Townville businessman Amarjit (Armi) Bhela believes that when one is born poor in a village, “the funny thing is your memories are very good because you learn survival skills from a young age”.
Armi’s roots trace back to a family that endured the harrowing days of the Partition. His grandparents, once prosperous landholders in Pakistan, left everything behind during the turbulent times of the Partition.
When they crossed into India, they were allocated a small plot of land. Tragically, Armi’s father witnessed the horrors of “ethnic cleansing” at a young age, an experience that would profoundly shape his son’s perspective on life.
“My dad witnessed his parents’ death. That’s a significant part of what defines me. I sometimes feel frustrated with fellow Indians because we often avoid discussing our history, particularly the events surrounding the Partition. We must continuously draw lessons from our history,” he reflects.
Armi’s father was brought up by his relatives but in search for a better life he came to Australia in 1976. Two years later, an eight-year-old Armi, along with his four siblings and mother, joined him. This marked a significant and somewhat surreal transition for Armi, going from a village in India to the wettest rural Australian town named Tully in Queensland.
But despite the cultural and geographical shift, Armi’s parents upheld their roots, insisting that English not be spoken at home. “So, if you hear my Punjabi, you will think I never left Punjab,” he says with a laugh.
While still in school, Armi’s father bought a farm, and he would help him out. However, by the time he reached the tenth grade, Armi and his brother managed to acquire their first 100-acre farm. “I was only 17,” he says.
This move, in a way, helped the family maintain their connection to their farming heritage.
“We just kept acquiring farms and building our own empire, Nanak Plantation, which grew bananas, sugar cane, and more. It was a lot of hard work, with unpredictable seasons,” he recalls.
However, as he delved deeper into the country and its culture, he came to understand that there was better way of making money. While continuing to work on the farm, Armi pursued and earned his degree in Agriculture.
After an arranged marriage and the arrival of his children, Armi contemplated transitioning to a different business to prioritise spending more time with his family and ensuring his children’s education.
“So I thought I will do something that can control my own destiny.”
That’s when he relocated to Townsville and began his association with IGA Supermarkets. Today, with two IGA franchises, Armi has been a steadfast presence in the retail sector for over two decades.
Remarkably, Townsville’s IGA Domain Central garnered national acclaim by winning the Community award at the recent IGA Awards of Excellence.
Townsville’s IGA Local Grocer at Domain Central stood out among more than 1300 IGA supermarkets across Australia to secure the Community Award. Armi was honoured for his significant contribution to this achievement.
What it has all added up to is the sum of a man who thrives on philanthropy and community work.
Armi and his wife Sabi have woven themselves into the fabric of the Townsville community. For over 10 years, owners Armi and his wife have raised and donated over $500,000 for the Townsville community with support from Metcash, fellow IGA retailers and local businesses.
The idea of investing in the community has been ingrained in his DNA.
“My dad was like this. And I saw it from a young age that he always looked after people no matter how much he had.
“When you start poor and have more than what you need, you realise people need more than what you do,” he says.
As Armi contemplates passing the torch to the next generation of retailers, he emphasises his deep love for the Australian community and culture. He sees the similarities between hardworking Australians and his own Punjabi roots, emphasising the importance of what one brings to the table.
Perhaps the key to Armi’s magnetism lies in his strong sense of community. Serving as the President of the Gurudwara in Townsville, he highlights one of the town’s beautiful qualities—its inclusivity.
Armi states, “With a growing Punjabi community, we maintain a secular environment at the temple, welcoming everyone with open arms.”
For him, this role is not just a duty but an opportunity to connect with people and revisit history. Armi, born to parents who were products of the Partition, often reflects on his humble origins, which have profoundly shaped his perspective on life.
Additionally, he makes it a point to take his mother to India to revisit their ancestral home. It’s a special journey that connects him to his roots and cherished memories.
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Armi Bhela, a #Townsville businessman with Indian roots, has achieved success in farming & retail while passionately engaging in philanthropy & community service, embodying a strong sense of cultural connection. #TheIndianSunhttps://t.co/3BzVNVhPq7
— The Indian Sun (@The_Indian_Sun) September 12, 2023
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