of a business, he began to devise plans for the manufacture and distribution of  soap powder and other domestic utility products in the garage. However, nothing materialized as he could get neither material nor moral support from any quarters.
 
It was a period of frustration for Simon as his father was sick and he had to shoulder the responsibility of educating his younger siblings. As his dream of starting something on his own being shattered Simon returned to Moodubelle and did not know what to do next. But he surrendered the entire life’s problems to God and prayed to God with deep faith. His faith in God made him to be righteous and courageous. Hence according to God’s plan Simon received a free gift Juliana as his life partner. His marriage with Juliana took place on 9th May 1985 at Mother of Sorrows Church Udupi. After his marriage to Juliana in 1985, Simon proceeded to Abu Dhabi for a better carrier.

    

In Abu Dhabi Simon began to work as an accountant in the office of ‘Auraq’ magazine. However, soon after joining the company, Simon, being an astute accountant realised that everything was not fine with the company. Its financial health was really bad and the employees, including Simon were not paid regular salary month after month. They were given meagre allowances for sustaining themselves. As if the situation was not bad enough, Simon’s wife was expecting a child and was at her mother’s place at Bejai whom he could not send any money. The situation continued for nearly two years. But Simon neither lost his heart nor left the job as other jobs were hard to find.
 
After two years waiting patiently and hoping for better days to come, Simon’s fortunes took a turn for better when the company imported new machines for the press from Germany with modern technology which required trained personnel. When the German technicians came to train the technical personnel of the company most of them refused to undergo training as they were not paid  their agreed salary for the last two years. This was the moment when Simon, though a commerce graduate and accountant with the company, volunteered to undergo the technical training known as the pre press printing technology which involved colour separation, etc.
 
After two months of rigorous training, Simon became well versed in the colour separation technology, gave up his job in ‘Auraq’ magazine, migrated to Dubai and secured a well paid job in the Dubai Printing Press on Easter Sunday, 3rd April 1988. As he worked in the printing press, Simon made it a point to excel himself in the printing technology. After working in the Dubai printing Press for seven years and acquiring complete knowledge and experience in colour separation technology, Simon ventured to start his own business under the name ‘Rainbow Colour Separation’ in 1995 providing service to many printers, newspapers and publications.
 
Putting up a business of this scale required a huge investment. Which could only be established with the support of Giffen Graphic’s who supplied the required machineries, on monthly instalments. He is always grateful to them.

Simon said that he had to work hard for the company to establish itself and to see its growth. Besides spending considerable time in the company, Simon himself had to look after the supply part of it so that the targets are met and delivery is being done in time.

Having achieved unprecedented success in the colour separation technology and unstained reputation for quality and prompt service, Simon started another ambitious venture in 2003 and started the Pearl Printing Press L.L.C. Which undertakes all types of offset printing, packaging and is well known for its quality printing

As the technology undergoes changes every other day, Simon always thinks ahead to meet the challenges of the changing times. As colour separation technology has undergone changes, Simon has upgraded his Rainbow Colour Separation L.L.C under the new name’ Rainbow Printing Materials Limited Liability Company’.
 
In spite of being a successful businessman in printing industry, Simon does not believe in resting his oars and having a layback attitude. He is nurturing his companies as father and is fond of working with his staff  doing any type of work that is require his attention. “Trust in God and hard work is the success of my labour” says Simon. Besides this one can note that Simon is a man of faith and prayer. He is regular for all kinds of religious activities. He never misses Sunday Mass. In spite of his busy schedule he and his family have a special place to God and daily family Rosary. He loves the Church. Through his charitable works and assistance he often likes to see life and smiles in the poor people lives. As a result much of his family celebrations were conducted in poor ashrams, old age homes, etc.

As noted earlier, Simon was married to Juliana in 1985. They have two sons, the elder one, Sanjoy (24) has completed the Mechanical Engineering Course in the American University, Sharjah securing the Gold Medal in the Mechanical Engineering Division in year 2009 then he joined Pearl Printing Press L.L.C. as a Director. Second son, Joel is studying in the 10th Grade at St. Mary’s Catholic High School, Dubai.

Simon is full of gratitude towards his wife, Juliana for her perseverance when he was practically not earning  though working for two years in Abu Dhabi. Being in Mangalore during those years of his struggle, Simon says that Juliana stood like a rock behind him and brought up  Sanjoy with full of love and care and never allowed Sanjoy to feel the absence of his father. Even after coming to Dubai after Simon got the job in the Dubai Printing Press, Juliana has been a very good house-keeper meticulously taking care of the children. Juliana has a huge collection of photographs of her family and children right from their childhood. Juliana is not only Simon’s life partner, but also business partner in the Rainbow Printing Materials L.L.C.

Among the sisters and brothers of Simon, his eldest sister-Rita is residing at Thirlapalke, Moodubelle; Mary is in Zambia ; Wilma is unmarried and lives with their mother at Thirlapalke; Lawrence worked for some time with Simon and is presently in Canada and Br. Philip has joined the Holy Cross congregation.
 
Tall, slim and with Amitabh Bachchan like beard, Simon is quite agile and active. He is a fitness freak and believes that a healthy mind in a healthy body is very important for success in business and life. He believes in spending quality time with his family. As a devout Catholic and a Mangalorean, Simon has been rendering his service to the Konkani community of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
 
Simon has been a well wisher and strong supporter of Bellevision (UAE). He is known for his philanthropic work and has contributed generously to the Church and educational institutions of Moodubelle. He had the honour of laying the foundation stone of St. Lawrence English Medium School in Moodubelle.

 Simon and Juliana celebrated the Silver Jubilee of their wedding on 9th May 2010 in Dubai. Bellevision wishes both Simon and Juliana a very happy Silver Wedding and pray the Almighty God to bless them and their family and grant them good health, happiness and success in their business.