Since BJP came to power at the Center, especially under the premiership of patriotic Narendra Modi, the close relations between two progressive nations, India and Israel progressed by leaps and bounds for the mutual benefit of both nations. Israel is a sophisticated, battle-hardened, well advance nation with a modern army capable of defending itself against any internal or external threats. That is how such a tiny State not only survives but prospers even though surrounded by hostile States bent upon destroying the Jewish nation.
These close relations between two nations have beneficial side effects between Indian and Jewish communities throughout western world, as both communities are highly educated, gainfully employed, extremely law-abiding and loyal citizens of their adopted motherland without divided loyalty!
Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP) as well as our politicians, especially members of House of Lords of Indian origin, have played an important part in cementing these close ties. Our heart-felt thanks goes to Lord Dolar Popat, Lord Jitesh Gadhia, Lord Navnit Dholakia, late Lord Gulam Noon, Rami Ranger and a few more leading personalities who have taken leading part in uniting these two flourishing communities, many Jewish MPs, Lords and community connoisseurs are active members of Labour and Conservative Friends of India and vice versa, opening the corridor of power through unity, understanding and participating. This indeed sets an encouraging example of how two ethnic minorities, socially and religiously polls apart, could successfully integrate, not only with the indigenous population but also among vast culturally diverse ethnic minorities.
In view of the recent anti-Jewish sentiments, prejudice among a tiny number of Labour party activists, as well as acts of vandalism against synagogues and Hindu temples and the rise of Right-Wing nationalism throughout Europe, makes it desirable, indeed obligatory to have such close ties for the mutual benefits of the two enterprising communities and hopefully drawing in other enlightened, enterprising minorities, like Daudi Bhoras, Ismalis, Sufis, Parcis and Christian Indians, few among many ethnic minorities who are capable of standing together for common good.
One noticeable absence is lack of cooperation between these two communities at grass-root level, neither community members interacting socially, culturally or religiously, although I have noticed presence of Jewish community members at our Hare Krishna temple in Watford. Our thanks also go to GS/AV and especially its editor Shri C. B. Patel who has been in the forefront in cementing friendship between our two communities, enlightening our community members about the achievements of Jewish community who take care of their own, with their own schools, sheltered, as well as nursing homes for the less prosperous members of the community.
Bhupendra M. Gandhi
By email
