Shree Lohana Mahaparishad is a global cultural organisation dedicated to uniting the Lohana community, preserving its rich traditions, and empowering future generations. Through a wide range of initiatives and events, the organisation celebrates heritage while fostering growth, opportunity, and prosperity.
Asian Voice spoke to Satish D Vithalani, President of Shree Lohana Mahaparishad and Chairman of the Lohana International Business Forum (LIBF), about his journey, the vision behind LIBF, and the road ahead.
A journey of service and commitment
Speaking about his association with Shree Lohana Mahaparishad, Satish Vithalani said he was elected President on 20 December 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I came with an agenda of nearly 27 focus points, covering education, healthcare, and other essential areas for our community,” he said. “I had promised to devote 100 per cent of my time to the betterment of the community.”
Established in 1952, Shree Lohana Mahaparishad has a proud legacy. Satishbhai is the 14th President of the organisation. “Our first President was Shri Nanjibhai Kalidas Mehta, and the first Adhiveshan (convention) was held on 26 December 1952 at Azad Maidan,” he noted.
Having been actively involved with the Mahaparishad since 1989, and having worked closely with three former Presidents, Satishbhai said, “I had decided long ago that I would take on such a senior responsibility only after stepping back from my business commitments.”
Expressing gratitude to the community for the trust placed in him, he added that he has since been re-elected for a second five-year term, marking over 35 years of continuous leadership and service within the organisation.
Leadership philosophy and organisational expansion
Outlining his leadership philosophy, Satishbhai said the organisation continues to be guided by its founding mantra:
‘Sannishtha, Sangathan, Seva Dwara Siddhi’
(Sincerity, Unity, Service leading to Achievement)
“Our predecessors laid down this vision in 1952, and every generation has carried it forward in its own way,” he said.
During his tenure, the focus has been on modernising communication, strengthening grassroots connectivity, and restructuring the organisation to meet contemporary needs.
Under his leadership, Shree Lohana Mahaparishad expanded from seven to fifteen zones in India, with further regional subdivisions. Overseas, the organisation has grown from four to ten zones, and today operates across 25 global zones, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, the rest of Africa, the GCC, the UK and Europe, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the Far East.
“The idea is simple,” Satishbhai explained. “If even one Lohana lives in a small town anywhere in the world, we should be able to reach them.”
Today, the Mahaparishad functions through 27 dedicated committees, covering education, healthcare, matrimonial services, professional forums such as Chartered Accountants, legal professionals and doctors, women’s wing, youth wing, sports, political engagement, and government employees, among others—ensuring holistic support for the community across generations and geographies.
‘This will be our largest and most ambitious LIBF yet’
Speaking about the Lohana International Business Forum (LIBF), Satishbhai said that youth engagement and connecting Lohana businesspersons across the globe were the core motivations behind its launch.
“We realised that the youth connect most strongly through business, opportunity, and entrepreneurship,” he said.
Tracing LIBF’s journey, he recalled the inaugural edition in Uganda in 2023, which brought together nearly 900 participants from 22 countries, followed by Gandhinagar in 2024, which attracted around 12,000 visitors, and Dubai in 2025, with over 750 participants.
“Each edition has strengthened our global connect and confidence,” he noted.
The fourth LIBF Expo will take place at Mumbai’s Jio World Convention Centre, spread across 1.7 lakh square feet. Satishbhai said invitations have been extended to several national and spiritual leaders, including P P Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji, RSS Chief P P Mohan Bhagwat, Union Home Minister Amitbhai Shah, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, and Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat Harsh Sanghavi.
Prominent business leaders expected to attend include Udaybhai Kotak, Mayurbhai Madhvani, Dr Sudhirbhai Ruparelia, Chetanbhai Chug, Parimal Nathwani, Rasikbhai Kantaria, Yogesh Manek, Pradeepbhai Dhamecha, Rashmibhai and Satishbhai Chatwani, Bimalbhai Kantaria, Kishorebhai Jobanputra, Surubhai Manek, Kaushikbhai Manek, along with several other leading entrepreneurs from India and across the global Lohana diaspora.
“This will be our largest and most ambitious LIBF yet, bringing business leaders, youth, and the global Lohana community together on one platform,” Satishbhai said.
LIBF Expo 2026: Business with purpose
Scheduled from 30 January to 1 February 2026, the LIBF Expo 2026 will focus on business, networking, and global collaboration.
“This exhibition is about business first,” Satishbhai emphasised. Over 200 stalls will showcase predominantly Lohana entrepreneurs, alongside delegates from India and overseas, creating opportunities for partnerships and joint ventures across India, Africa, the UK, the USA, and other global markets.
He explained that LIBF operates under the aegis of Shree Lohana Mahaparishad, with its commercial activities managed by a non-profit company, whose directors are drawn from across the world.
Beyond business, the Expo will focus on job creation, youth engagement, and start-ups, through a jobs portal, mentoring programmes, and investor interactions. The event will also host 20 sector-specific conventions, award nights, a dedicated youth night, and meetings of the Madhyashtha Mahasamiti, making it a comprehensive three-day global gathering.
Vision for the next decade
Looking ahead, Satishbhai said the Mahaparishad’s primary focus over the next decade will be youth empowerment, education, and global connectivity.
“Our first emphasis in the coming ten years will be to bring the youth together,” he said. He added that surpluses generated through LIBF events are channelled into education and healthcare initiatives, both in India and overseas.
“Our goal is clear—no Lohana student should be forced to drop out due to lack of funds. 100 per cent literacy should be our target.”
A key pillar of this vision is ‘Lohana Connect’, a digital platform designed to map the global Lohana community.
“The idea is to know who we are, where we are, and what we do across the world,” Satishbhai explained. The platform enables SOS support, professional networking, and community assistance globally.
He also highlighted initiatives such as the Global Saraswati Sanman, which will honour students and educators annually at a central level.
“Our aim is to make Shree Lohana Mahaparishad self-sustaining,” he said. “Through platforms like Lohana Connect, we want to bring communication, events, and outreach under one roof and ensure the organisation remains strong and sustainable for generations to come.”
*For more details on the LIBF Expo 2026, please refer to page 05.
