A crucial part of remaining authentic is maintaining the family and community relationships that each of us builds up over time and never forgetting our roots, said Lord Jitesh Gadhia on Saturday (February 4). He was speaking at a Satsang Sabha at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Neasden.
He said the one lesson of recent events (Brexit, US elections, etc.) is to expect the unexpected. “And the one constant we all face is change and uncertainty. Not just political uncertainty but also the profound effects of rapid technological change. Be it: Artificial Intelligence, Autonomous Vehicles or Gene-based Personalised Medicine –no sector of the economy is immune from disruptive forces. At the same time, we have seen instability created by protracted conflicts, particularly in the Middle East, having a corrosive human impact and forcing mass migration across continents.”
He said closer to home the challenges of an ageing population will require a re-think about the traditional patterns of education, work and retirement as well as health and social care.
He said in 1917 just 1 in 100 people lived till 100, while 50 out of 100 people born today will live for 100 years.
Faced with these overwhelming forces, Lord Gadhia said there is a clear danger that societies may become inward, insular and intolerant. This is the greatest danger of the present time and that is why Hinduism and Hindu values are even more important today than they have ever been.
“We are the torch-bearers for the noble values of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the whole world is one family) – a point which Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised during his first ever address to the United Nations General Assembly. Or in Pramukh Swami’s eternal words: ‘In the joy of others lies our own’.”
He said: “We are not only the oldest religion in the world but the most peaceful and tolerant. Hinduism differs from other religions because we do not have: a single founder; a single deity; a single holy text; or a central religious authority. This lack of formal structure means Hinduism is a deep rooted culture of spirituality and not an organised religion like Christianity or Islam. And that is our distinct advantage.”
The secret of great civilisations is that they adapt. They retain their essential values and authenticity, yet modernise, the Kampala-born leader added.
He said Hinduism is not dogmatic or driven by ideology, because it has no hidden agenda or motive except to spread truth. All Hindu scriptures state that “self-realisation” is the ultimate goal of every human being, whether Hindu or not.
Also, the beauty of Hinduism is that it embraces noble thoughts from any direction. “We welcome truth from every side as stated in the Rig Veda – Aano Bhadra Krthavo Yantu Vishwatah.”
Lord Gadhia said Hinduism does not proclaim monopoly or exclusivity of wisdom. Nowhere in the Hindu scriptures do you find that Hindus alone can find God. In fact, any person who searches after truth will ultimately attain self realisation, whether Hindu or not, he added.
“We enjoy absolute freedom of thoughts and actions as a cardinal principle. For example, even an atheist can condemn Hinduism and later proclaim that he or she is a Hindu,” the 46-year-old Gujarati leader said. Also, perhaps most significantly, Hindus do not actively convert people from other religions to Hinduism.
He said these are the fundamental principles shared by all British Hindus which “we should be proud of and confident enough to explain more widely”. And that is why British Hindu values are now recognised at the highest level in this country – celebrated in Parliament and in Downing Street – and “our community is seen as an inspiration for others to emulate”.
He said the contribution of Hindus to British Life is wide reaching – Teaching in schools; policing streets; running businesses; serving in armed forces; saving lives in hospitals; donating to good causes, etc. In fact, at every turn “we display those values – Indian and Hindu values – of family, responsibility, enterprise and hard work”.
Finally, the Cambridge University-educated investment banker said a lot has been achieved by “our community but I truly believe that our best times lie ahead provided we safeguard our cherished Hindu and Indian values and invest in the next generation”.
Lord Dolar Popat, Lady Sandhya Popat, Lord Ranbir Suri, Lady Tarlochan Suri, Lord Raj Loomba, Lady Veena Loomba and CB Patel, among others, were present. Lord Gadhia described CB Patel as his long-standing mentor who he had the pleasure of knowing for almost 30 years. Lord Jitesh Gadhia’s wife Angeli and children, Priyana and Devand, as well as his mother Hansaben were also present.
Last August Jitesh Gadhia was made a Life Peer by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the recommendation of then Prime Minister David Cameron. On September 12, at the age of 46, he was introduced to the House of Lords as its youngest Briton of Indian origin. He took his oath of allegiance using the Rig Veda – the first time anyone has taken the oath using the world’s oldest scripture.
