🌟 Zig: The Millionaire Mechanic Who Raised Me

A Legacy of Faith, Fearlessness, and Generosity
by Prof Sherry

“He didn’t just build machines—he built lives.”

When my parents left Trinidad to study medicine, I was left in the loving care of Ma and Pa. Their home was more than just shelter—it was a school of life. My grandfather, Henry Baboolal—known lovingly as Zig—was not just the man who raised me. He became the blueprint for everything I teach, create, and believe in today.

🧬 Rooted in Resilience

Pa was a child of East Indian immigrants—his father from Kashmir with striking red hair, fair skin, and green-grey eyes. He sold in the market, charming women and commanding attention. But jealousy is a cruel master—he was poisoned, and soon after, Pa’s mother died of heartbreak. That loss forged Pa’s sense of purpose, leaving him to be raised by his elder brother and younger sister.

He told me a story once, one that marked his moral compass forever. A woman, infatuated with Pa’s older brother, falsely accused Pa of taking something on credit just to get his attention. Pa was beaten with an electrical wire. Days later, the woman confessed the lie. That injustice planted a vow—Pa would live honestly and never let deceit shape him.

🔧 When Fearlessness Found Fortune

One day, Pa spotted a line of men waiting to apply for jobs with the British Royal Engineers. He asked what they were doing and was told they were hiring a lathe machinist. Pa knew nothing about lathe machines—but he joined the line anyway. When his turn came, he was dismissed by the foreman. But as fate would have it, another engineer saw something in him and hired him on the spot.

From that moment, his future ignited. He mastered machining, reboring, and auto mechanics. Eventually, Pa became the highest-paid East Indian man in Trinidad. He built three machine shops and employed up to 50 workers. Yet if the shop floor needed sweeping? He grabbed a broom without hesitation.

He was strict with work but generous with his heart. After hours, he’d treat employees to drinks and reflections. He paid for weddings, sponsored studies, and helped them buy homes—never asking for repayment. Pa believed that people mattered more than profit. And I carry that lesson into how I lead and coach today.

🌀 Manifestation in Motion

Long before the term “visualisation” was trending, Pa practised it. If he wanted a new machine, he would visit it often. He would walk around it, touch it, study every bolt and lever—until that very machine showed up in his shop. It was uncanny. I never understood it as a child, but now I know: he was manifesting through action, intention, and belief.

🛐 God First, Always

Each night, Pa would kneel beside his bed and pray. He thanked God for blessings and asked for guidance through every challenge. His faith was never performative—it was his compass. He believed no success could be truly his unless God was first.

🔗 Passing the Torch

He mentored countless others—some now running their own garages and shops. His legacy wasn’t just business acumen; it was vision, values, and vitality. Though I wish he had lived longer, his lessons have anchored me through every season of life.

From his courage to try what he didn’t know, to his daily prayers, to his sweeping of floors despite being a millionaire—Pa Zig showed me how to build a life of integrity, generosity, and spiritual grounding.

His story isn’t just history—it’s my inheritance. And now, I pass it on.