INDIAN COMMUNITY MOURNS LOSS OF A GREAT LEADER

Indian community mourns loss of a leading figure. Shree Nalinikant Tribhovandas Pandya MBE passed away peacefully on 27th May 2006 in a London Hospital after suffering stroke. He was 90 years of age.

Lord Navnit Dholakia, a the prominent Asian member of the House of Lords said in his message of condolences, “He was a giant of a man who singularly pursued the cause he believed in”.

He added that the community has a lot to thank him for as a pioneer who set out the directions which have made us a prosperous community in the UK

Nalinikant was proud of being an Indian. As a freedom fighter actively involved in the satyagraha- (a struggle for Independent of India) lead by Mahatma Gandhi. In the UK, he lead a symbolic ‘salt-march’ signifying the ‘dandi-kutch’ in memory of Mahatma Gandhi as an Hon Secretary of Gandhi Bapu Memorial Trust.

Memories of his time with Gandhiji, Nehru and Sardar wre shred with his family. He never stopped being a revolutionary and a pioneering spirit even after the Independence of India. He contributed enormously in Uganda to promoting the heritage of Indian culture and went on to establish a school and a temple.

As a Vice-Chairman of the Brent Community Relations Council, he played a major role in promoting good race relations and supporting schemes such as ‘help on arrest’ and Police community liaison committees. He passionately believed in community cohesion where diversity is respected in order to address the needs of the community.

The projects and public bodies he served on included; school governor, member of Steering Committee for Wembley Conference Centre, Brent and Harrow Health Authority, Family Parishioners Committee, Art Council and Youth and Community Services and other various initiatives. Politically astute, he had developed and maintained excellent relationship with the political figures in all the main parties and community leaders for good of the communities.

In his bid to unite the community, he helped to establish Federation of Guajarati Associations (UK) during late 60s.. Also established UK’s first Sardar Patel Memorial Committee to celebrate one of India’s great leader with whom he had shared the struggled for Independence. The Committee unveiled an oil painting of Sardar at India House.
He was regarded as a ‘Father Figure’, well respected and always available to provide sound counsel a mentor for some and mediator for those in disputes within various the Indian Communities in Brent.

The Indian Community in Brent has lost a dedicated community worker who had given over 40 years voluntary contribution to the Borough. He was early generation of the minority ethnic black [BME] leaders struggle for our communities in a new country. He played an active role in the field of Race Relations and Community Cohesion, and truly followed a motto- “serving others above ones self”. This was embedded in the work of the Brent Indian Association [BIA] which he founded. Being in the early generation of minority ethnic black [bme] he led the struggle for our communities in a new country. With the help of a dedicated team, as Chairman, he lay the foundation on which the organisation was able to grow in strength and services for the well being of our people.

His strategic vision added a new focus, transforming the BIA from a cultural organisation to a more pro-active, social welfare, care and education organisation. During the period of deportation of Asians from Uganda in 1972 he took the lead in ensuring that the organisations he represented made an appropriate response to crisis. In order to meet the needs of the new arrivals he worked very closely with the Leader of the Council, Late Ald Phill Hartley, and visiting the resettlement camps played a crucial role in their settlement in the United Kingdom.

Followed by successfully establishing Brent’s first Gujarati Library, he went on to acquire the Urban-Aid grant from the Home Office. This was used to establish the Brent Indian Community Centre on Ealing Road in 1976. For over 30 years, he remained a close friend and well wisher of BIA and supported the administrations.

During Mid-70s, the late Shree Pranlal Sheth CBE, former Vice-Chairman of Commission for Racial Equality joined him to start a publication of an ethnic weekly newspaper -Gujarat Samachar. He also started a School for children of Indian origin. He was a member on the Education Committee and many schools, including Copeland Community School; had often invited him to present achievement certificates to their pupils.

Mr Pravin Amin, former leader of the National Association of Patidar Samaj and National Congress of Gujarati Organisations reacted to the announcement of his death by saying that Nalinkantbhai stood out as a leading torchbearer who guided the establishment of organisations by various Gujarati groups. “His ability to work tirelessly and skillfully has enabled achievement of great milestones by the Asian community in the UK”. added Mr Amin who is a leading member of Sardar Patel Memorial.

He had learned Sanskrit language and read Bhagwat Geeta. His efforts brought about the first largest celebration of the Hindu Festival of Navratri and opened the way for celebration of Ramayana Sahpata, starting in the famous Roundwood Park in Brent. For the first time the holy water from river Yamuna was brought to England to celebrate Yamuna Lotiji Mohotsava. All these initiatives were significant at the time, making a political statement on behalf of the Hindu Community, about their presence and acceptance in an ever changing society that needed to embrace the cultural and religious diversity.

He carried a dream of building a Hindu Temple in Brent to meet the spiritual needs of this community since early 60s for a Sanatan Hindu Mandir that would be inclusive of almost all sections of the faith he led a team that succeeded in raising sufficient resources to purchase a Temple in the Layton Stone.

After the first project, he embarked upon a second project for Wembley with a team as an Honorary Secretary General of Shree Vallabh Nidhi UK, to deliver yet more ambitious to have Mandir in Alperton-Wembley; now nearer to completion.
Despite opposition from disgruntled politicians, the skilled negotiator secured support from the local politicians for a site on Ealing Road. On occasions he
felt terrible about divisions in the faith communities and tried to build bridges. Never lost his heart but worked tirelessly for his vision to establish a Temple at the heart of the Hindu population.
Regardless of factional disputes and petty politicking, he remained steadfast on the mission to complete a unique piece of heritage for the Hindu community, a pure Sanatan in practice’ belonging neither to any individual nor anyone particularly religious leader, but to the people. It is a gift from the Hindus – another historical monument to the Londoners. He brought to realisation of a traditional Indian architectural vision, which has hand- crafted stones bought from India.

Despite his busy schedule, he was able to give time for every member of the family and their wellbeing. He was working on the Temple issues till he was taken to the hospital after the first heart attack.

He was a straight talking and sometimes outspoken man with whom the truth was always paramount. He was visited by spiritual leaders and scholars, but gave equal respect to the ordinary person. Many prominent politicians, writers and journalists visited him.

Whenever the Business Communities wanted to raise issues such as Car Parking and other matters related to the local council, they looked towards his leadership and facilitator to workout solutions. He arranged for the Registration of Marriages to take place at the place of the Hindu wedding Ceremony during late 60s. This alleviated the inconvenience for the families to go through two separate ceremonies.

With his passing, his family has lost a pillar of love and guidance. No doubt he is acknowledged by the community as a frontline worker with leadership qualities and a mentor. The Gujarati community will remember him with great affection and gratitude for an historical monument of Hindu heritage and other institutions that he has left behind for the benefit of the future generations.

Naliniknat Tribhovandas Pandya MBE was born in a Brahmin family on 1st March 1916 at Borsad, Gujarat State, India. After Graduation and active involvement in the struggle for independence of India, his career started as a Bank Manager which took him to Africa.
He contributed to the management bodies of many Schools and helped establish a Temple in Uganda before arriving in the UK in early 60s.
After joining a City firm of Accountants, his entrepreneurial desire lead him to establish a designing firm and an Asian weekly.

He was recipient of Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal and the Order of Member of British Empire (MBE) for his services to the community. He was also awarded Citizen’s Award by the Brent Council and an Award for his efforts for World Peace by an international NGO.

He was fortunate to see his younger son Buddhdev receiving an MBE and an award by the Lord Mayor of Leicester City in recognition for outstanding voluntary and community contribution to the City of Leicester.

He leaves his wife Savitaben and three children: daughter-Meena, Sons Kaushik and Buddhdev and eight grandchildren and six great grand children

His family can be contacted: Buddhdev Email: buddhdevp@yahoo.com