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UK
www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 31st August 2013
As I See It
Goodbye to an inspiring individual On my way to the Kadwa Patidar centre on Thursday (22 August), in the jam packed train from Euston to Harrow Wealdstone, I was having some remorse that I could not attend a spiritual discourse at the Institute of Directors organised by the Hinduja Brothers. Dada J P Vaswani is also a very inspiring personality. But deep down I felt that the 'prarthana' sabha (prayer meeting) in memory of Shri Popatbhai Chakubhai Ruparelia is equally, if not more important. On my way back, during the one hour journey in the tube, I was able to see innumerable 'fim shots' with closed eyes about the life and contributions made by late Popatbhai Saheb. Shantu Ruparel aptly described Popatbhai as the father figure of the Lohanas as well as the wider Gujarati community in the footsteps of late Shri Haribhai Samani in the UK. When I entered the beautiful hall of Kadwa Patidar centre, I was struck with awe, as I saw a vast audience waiting, including a member of the House of Lords- Lord Popat, Cllr Navin Shah, Member of the Greater London Assembly, several Councillors, leaders of organisations, business tycoons, outstanding professionals, entrepreneurs, women and men, but especially a larger proportion of younger generation. Unfortunately Indian gatherings, weddings, religious events or community celebrations normally have a noisy and disorganised ambience. On Thursday evening this hall was totally different. It was sombre, there were beautiful prayers and heart rendering tributes from individuals. Towards the end, two spokespersons of the 16 grandchildren of Popatbhai (I dislike using the term late as a prefix for such illustrious individuals) paid some whispering tributes. His devotion to the family and community at large as well as to certain values have left a legacy which can inspire future generations in whatever activities they engage in. I was also very relieved as the meeting was called a prayer meeting and not a condolence meeting. Indic religions (Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism) accept death as an inevitable consequence of birth. Gita describes soul as the one which is never born and that which never dies. Soul cannot be touched by flame or wet by oceans. To me my scriptures simply have a message that is much more than my
day to day activities- there is something else possible to perform which has better quality. Who was Popatbhai Ruparelia? He was a successful businessman and industrialist in Uganda, Kampala. He was not in the League of the top entrepreneurs, but then why did so many people voluntarily attend such a prayer meeting? Many of them perhaps have even never met Popatbhai. Most of them have certainly benefited from Poaptbhai’s many fold activities. To me it seems that Popatbhai's upright life, his selfless service to one and all in particular after expulsion from Uganda, when he made his home in Great Britain, his role as a conscience keeper of the Lohana spirit (if I may say so) with Gujaratis and Indian as well as his innumerable examples, where directly or indirectly he helped so many causes and initiatives. Whether its raising fund for a temple and the community centre in Bristol, or Vallabh Nidhi or BAPS in London, whether for the Lohana Community North London, Raghuvanshi Charitable Trust, Lohana Social Service and innumerable other causes, I have seen this tall and brooding personality, helping, guiding and encouraging in his soft, compassionate and unique way. He had the courage to say no to some individuals or their activities which were harmful to the community or its reputation. I know several examples where Popatbhai built bridges between various factions, which is the most thankless task, he did as he told me that he had to do it. He lived till almost 94 years- a lovely man, a great soul. Let us cherish his memories. It will definitely help us in whatever we are doing. Let us tell our children and grandchildren of his wonderful contributions to the community in those delicate days immediately after arriving in the UK. I would not pray for his peace. One does not have to. He passed away very peacefully. I need not offer condolences to his family. To them I will simply say, please remember him. Let us all learn something from Popatbhai, whose life and work has such an inspiring message. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.
Obituary
- CB
meof aspiration. Popatbhai was at the forefront of creating a template for our community ahead of its time; a vision to establish an efficient, effective and transparent organisation that served its members. Perhaps my most treasured memory of Popatbhai was when I had the opportunity of working with him during Morari Bapu’s Katha which I hosted in Wembley in 1999. Popatbhai played an instrumental role during the Katha and acted as a personal mentor to me in giving me the courage to take on this mammoth task. He was a natural leader and it is from Popatbhai that I discovered that through determination and hard work anything is possible. I shall forever remain indebted to
Give Meena a future
Lady Mohini Kent Noon
is a long way from Kolkatta and gives an idea of the organized network of traffickers who can move girls around the country with impunity.
Meena needed help. But there wasn’t anyone there to help her. She was 11 years old. Her mother was blind, her father was dead, and the family were as poor as church mice. They lived in Kolkatta. Her brother found the solution to the problem of the unwanted Meena by marrying her off to a man close to forty. She was only eleven. Such legitimised paedophilia seems to be quite common in India. The girl child is only too often viewed as a problem by families. Instead of being loved and cherished, the girl could be sold into a brothel or a brutal marriage. Meena’s husband, an alcoholic, abused and raped her at will. His sister, who lived with them, was equally cruel. Just one year later, Meena’s husband carried out a robbery and disappeared. Meena was thrown out of the house. Her brothers didn’t want her back either. In order to eat, Meena took up work as a gold thread (zari) embroidery worker. There, a co-worker offered to find her better paid job and took Meena to her “aunt”, who plied her with drugged tea. She awoke to find herself in a brothel. Then began a period of terror and trauma as her spirit was broken by floggings, starvation and death threats until she agreed to work as a prostitute. Meena’s nightmare only ended when she was rescued and sent to the Odanadi shelter in Mysore for rehabilitation. Mysore
Stanly KV and Parashuram ML were two journalists researching a story on prostitution in Mysore when a prostitute challenged them: Instead of just writing our stories, why don’t you do something to help us? She had laid bare the suffering, the violence, the alcohol and drug addiction that goes hand-in-hand with prostitution. She, like Meena, had had nobody to help her. That was the turning point for Stanly and Parashuram, who gave up journalism and became social workers and activists. The Odanadi project was established by them 20 years ago in Mysore, South India, to prevent sexual violence and human trafficking. Their work has been recognized by the government and many of their initiatives now receive official backing. Odanadi has applied to the LILY charity for funds to develop sustainable enterprises for 40 women rescued from trafficking, some of whom already work as full time seamstresses but need funds to create a design and marketing team to develop the commercial aspects of the business. We can also help them
Hundreds of children and women fall victim every day to human trafficking. Imprisoned in brothels, they cannot escape without our help. Any donation, big or small, will make a crucial difference to them; it could even save a life. You can make the difference. You can change the lives of millions of Lilys trapped in brothels. Please help us to help them. Our partner projects work in areas where trafficking is high, both in rural districts and in urban
slums. Your help will secure the following: Solar Panels £21,000 School Bus & Rescue Vehicle £16,000 Higher Education Scholarships & Livelihood Development £20,000 Computers for schools & IT & English Training £22,000 Food for rescued children £6,500 £21,000 will help buy solar panels to electrify a rural school in Rajasthan benefiting over 500 stu-
to create a new enterprise: a bakery in a commercial middle-class district of Mysore, with proper training in baking, marketing, creating a delivery system, book-keeping and all other aspects. Such sustainable employment will help survivors such as Meena to become more independent. Odanadi is a wellestablished and reputable project. They have conducted more than 60 rescue operations and provided rehabilitation for more than 2000 women and minors. 138 traffickers have been arrested and 47 criminal cases filed against traffickers. 60 vigilance committees have been established in the most vulnerable areas (eg, the North-Karnataka tribal belt). 200,000 school children have been educated about sexual exploitation. 630 missing children were returned to their families. In 2002, Odanadi opened their Madilu centre to accommodate 80 residents, providing them with a safe, family-type environment where they receive support, counselling and education. There are boys too who, like Meena, come from a background of commercial slavery, begging and sexual abuse, or are the children of prostituted women. They need much greater support from us in order to create a viable future for them. Please help the LILY Foundation to give Meena a future by creating sustainable enterprises such as the bakery in Mysore. Thus, we can give her bread to eat, not just today but for all her tomorrows.
Lily Foundation against Human Trafficking
Shree Popatbhai Ruparelia Saturday 17th August 2013, saw the sad passing of Shree Popatbhai Chakubhai Ruparelia, most commonly referred to as the ‘Father of the UK Lohana Community.’ Popatbhai, originally from Kampala, Uganda was an iconic figure within the Lohana Community. He was renowned for his tremendous contribution and service to mankind. Popatbhai was larger than life and his vibrant personality touched the lives of so many. He was a kind hearted and compassionate gentleman who I looked up to and very much respected. For me and for thousands of members of the Gujarati community, Popatbhai was a true inspiration. He was the personification –the epito-
2013
LILY Foundation is the sponsored charity of Asian Achievers Awards 2013
Popatbhai for his guidance and advice at the time. A large number of people, including the Editor of Gujarat Samachar, CB Patel attended a prayer service last week in memory of Popatbhai. At the service we gave thanks for those qualities and strengths that endeared him to us; his sense of joy, his vibrant personality, his ability to communicate warmth and passion. I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my deepest condolences to Popatbhai’s dearest wife, Shreemati Hemiben Ruparelia, along with the rest of the family
and friends. I am sure that the rest of the Lohana Community will join me in paying tribute to a towering figure, who will remain one of the most remarkable leaders our community. Popatbhai may not be with us today, but his vision
remains, and we must strive to build upon his impressive legacy. - Lord Dolar Popat A memorial service will be held for Shree Popatbhai Ruparelia at the Kadwa Patidar Centre, Harrow on Friday 30th August at 8pm.
dents and will also provide electricity to an innovative laundry service company in Goa run by the survivors of trafficking. £16,000 will help purchase a dedicated school bus for rescued victims in Delhi as well as a suitable vehicle to carry out successful rescue missions in the rough terrain of Assam. £20,000 will help sponsor higher education to 25 young girls and provide the seed capital to make 55 rescued women financial independent. £22,000 will equip two schools with computers and provide IT, English language and personality development courses to 110 young girls and girls. £6,500 will pay for three meals a day for 125 children of prostitutes for one whole year. contact us at info@ipartnerindia.org