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Heat wave kills 2,330 people in India
First & Foremost Asian Weekly in Europe
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Indian-Americans dominate US National Spelling Bee See Page 26
Suspected IS operative arrested in Bangladesh
Delhi billionaire Doshi becomes Jain monk See Page 26
VOL 44. ISSUE 5
Delhi's “plastic king” Bhanwarlal Doshi has given up his $ 600 million worth of business empire and embraced Jain monastic life in an extravagant ceremony in Ahmedabad. Doshi is now the 108th disciple of Surishwarji Maharaj and the 354th postulant to become a monk under him. The 3day affair was conducted in Ahmedabad and hosted more than 150,000 people. Doshi, 58, the son of a textile merchant of Rajasthan, started out selling paraffin from a street cart. He later built his own company, DR International, into one of India’s largest plastics manufacturers, earning him a fortune that until last week ranked him as one of nation’s richest 100 people. He was attracted to monastic living way back in 1982. His diksha ceremony began with a procession of painted elephants, camels, horses, musicians, sword
Let noble thoughts come to us from every side
dancers and 1,000 Jain monks. Doshi's head was ritually shaved in a special hall, the mundan sthal and he was cheered by the crowd on his decision to give up his fortune to jain charities. The former business tycoon was greeted by spiritual leaders and Ahmedabad's top Jain industrialists such as Gautam Adani, a billionaire and a close friend of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Jainism concedes nonviolence and the renunciation of worldly goods as the way to spiritual liberation. After his consecration, the father of 3 has now given up on his indulgent lifestyle that included multiple homes, cars and overseas vacations- he now looks forward to a life of asceticism. His phones, ornaments and colourful clothes are now exchanged for simple white robes. He is not allowed to cut his hair and Continued on page 26
Grooming gang jailed in Leeds
On 2 June, a court in Leeds brought 10 men who took advantage of a vulnerable 13-year-old to justice. In that light, to read our feature on grooming terror, please see page 16.
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6th June to 12th June 2015
Keith Vaz appointed ViceChairman of Labour party Rt Hon Keith Vaz, MP, one of Britain’s longest serving Indian-origin MPs, has been appointed Vice-Chairman of the Labour party by acting Leader of the Opposition Harriet Harman. Vaz, 58, who was reelected from his Leicester East stronghold at the 2015 general election, also serves as the chair of the influential Home Affairs Select Committee in the House of Commons. Speaking about his appointment, Vaz said, “I am delighted to have been appointed as ViceChairman of the Labour Party. After coming through a difficult election, it is time for the party to regroup and bring fresh new ideas to the
Rt Hon Keith Vaz, MP
table. Playing a part in that process is a source of great pride for me. “Having served on the National Executive Committee (NEC) for a number of years, I know that the Labour Party draws deep strength from its members. Continued on page 16
Panel discusses shifting party loyalty amongst Indians
The Committee Room 4A in the House of Lords, brimmed with excitement on 27th May, as the who's who of the community gathered to discuss the importance of Indian voters in electoral politics and how they are shaping the future of Britain, hosted by Lord Prof Bhikhu Parekh and Asian Voice-Gujarat Samachar, Britain's largest Asian newsweeklies.
Full story see page 17
Dr Omar Khan, Dr S Y Quraishi, Lord Prof Bhikhu Parekh, CB Patel, Keith Vaz MP, Ashis Ray Inset: Lord Karan Bilimoria