I once had the privilege of attending a seminar in Ahmedabad focused on the water crisis in regions of Gujarat, such as North Gujarat and Kutch. The discussions revolved around critical issues like rainfall scarcity, water shortages and the challenges faced due to the absence of resources like the Narmada River water, which were not available at that time.
During the seminar, I had the opportunity to meet Reuben David and other members of the Jewish community, who shared insights about Israel's experiences in addressing similar challenges. Reuben was born into a Bene Israel Jewish family in Ahmedabad. He was the founder of the well-known Kankaria Zoo, now called the Kamala Nehru Zoological Garden, as well as the Chacha Nehru Balvatika in Ahmedabad.
It was fascinating to hear how Israel, which came into existence on 14 May 1948 as a small nation covering just 8,630 square miles, managed to overcome significant obstacles in its formative years. Their innovative approaches and resourcefulness offered valuable lessons for addressing water crises.
David Ben-Gurion, head of the Jewish Agency, declared the establishment of the State of Israel in accordance with the United Nations’ plan to partition Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states. At that time, much of the land in Israel was barren, with limited natural resources and the population included approximately 650,000 Jewish people, while Arabs made up the majority in the region.
For over 2,000 years, the Jewish people lived as a stateless diaspora, often facing discrimination and expulsion. In medieval Europe, entire Jewish communities were frequently expelled by monarchs or governments, including in England, where King Edward I issued the Edict of Expulsion in 1290, forcing Jews to leave the country. Similar expulsions occurred in other nations, such as Spain in 1492 during the Spanish Inquisition.
Despite being scattered across Europe and other parts of the world, often without a homeland or secure roots, the Jewish people maintained their cultural and religious identity. This perseverance laid the foundation for their eventual return to the land of Israel in the 20th century, culminating in the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.
Today, nearly 74% of Israel's population is Jewish and the country has undergone an extraordinary transformation. Through innovative techniques such as drip irrigation, desalination, and advanced agricultural practices, Israel has turned its once arid and rocky terrain into fertile farmland, making it a global leader in water management and agricultural technology. In addition to agriculture, Israel is now a highly developed nation with a thriving IT industry, a world-renowned defence sector and a per capita income of over $55,000.
During the seminar in Ahmedabad, I was deeply impressed not only to learn about Israel's innovative approaches to water management but also about the history of the Jewish people and the Jewish diaspora. I also learnt that during the 17th and 18th centuries, Jewish scholars and thinkers began shaping the idea of a Jewish homeland, which later evolved into Zionism.
I came to know more about the Jewish community when I moved to London as a student at Lincoln's Inn. In June 1967, during the Six-Day War between Israel and its neighbouring countries, there was extensive coverage in the British press, which sparked my interest in the Jewish people and their history. I also had the opportunity to know a Jewish student at the time and through our conversations, I gained insight into the unique challenges faced by the Jewish community, both political and social. Historically, Jews are part of the Abrahamic faith tradition, Jesus Christ was born into a Jewish family and Prophet Muhammad is also believed to have descended from the same Abrahamic lineage.
What fascinated me the most is the extraordinary achievements of the Jewish people despite their small numbers. A significant number of Nobel laureates are Jewish and their contributions span fields like science, literature and peace. In India, figures like Lieutenant General J. F. R. Jacob, a key leader in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and Jewish contributions to academia and cinema stand out.
The Jewish diaspora and
formation of IJA (now BIJA)
Like other diasporas, such as the Indian and Gujarati communities, the Jewish diaspora has also achieved remarkable success across various fields. Their accomplishments in science, business, politics, arts and humanitarian work are a testament to their resilience and contributions to the global community. Their success reminds me of our Zoroastrian friends, another small yet remarkably accomplished community.
In 1982, I had the opportunity to meet some Jewish friends through Leicester MP Greville Janner, who was also a columnist for New Life for several years. Along with individuals like Pranlal Sheth, Anil Pota, Arjun Lal Sharma and others, we discussed the many similarities between the Indian and Jewish communities, particularly in their way of life, culture and traditions. This led to the idea of creating a socio-cultural organisation to foster closer ties between the two communities. The Indian Jewish Association (IJA) was founded in 1996 to facilitate the friendship between the Indian and Jewish communities with the support of Jewish leaders. Mike Whine MBE and John Levy were involved for many years, before handing over the co-chairing to Zaki Cooper and Dr Peter S Chadha. Anil Rajani and many others have been dedicated to the cause of BIJA and continues to work tirelessly to advance its mission.
I was privileged to have a small contribution in IJA's founding. Interestingly, the name IJA had already been in use since 1947 by the Indian Journalists' Association, a different organisation representing Indian journalists. So, the organisation was named the British Indian Jewish Association (BIJA), focusing on social, cultural and other areas of collaboration to help both communities learn from one another and progress together. This initiative aimed to strengthen ties, acknowledging the shared challenges and values between the Indian and Jewish communities.
It is important to recognise that the Jewish community has faced unique challenges, including the Holocaust and the ongoing experiences of being a diaspora. In the 1960s and 1970s, there were dozens of Jewish MPs in the British Parliament and by the 1980s, there were at times three to four Jewish cabinet ministers across different political parties. This was a reflection of the community’s brilliance and contribution to British society. Even today prominent British Indians like Lord Dolar Popat, Lord Jitesh Gadhia, Reena Ranger OBE, Ameet Jogia MBE, Amrit S Maan, Anil Rajani, Dr Peter Chadha, Alpesh Patel, Kapil Dudakia and others continue to do exceptional work for their respective communities, ensuring that the legacy of Indian and Jewish achievements remains strong. The creation of BIJA stands as an example of how communities can come together to support and learn from each other. It highlights the deep and enduring ties between the Indian and Jewish communities, both of whom have shared histories of overcoming adversity, and creating meaningful legacies.
