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UK
Asian Voice - Saturday 1st December 2012
Metropolitan Police Hindu Association holds Diwali Event at New Scotland Yard At the invitation of the Metropolitan Police Hindu Association, Metropolitan Police Service and prominent Hindu community representatives came together at New Scotland Yard on 8th November 2012 to celebrate Diwali. MPS Commissioner Bernard HoganHowe was welcomed by the current chair of the Metropolitan Police Hindu Association Satya Minhas and was presented with a garland by Dr Rajesh Parmar a spiritual leader and the MPS Hindu Chaplin before giving a special Diwali message at the event held at New Scotland Yard on Thursday 8 November.
Lord Dholakia giving a speech
Prominent Hindu community representatives including Lord Dholakia, Lord Sheikh and Lady Sheikh, Honourable Members of Parliament Seema Malhotra, Virendra Sharma and Shailesh Vara, Jay Lakhani Tutor Eton College, Dr Jagdish Sharma an academic and a trustee HCUK, Ameet Aggarwal, Chairperson Art of Living London, Pratik Dattani, Chairperson City Hindu Network, Pranav Bhanot President National Hindu Student Forum, Dr Rajesh Parmar a Spiritual Leader and from Siddhashram Shakti Centre Harrow, Nilesh Badiani from Sai School of Harrow, Prakashbhai Jalaram Mandir Greenford, Gunvant Dave President Brahmin Samaj North London, Dr Madan Bahl President Arya Samaj London, Brij Mohan Gupta President National Council of Hindu Temples, Ashok Chauhan MBE WOC1 MoD, Suryaparsad Upadhya Ret. Major British Army, Arjanbhai Vekaria President HFB, Director Deloitte Min
further successful and active decade. Founder Chairperson MPHA Chair Mahesh Nandha greeted guests and community leaders and spoke about the formation of the MPHA in 2002 in Harrow as a source of support for the Hindu communities of London and the growing number of Hindu employees within the Metropolitan Police service. He encouraged all to support the efforts of the MPHA who are voluntarily operating with minimal resources. A feast of pure vegetarian food was
initiative between Mahesh Nandha (Founder Chair of MPHA), Chief Superintendent Dal Babu Harrow borough commander, MPHA and the cooperative. There are currently 1,600 Hindus currently working in the Metropolitan Police. The MPHA has been playing an invaluable role within the MPS since 2002 providing assistance to its members, promoting a better understanding of the Hindu faith, culture and traditions within the MPS and improving
Bhogaita, Senior Solicitor Ritu Sethi, Dr Natalie Tobert from Social Inclusion Education, members of MPHA, Police Officers and staff joined together to discuss the significance of Diwali and reaffirming their continued support for the Metropolitan Police Service and Metropolitan Police Hindu Association in policing matters and recruitment initiatives. The event began with an Aarti ceremony conducted by Dr Rajesh Parmar Siddhashram Shakti Centre Harrow, followed by the lighting of candles in memory of Police Officers Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes who were recently fatally shot during routine a burglary visit in Greater Manchester by the longest serving Hindu Police officer Purnima Raval and Nabeela Ahmed. A further candle was lit by Commander Mak Chishty in the memory of DC Adele Cashman who died whilst in pursuit of a suspect in Camden earlier in the week. Prayers were offered by all present led by Dr Rajesh Parmar Metropolitan Police MPS Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe with the Indian dance performers and others from MPHA Chaplain and a Spiritual leader. Lord Dholakia and Lord Sheikh served to more than 120 guests, who relations and confidence within the addressed guests commending the were presented with a number of perHindu community. Majority of this courage of the Metropolitan Police formances, including a traditional dance work is done by the Chair, the Executive Service and offered their Diwali greetfrom Swaras Fine Arts under the guidand the volunteers in their own time. ings to all present and wished MPHA a The MPHA regularly hold commuance of their artistic director Mrs nity engagement events delivering secuShamista Sivakumar. The rity awareness messages including curprofessional dance performances which everyone rent burglary crime prevention advice as admired were; Shiva dance the nights get darker. by Zenithra and Priyanka Deputy Chairperson Varsha Mistry Montford, Peacock dance thanked all the prominent community by Thanushuya leaders, who, over the decade, had Alaguthurai, sisters and offered valuable support to the Priyanka Montford and Metropolitan Police Service by inviting Swaras Sivakumar, Fusion them to events affording them the dance performance by opportunity promote safety awareness Thanushuya Alaguthurai and the Metropolitan Police Service as a and Snake dance by career of choice, including BAPS Priyanka Montford. Swaminarayan Mandir, ISCON Hare The event also saw the Krishna Mandir Watford, SKLP distribution of next year’s Northolt, Vishwa Hindu Parishad Hindu calendar - a useful Ilford, Jalaram Mandir Greenford, Oshwal U.K. Potters Bar and tool for both officers and Siddashram Shakti Centre Harrow. She members of the public, welcomed future community engageincorporating crime preChief Superintendent Dal Babu, Harrow borough ment opportunities from these organisavention advice. The calencommander being honoured tions and others. dar was produced as a joint
KPMG celebrates Diwali and Eid KPMG celebrated its 9th Asian Festival Dinner on October 29th. GP Hinduja, Lord Gulam Noon, Dr Rami Ranger and over 200 of the most prominent members of the Asian Community in the UK were guests at the Dinner last week, to celebrate Eid and Diwali. The dinner, which is a key event in the KPMG calendar, took place at the Jumeirah Carlton Hotel in London, was hosted by new KPMG Chairman Simon Collins, and Tax Partner Nina Amin, who heads
up the firm’s Asian Business Programme. Guests were welcomed by Mr Collins before being treated to a five course meal and speeches by Nina Amin, who relived the Diamond Jubilee and Olympic events of the summer which placed the UK in the world’s spotlight. There was also a speech from Lord Kamlesh Patel OBE who, until recently was chair of the Mental Health Act Commission who spoke of the need for Asian business to consider the impact of
mental health as an increasing problematic and growing issue for businesses and communities to manage. Commenting on the event, Nina Amin said : “Yet again, this jewel in the KPMG crown lived up to expectations and turned out to be a great night. In this year, more than previous years that we have held this event, it felt fitting to come together to celebrate, what has been a simply unforgettable year for the UK.” At the end of this
GP Hinduja, Lady Mohini Noon, Lord Gulam Noon, Nina Amin with others
month, KPMG, British Airways and the London Chamber of Commerce are taking a delegation
of British SMEs to India to look at opportunities for UK businesses in the fast growing economy.
The Mayor will also be joining the delegates for part of the five day trade event.