By Ramesh Kallidai
Not everyone who has oodles of money made it to the rich list. But they seem to have hearts loaded with benevolence as well as a charitable disposition.
Chhotabhai Limbachai, Vice President of the Hindu Council of North and a Trustee of the Preston Krishna temple was full of praise for his rich supporters. “Our temple was a £4 million project, and there was no way we could have completed it without the support of Indian businesses. We deeply appreciate the efforts of Manubhai Madhvani, who organised support from other Indian businessmen like the Hindujas, Joginder Sanger, and Sir Ghulam Noon. A lot of credit is also due to C B Patel of Gujarat Samachar for his support and contacts.”
Many Indians feel that Sir Ghulam’s example of support to different Hindu projects is exemplary – he is a role model of community service that transcends the boundaries of religion.
Perhaps the most famous of those charitably disposed are the Hinduja brothers. Srichand Hinduja who tops the list as the richest Asian has his feet planted firmly on the ground and his vision successfully aimed at dizzying heights. The Hinduja Foundation established in memory of his father Paramanand Hinduja has supported projects in education and health for decades.
He and his brothers Gopichand, Prakash and Ashok have awarded hundreds of scholarships to Indian students at Cambridge, established pioneering Vedic research to develop practical applications in Cambridge and Columbia Universities, and built the hugely successful Hinduja National Hospital in Mumbai. Some of the state-of-the-art equipment commissioned at the hospital cannot be found even in many Western institutions.
“I was treated at the Hinduja Hospital in 1996,” explained Narayan Krishnan, a visitor from Mumbai. “I noticed that the rich patients in private rooms were being given exactly the same food that the free and subsidised patients in the general wards were being served.”
At the other end of the spectrum are unsung heroes like Bhikhu and Vijay Patel whose charitable activities are intentionally kept low-profile.
“They are very private people and their charitable activities are deeply personal. They don’t like to publicise them much,” explained his PA, Colette Smith.
Bhikhu and Vijay religiously travel to India every year and spend more than £100,000 organising and conducting eye camps with the help of the Lions Club.
“I am a firm believer in doing whatever is in one’s capacity for helping others,” he explained in a friendly voice. “Sight is a lovely gift that God has given us. It is a wonderful act of sharing to give this gift to those who do not possess it.”
Bhikhu and Vijay regularly sponsor the work of Sightsavers UK. Recently, they built a school in Kenya to help deprived African children.
“What motivates you to go and monitor the eye camps personally?” I asked when I learnt that they spend two weeks every year at the eye camps in India.
“We go there personally because my children can learn from this experience and understand what real hardship is,” he explained. “In turn, we hope they will take up this cause when they grow up. I also believe that it is better to go personally and ensure that the benefit of charity reaches those for whom it is really meant.”
In a similar vein, Nathuram Puri, whose generous support to Seva International is unsurpassed by any other British businessman is genuinely concerned about tribal illiteracy in India. Hasmukh Shah from the VHP, who is a close friend, informed me, “Nat Puri is first and foremost a very proud Hindu. This is one reason why I find him inspiring. He is concerned about 150 million adivasi tribals living in remote regions in India without health care and literacy. He has embarked on a project to bring education and medical care to these people.”
Manubhai Madhvani on the other hand has an interfaith streak that enlivens his charitable activities. The famous katha he had organised for Murari Bapu in the 1990s commemorated the greatness of all the world religions.
One Indian for whom most Hindu leaders always have a kind word is Joginder Sanger from the Washington Hotel. He was instrumental in gathering support from Indian businessmen for constructing the Balaji Temple in Birmingham. He is also one of the principle supporters of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, and chairs its fund-raising team.
“Joginderji is very secular in attitude and religious in disposition,” commented Dr Nandakumara, Executive Director of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. “He has no hatred or ill will towards anybody and is kindly disposed towards all things Indian, particularly the promotion of Indian arts, culture in its truest form.”
Meena Pathak whose family business has put Indian pickles on the table of British homes feels that education and medical care are the key requirements for reducing poverty and improving living standards. “I was born and raised up in India,” she elaborated. “There are millions of people who are illiterate and cannot afford even primary medical care. Some are not even aware of basic hygiene and cleanliness. It is sad to see that a majority of people do not have the money or inclination to send their children to school.”
The Pathaks sponsored mobile clinics after the Gujarat Earthquake through Help the Aged for India. Meena Pathak believes earnestly that charity begins at home. To put this into practice, she looks after all the education and schooling for the children of her servants in India.
Leading steel baron Lakshmi Mittal and Lord Swaraj Paul, chairman of the 500-million pound Caparo group, are among the top contributors to political parties. Other party donors include Sir Ghulam Noon, founder of Noon food products, Moni Varma of Veetee Rice and Mohammed Ali of the Ambala Group .
Cash-and-carry king Sir Anwar Pervez sponsors auctions at Ascot’s annual races every year. Last year, the main beneficiary was the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. Other recipient charities included the National Grocers Benevolent Fund, The Wine & Spirit Benevolent Fund and also the Confectioner's Benevolent Fund.
I wondered if Sir Anwar was a devout Muslim. After all, Islam prohibits gambling and alcohol. Ascot has a deep-rooted tradition in gambling and the Wine & Spirit Benevolent Fund suggests association with alcohol. I believe some traditionalists from his community had indeed raised a few eyebrows, but Sir Anwar has no reason to worry. He seems to have the firm backing of the Royal family. The Duke of Edinburgh had apparently been so grateful for his support, that he made a special trip to the Bestway enclosure at Ascot to thank Sir Anwar for his support. One can never go wrong with Royal patronage.