The centennial birth anniversary of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj – creator of the iconic Neasden Temple in north-west London – was celebrated with a special commemorative event in the UK Parliament on 19 December 2022. Pramukh Swami Maharaj was an inspiration for millions of people around the world and dedicated his life to the greater good of humanity, serving as a global ambassador of love, peace and harmony. This event paid tribute to his countless contributions to the UK during his 19 visits to the country between 1970 and 2007, and the legacy of his values and culture that he bequeathed. The programme was attended by a diverse group of distinguished guests including Members of Parliament, Lords, local government officials, charity partners and faith representatives, who learned more about Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s profound impact on the UK through numerous personal testimonies, including from Lord Jitesh Gadhia – who was the host of the event.
In a special video message, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said, “Namaste, Jay Swaminarayan. Pramukh Swami Maharaj lives in the maxim- in the joy of others lies our own. In the UK he was the inspiration behind the magnificent Neasden Temple, familiar sight known for its help to the community and its beauty. That dedication to Seva is found in all of the Mandirs which were inspired by Pramukh Swami Maharaj. During the pandemic, BAPS helped not only the Hindu community but thousands who needed that support during that difficult time. Over the past 50 years, these efforts have not gone unrecognised. Roads given the name of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, our iconic Wembley Stadium arch has been lit up to pay tribute to his service and support to our country.”
Lord Jitesh Gadhia in his welcome address said, “Pramukh Swami Maharaj was one of the great leaders of our time. This is the location that Pramukh Swami himself visited in 1988. For me, he was the powerful combination of humility, humanity and vision. His thoughts, words and action were in complete harmony. Pramukh Swami’s pioneering work has left a strong legacy throughout this country not only in the form of the iconic Neasden temple but also in the growing activities in the UK. New mandirs recently opened in Manchester and Birmingham and the first Hindu mandir in Abu Dhabi marked a strong presence on the Global stage. In 1984 Pramukh Swami Maharaj met Pope John Paul II. He was among the first Hindu leader to engage with the head of the roman catholic church in the advanced interfaith dialogue. In the year 2000 Pramukh Swami addressed United Nations’ peace summit. He explained the open inclusive nature of Hindu philosophy. He spoke about environmental awareness in biodiversity well before time. We are all truly blessed that we came in contact with such a great noble soul.”
BAPS UK Trustee, Dr Mayank Shah presented a brief intro on Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s life, teachings and works. He said, “During his lifetime His Holiness visited 17,000 villages, not in the comfort of a car but on the back of a truck or in a rickshaw. He gifted the world over 11,00 temples, and Neasden Mandir is one of them. These temples became the hallmark to preserve the culture, perform social services, and create model citizens for our society. He was dedicated to interfaith harmony and always use to say that the true progress of any religion is not in growth in numbers. It is in the quality of life, purity and spiritual awakening. This year is very special as we are celebrating his birth century throughout the world. In the UK and Europe, we hosted 17 inspired living programs. The emphasis is on upholding the values, strengthening harmony and preserving culture.”
High Commissioner of India to the UK Vikram Doraiswami said, “The desire of doing meaningful work and serving everyone is in the DNA of the BAPS organisation. Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s message to love humanity, for our fellow human beings is the central part of that theme. The essence of service is reflected in the BAPS on daily basis activities. Vaishnav Jan… means a person who understands the pain of others, is beloved of God. If you don’t understand the pain and suffering of others, the happiness of others and if your action is not consequent to making the world a better place through the happiness of others then you have not acted. If life is indeed a short journey, then it is worth a while to make it a better one for all who travel with us.”
A special tribute was offered by Miss Mei Sim Lai OBE and British Airways. Ambassador of Nepal Gyan Chandra Acharya, Lord Rami Ranger, Lord Dolar Popat, Barry Gardiner MP, Krupesh Hirani AM, Cllr Ramji Chauhan, Dr Bharat bhai Shah, Navin Bhai Shah CBE, Vinod Thakrar, Subhash Thakrar, Shashibhai Vekaria, Chandresh Patel, Mahendra G Patel also offered tribute to Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
Welcome address was was presented by Karishma. Palak, Vidhi and Tulsi performed the shanti path. Mayukhjit Chakraborty presented Vaishnav Jan… bhajan on flute.
A vote of thanks was given by Rena Amin.
