哥文达三美·比莱
文 · 国家文物局
十八岁那年，P·哥文达三美·比莱（P. Govindasamy Pillai）在印度泰米尔纳德邦（Tamil Nadu）登上一条船只，离开家乡，前往新加坡。因为苦于谋生，刚到新加坡的那段日子，比莱可谓举步维艰。当他终于谋求到一份在一家杂货店工作的机会时，比莱觉得“时不我待”，立刻分秒必争地勤奋钻研，渐渐摸清做生意的门路。在创业路上一路走来，他盘下店铺，开了很多家冠以他姓名首字母缩写的分店。1963年时，他的商业帝国估值已达300万新元。
寒门贵子
哥文达三美·比莱（P. Govindasamy Pi-llai）（1887-1980）出生于印度南部泰米尔纳德邦（Tamil Nadu）一个名叫库莱纳杜（Koorainadu）的村庄里。十几岁的时候，他离开故土，登上了一艘开往新加坡的船只。1905年抵达新加坡时，比莱年仅18岁。
比莱觉得在新加坡的生活步履维艰，尽管他一直在努力地找工作，但因为仅有13卢比傍身，他食不果腹，连伙食费和住宿费都交不起。直到有一家位于实龙岗路（Serangoon Road）50号的杂货店店主愿意雇佣他，得以做工换取食宿时，他的窘境才稍稍有所改善。比莱的工作繁重不堪，工时很长，他每天从天不亮就开始干活儿，往往要披星戴月地干到半夜后才收工。
由于全身心地沉浸在经营杂货店的这方天地中，比莱迅速掌握了做生意所需要的各种门道和学问。1929年，店主去世后，比莱举债2000新元，盘下了那家店铺。对于彼时刚刚完婚的比莱而言，这个决定可谓是一个深具远见卓识之举。比莱也吸取了已故店主的种种经验教训，“前事不忘，后事之师”，投入大量时间呕心沥血地精心经营着这家企业。
白手起家
为了给顾客提供便利，比莱的店铺售卖货品的种类更为多样化，从罐头到鞋履，不一而足。他在“小印度”也开设了分店。人们渐渐开始把P. Govindasamy Pillai（PGP）这个名字——也是冠以这个名字的店——和“便利”联系在了一起。
尽管店铺的营业时间很长，从早上7点开业至晚上9点左右才打烊，比莱依然十分体恤员工。他的员工们享有长达2小时的午休时间，届时也可以在他家里休息。
在生意全面上轨道后，比莱开始将部分资金尝试投入到其他业务中。他开设了面粉和香料厂，还经营起五家“印度纱丽”店。此外，他还在实龙岗路（Serangoon Road）、跑马埔路（Race Course Road）和巴弗罗路（Buffalo Road）投资了房产，甚至想法设法在“小印度”修房盖屋。
在日占时期，虽然比莱一家侥幸地劫后余生、毫发无损，但他的万贯家财却在战争中毁于一旦。面对痛失家产之殇，比莱没有被吓倒，他重整旗鼓，着手重建了自己的商业帝国，并且经营得有声有色，甚至将他的“PGP商店”开到了远至马六甲（Malacca）和柔佛州（Johor）的地界。截至1963年比莱退休时，他的企业估值高达300万新元。
比莱于1980年高龄辞世，享年93岁。1998年，“PGP商店”因欠下巨额债务而结束营业。
回馈社群
由于自己很长一段时间都生活贫困，因此比莱终其一生都以助人为己任，“达则兼济天下”。1952年，他出资兴建了新加坡拉玛克里斯纳传道会（Ramakrishna Mission Singapore）新址，该传道会是一个专门致力于为有需要的人提供援助的组织。他也为一些机构慷慨解囊，比如为圣婴女修道院医院（Mount Alvernia Hospital）和马来亚大学（University of Malaya）等捐款。
二十世纪七十年代，比莱捐资30万新元，兴建位于实龙岗路（Serangoon Road）实里尼维沙伯鲁玛庙（Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple）的新“庙塔”（入口处装饰塔）。
位于巴特礼路(Bartley Road)的拉玛克里斯纳传道会庙宇新址(Ramakrishna Mission Temple)是比莱出资兴建的(图片拍摄于约二十世纪五十年代。图源:新加坡国家档案馆)
（本文为翻译比赛英译中获奖作品，由华侨中学黄一航、黎新宇、段禹辰翻译）
P. Govindasamy Pillai
Courtesy of National Heritage Board
The-P.-Govindasamy-Pillai-Store-or-PGP-Store-in-short-at-Serangoon-Road.-The-PGP-chain-of-stores-was-popular-among-shoppers.（c1987.-Image-from-the-National-Archives-of-Singapore）
At 18, P. Govindasamy Pillai ran away from home, boarding a ship in Tamil Nadu for Singapore. The early days were tough for Pillai as he struggled to find a job. When he was given the chance to work in a provision shop, Pillai wasted no time learning the ropes. Along the way he bought over the store and opened branches bearing his initials. In 1963, his business empire was valued at $3 million.
Humble beginnings
P. Govindasamy Pillai (1887-1980) was born in the village of Koorainadu in Tamil Nadu. He ran away from home in his teens and boarded a ship for Singapore, arriving in 1905 at the age of 18.
Pillai found life in Singapore tough. He struggled to find employment and with just 13 rupees to his name, was unable to afford food and lodging. His circumstances improved somewhat after a provision store owner at 50 Serangoon Road got him to work in exchange for food and board. Pillai’s hours were punishing with work starting before the break of dawn and ending only after midnight.
Fully immersed in the world of provision shop operations, Pillai picked up the skills and knowledge needed to run the business fairly quickly. In 1929, he borrowed $2,000 to buy the store following the demise of its owner. It was a far-sighted move on the part of Pillai who had just gotten married. The lessons from his late employer were not forgotten and Pillai spent long hours fine-tuning and running the enterprise.
Self-made millionaire
For the convenience of his customers, Pillai began selling a wider variety of products ranging from canned goods to shoes. He also opened branches in Little India. People began associating the P. Govindasamy Pillai name, which his business was named after, with convenience.
Although the business day was long-work started at 7am and ended around 9pm-Pillai took care of his staff. They were given two-hour lunch breaks and lodging at his home.
Having found his stride, Pillai began setting aside money to invest in other ventures. He opened flour and spice mills, and started five saree shops. He also invested
in properties in Serangoon Road, Race Course Road and Buffalo Road, and even managed to build houses in Little India.
During the Japanese Occupation, Pillai’s family managed to escape unscathed but it was a different story for his properties which were destroyed during the war. Undeterred, Pillai began rebuilding his business empire, doing well en-ough to open PGP Stores in Malacca and Johor. By 1963, the year of his retirement, Pillai’s business was valued at S$3 million.
Pillai died at the ripe old age of 93 in 1980. In 1998, the PGP Stores, having chalked up huge debts, were shuttered.
Investing in the community
Pillai, having been impoverished for a good part of his life, made it a point to help others throughout his life. In 1952, he paid for a new home for the Ramakrishna Mission Singapore, an organization which renders aid to the needy. He also contributed generously to institutions such as Mount Alvernia Hospital and the University of Malaya.
In the 1970s, Pillai donated $300,000 towards the construction of a new gopuram (entrance tower) for the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple at Serangoon Road.
