More than four decades ago, a group of ambitious people joined hands to create a voice, an identity for the South Asian community based in the United Kingdom. Their vision was clear: To make a difference. On May 5, 1972, Gujarat Samachar was launched as part of one of the most powerful sectors in the world, and it has only grown since. A lot has changed in the past years and even though both the newspapers have evolved and adapted in accord with time, I find it remarkable that their raisons d'être remain the same.
It was in the May of 2015, that I joined Asian Voice, and in my limited association with the newspaper, I have witnessed several campaigns, all carried out for the British Indian community. It is in the last three years that I realised just how powerful words can be. We had saved a temple, put a special international flight in motion, first-handedly sought justice for the immigrants. I found that every time our pens worked, we made a visible difference. Ink, as I discovered, is invincible.
Gujarat Samachar was launched by then Indian high commissioner Appa Saheb Pant. In his speech, Appa Saheb told the team to serve the community. He asked them to highlight their problems, take their responsibility, but most importantly, not to blame the colonial rule and use it as an excuse. He ever so graciously had pointed out that the duty of a newspaper is to raise its voice, energise the community, and prevail on the powers that may be used to provide level-playing fields. Years later, while the team is no longer the same, the sentiments are, and so is the urge to do what is right.
With a strong and progressing list of subscribers, Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar are now as vocal as ever. We have some of the very best people in support with us. Well-known leaders from across different sectors contribute to our papers. Padma Shri Vishnu Pandya, Dr Hari Desai, Prof Chandrakant Patel, Tushar Joshi, are only some of the very talented persons to share their insight in Gujarat Samachar. Similarly, Asian Voice has leaders like MP Keith Vaz, Rani Singh, Alpesh Patel, Suresh Vagjiani, and others, all more potent than the other.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
Since the day Appa Saheb inspired an entire generation, Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar has found the clarity to register right from wrong. Which is why, it has been easier for those running the newspapers to raise their voice when they witness injustice. One of the most effective campaigns was the 'SAVE THE TEMPLE' campaign. Over 35,000 people sat outside the Parliament on March 14, 1994, to protest the closure of the Hare Krishna Temple, one of the most famous Hindu temples outside of India. Hindu, Jain, and Sikh communities came together to stand in solidarity with ISKCON, proving how strong the public voice can be. Lords, MPs, Councillors, and key members of the Hare Krishna community came together to share their memories of the first ever campaign that brought the entire British Indian community together. CB Patel, Publisher and Editor of Asian Voice, was not just a key figure behind the successful campaign, he was also the one to move the crowds, use the newspapers as a weapon to unite generations and communities.
The second most moving campaign was the 'AHMEDABAD-LONDON DIRECT FLIGHT' campaign. Asian Voice issue dating December 19, 2015, featured an article titled 'Gujaratis flying high as dream flight takes off' on Page 1. After years of campaigning, calling upon Indian ministers, the Gujarat Chief Minister, bureaucrats and other people of importance, demanding a direct flight to run between Ahmedabad's Sardar Patel International Airport and London's Heathrow. To say the announcement of the campaign's success was glorious, is an understatement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the UK for the first time as a leader of one of the world's leading nations, in November, 2015. In his first speech as the PM at the Wembley's overflowing stadium, Modi said that his dear friend CB used to “catch hold of my collar” on this matter, which is why, the Indian government has resumed the Ahmedabad-London direct flight from December 15, onwards.
CB Patel's relationship with Modi goes back a long way. However, the PM's mentioning of CB's name on front of a crowd of 600,000 was not just a source of respect, but a sign of just how many efforts he has put, and how active he has been in making traveling back to India convenient for the Gujarati community in Britain.
There are several other campaigns run and initiated by CB and his team, both in the UK and Ahmedabad. Listing all of them here wouldn't be necessary as all you readers, must already be aware of AV and GS' influence and integrity in the country. Campaigns for immigrants have run long and triumphant. All immigrants, be from East Africa, India, or the Middle East, have found a voice in us every time injustice has been meted out. The change of fare in the HSMP (Highly Skilled Migrant Programme) visa scheme was viciously protested against by Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar.
One of the many things to drive a person or company, is purpose, and ABPL is lucky to have never found a lack of it. While we petition and protest against bias, we do so with complete respect towards the government. We ensure that while we voice our community members' complaints, we never overstep our boundaries.
Dear friends, Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar turns 46 on May 5. It has been a long and rather bumpy ride. We have seen ups, and downs. But in all of that, we have found the courage and determination to do what is right. To stand up for justice, and to raise our voice for the voiceless. CB's undeterred leadership has over the years, boosted our will to concrete-like stability, and made us sure of what we stand for. As we say, Let noble thoughts come to us from every side.
Our greatest asset is the the high number of our readers, their trust and confidence. We are most grateful for these. We will strive our utmost to keep on serving you to the best of our ability, for a very long time.
