Tony Blair is one of the our supporters, he recently recorded a video to tell us why he supports National Sewa Day.
See what he said about National Sewa Day here:
We have lots of other supporters who have recorded their thoughts about National Sewa Day, find out more on our youtube channel
Saturday 30 October 2010
To Aid or Not to Aid. That is the Question…..
Well, Osborne has finally laid out his stall. Question Time has come and gone. The debate about the fairness of it all has been raging for a week and no doubt will keep dominating headlines and pub conversations for some time to come. The fact: As a nation we’ve been living beyond our means for way too long and now the chickens have come home to roost. You can argue the toss about the speed and degree of austerity measures versus taxation but ultimately, as a nation, we have to tighten our belts one way or another – all of us.
Now, amongst all of this angst, a side argument has kicked off. The beef is with overseas aid (which has been ring fenced against cuts). Should we, a nation with its own financial problems and growth rate of less than 1% be dishing out cash to “developing” nations with far greater growth rates (in some cases, a la India, as much as 9%). Our tabloids would argue no....I would argue emphatically YES.
India, as an example, is the Dept. For International Development’s (DFID) largest bilateral programme. DFID has provided approximately £1 billion to India in bilateral aid over the period 2002-2007. In the last year for which full figures were available, 2007/8, it was £312 million (Telegraph). Should the British taxpayer give to a nation which can afford its own nuclear weapons? Should we donate to a country that has started its own overseas aid program? Still YES.
We should focus on Wealth NOT Growth. We are still relatively rich although it may not feel that way at the moment. IMF and World Bank figures for 2009 show GDP per capita for the UK of around US$35,000. The comparable number for India is around US$1,000! The UK is still in the top 20 of wealthiest nations.
DFID’s aide program has helped reduce the number of Indian children out of school (and increase the number of girls attending), expand the microfinance industry, provide water and sanitation services to many poor communities and lift millions out of poverty through rural works programs. These rapidly growing nations are still coming to grips with their social welfare obligations. Our work is not done yet.
The issues we should focus on are 1) how to assess poverty levels; 2) how to allocate aid between different recipient countries; 3) how to ensure aid is being routed correctly and efficiently at the local level. The question of whether to give aid or not shouldn’t arise. It’s for the beneficiary countries to refuse our aid, not for us to withdraw our helping hand.
…..and there’s a business/political agenda here too (as always). We would do well to keep these countries on side – to maintain ties with the future growth engine and stop the rhetoric.
Yes there is hardship here in the UK – and it’s likely to get worse before it gets better. It still doesn’t get anywhere near the levels of suffering and depravation that exists in parts of the developing world. It’s our responsibility as members of a civilised world society to help those who are less fortunate than us….and who knows what the future holds. Some day we may need a helping hand too.
Big Society is a global concept… …see you on INTERNATIONAL SEWA DAY – 21 November 2011 : )
Arup Ganguly
Chairman – National Sewa Day
Now, amongst all of this angst, a side argument has kicked off. The beef is with overseas aid (which has been ring fenced against cuts). Should we, a nation with its own financial problems and growth rate of less than 1% be dishing out cash to “developing” nations with far greater growth rates (in some cases, a la India, as much as 9%). Our tabloids would argue no....I would argue emphatically YES.
India, as an example, is the Dept. For International Development’s (DFID) largest bilateral programme. DFID has provided approximately £1 billion to India in bilateral aid over the period 2002-2007. In the last year for which full figures were available, 2007/8, it was £312 million (Telegraph). Should the British taxpayer give to a nation which can afford its own nuclear weapons? Should we donate to a country that has started its own overseas aid program? Still YES.
We should focus on Wealth NOT Growth. We are still relatively rich although it may not feel that way at the moment. IMF and World Bank figures for 2009 show GDP per capita for the UK of around US$35,000. The comparable number for India is around US$1,000! The UK is still in the top 20 of wealthiest nations.
DFID’s aide program has helped reduce the number of Indian children out of school (and increase the number of girls attending), expand the microfinance industry, provide water and sanitation services to many poor communities and lift millions out of poverty through rural works programs. These rapidly growing nations are still coming to grips with their social welfare obligations. Our work is not done yet.
The issues we should focus on are 1) how to assess poverty levels; 2) how to allocate aid between different recipient countries; 3) how to ensure aid is being routed correctly and efficiently at the local level. The question of whether to give aid or not shouldn’t arise. It’s for the beneficiary countries to refuse our aid, not for us to withdraw our helping hand.
…..and there’s a business/political agenda here too (as always). We would do well to keep these countries on side – to maintain ties with the future growth engine and stop the rhetoric.
Yes there is hardship here in the UK – and it’s likely to get worse before it gets better. It still doesn’t get anywhere near the levels of suffering and depravation that exists in parts of the developing world. It’s our responsibility as members of a civilised world society to help those who are less fortunate than us….and who knows what the future holds. Some day we may need a helping hand too.
Big Society is a global concept… …see you on INTERNATIONAL SEWA DAY – 21 November 2011 : )
Arup Ganguly
Chairman – National Sewa Day
Tuesday 26 October 2010
National Sewa Day: The Power of Youth
“So long as little children are allowed to suffer, there is no true love in this world.” - Isadora Duncan
I believe that National Sewa Day is a wonderful opportunity for us to realise and showcase the divinity that is manifested in each and every one of us.
It has always been important to me that my children are well grounded and that they have a healthy perspective on life. I have tried to instill an appreciation in them that there are millions of less privileged people (including many children) all around the world. I tell them that “we are the lucky ones”. Many of our fellow citizens are in dire need of our love and support. As members of the human race, it is our prime responsibility to answer their call.
The youth of today encompass a more rooted, eco-friendly culture compared to previous generations. Our generation and that of our parents and grandparents faced different challenges to those of today. Previous generations (in the UK certainly) were faced with a world war and the subsequent re-building process. Hence, their focus became generating economic wealth. The problems the current youth and future generations face are in relation to protecting and preserving the very existence of our planet. It is crucial that we keep striving to improve the quality of our environment - for our children’s sake. This is why I simply could not recommend getting involved in NSD enough. NSD is a fabulous opportunity for us, together with our youth, to take further steps towards making our world a better place. To be frank, without getting our youth involved, initiatives like NSD have very little chance of making long term impact. It’s great to see organizations like the National Hindu Students Forum supporting NSD.
Most of us are so caught up in our daily grind that despite all good attention and noble will, we simply do not designate sufficient time to do a little sewa. So here is our chance. Let us get together as a community, in this moment, and serve from our hearts. Let’s experience the wonder of selfless service together, right here in Britain! But most importantly, let's do it together!
So on 21st November, why not come plant a tree with me in Heartwood forest or join our team at Fryent Conservation Park. This is our time. Together, we can make a change.
Sangita Kanoria (Member – NSD Advisory Board)
Sangita Kanoria is owner/director of Aermid Healthcare, a leading provider of care services to a wide range of individuals in the UK including older people, people with enduring mental health problems, learning and physical disabilities. Sangita is also an active member of The Rajasthan Foundation.
I believe that National Sewa Day is a wonderful opportunity for us to realise and showcase the divinity that is manifested in each and every one of us.
It has always been important to me that my children are well grounded and that they have a healthy perspective on life. I have tried to instill an appreciation in them that there are millions of less privileged people (including many children) all around the world. I tell them that “we are the lucky ones”. Many of our fellow citizens are in dire need of our love and support. As members of the human race, it is our prime responsibility to answer their call.
The youth of today encompass a more rooted, eco-friendly culture compared to previous generations. Our generation and that of our parents and grandparents faced different challenges to those of today. Previous generations (in the UK certainly) were faced with a world war and the subsequent re-building process. Hence, their focus became generating economic wealth. The problems the current youth and future generations face are in relation to protecting and preserving the very existence of our planet. It is crucial that we keep striving to improve the quality of our environment - for our children’s sake. This is why I simply could not recommend getting involved in NSD enough. NSD is a fabulous opportunity for us, together with our youth, to take further steps towards making our world a better place. To be frank, without getting our youth involved, initiatives like NSD have very little chance of making long term impact. It’s great to see organizations like the National Hindu Students Forum supporting NSD.
Most of us are so caught up in our daily grind that despite all good attention and noble will, we simply do not designate sufficient time to do a little sewa. So here is our chance. Let us get together as a community, in this moment, and serve from our hearts. Let’s experience the wonder of selfless service together, right here in Britain! But most importantly, let's do it together!
So on 21st November, why not come plant a tree with me in Heartwood forest or join our team at Fryent Conservation Park. This is our time. Together, we can make a change.
Sangita Kanoria (Member – NSD Advisory Board)
Sangita Kanoria is owner/director of Aermid Healthcare, a leading provider of care services to a wide range of individuals in the UK including older people, people with enduring mental health problems, learning and physical disabilities. Sangita is also an active member of The Rajasthan Foundation.
Sunday 17 October 2010
The Politics of Volunteering and the Colour of My Skin
In an age of austerity, politicians in the US and in Britain are highlighting the importance of volunteering. Whether it is Obama or Cameron – both have emphasised the critical importance of volunteer work. This week I was asked to speak at the Golders Green Mandir on why I am volunteering for National Sewa Day on 21st November. This is the essence of what I said with some additions:
“The colour of my skin. The colour of my skin. This skin which when I was young and foolish, how I wished it was any other colour. Any other colour, preferably a very pale colour as I was kicked at school, mocked and bullied because of the colour of my skin. The colour of my skin which told people I worshiped an elephant god in my faith.
As I grew older I realised my greatest asset was the colour of my skin. This skin which is a walking advertisement that I belong to the oldest of all civilisations and religions. The civilisation without which the world would not have mathematics and therefore science or the West its languages. This skin which is a brand, a brand which means whatever I do or say I am a brand ambassador for that civilisation.
So why am I volunteering? Because my actions and my skin will advertise this is what we do, this is who we are. Without bragging, without showing off, this skin silently speaks that we get involved. Whether it is cleaning streets, making care parcels for the troops in Afghanistan, planting trees – this is what we do, this is who we are.
You see it has been estimated Britain, which only in the last 10 years finished paying its loans borrowed to fight the second world war, spent in today’s money over 10 trillion dollars to fight tyranny, sacrificed an Empire, all for principle, all because a small Eastern European country was invaded at a time when invasions were commonplace in 1939. So when someone mocks Britain as being a spent power, you remind them of the sacrifices of this island nation, and that this is our home, where people of my colour of skin are welcome and people of the colour of my skin in return volunteer to make it a better country – because paying taxes and being law-abiding is not sufficient discharge of our debts. That is why I am volunteering.
Another reason: because I must prove to myself the blood running through these veins under the colour of this skin, is the blood betrothed by good fortune to me by my ancestors of India. That it is the same blood in some small part as the blood of Gandhiji and the Sardar. Bloodlines should be put to the test – voluntarily not just in times of emergency.
You see volunteering is national service. It is often said that the greatest generation is the generation which fought in the second world war – the generation of my grandparents. Those who sacrificed their lives to rid the world of tyranny. And they did it in the national service. We god willing will never be called upon to show such greatness, but in times of peace, our proof that we are worthy of being the descendants of the greatest generation is if we too volunteer in the national service.
Because if we don’t do this, how do we look our children’s children in the eye when in years to come they will turn to us, as we tell them to get off the sofa and make a difference, and ask us, ‘well what did you do then?’ We have to be worthy of our grandparents, worthy of our grandchildren. That is why I am volunteering and believe in the politics of volunteering. Join me and the thousands on November 21st – because this is what we do, this is who we are.
Alpesh Patel (Member – NSD Advisory Board)
This article appeared in the Asian Voice last week. Alpesh Patel is one of the UK's best known financial commentators and authors. As well as writing 9 bestselling books on trading, he is a regular columnist for the Financial Times newspaper. He appears regularly on CNN, Sky Business News, CNBC and BBC radio and television. Alpesh is a Principal at Praefinium Partners and is also an 'International Dealmaker' for the UK Government's Global Entrepreneur Programme.
“The colour of my skin. The colour of my skin. This skin which when I was young and foolish, how I wished it was any other colour. Any other colour, preferably a very pale colour as I was kicked at school, mocked and bullied because of the colour of my skin. The colour of my skin which told people I worshiped an elephant god in my faith.
As I grew older I realised my greatest asset was the colour of my skin. This skin which is a walking advertisement that I belong to the oldest of all civilisations and religions. The civilisation without which the world would not have mathematics and therefore science or the West its languages. This skin which is a brand, a brand which means whatever I do or say I am a brand ambassador for that civilisation.
So why am I volunteering? Because my actions and my skin will advertise this is what we do, this is who we are. Without bragging, without showing off, this skin silently speaks that we get involved. Whether it is cleaning streets, making care parcels for the troops in Afghanistan, planting trees – this is what we do, this is who we are.
You see it has been estimated Britain, which only in the last 10 years finished paying its loans borrowed to fight the second world war, spent in today’s money over 10 trillion dollars to fight tyranny, sacrificed an Empire, all for principle, all because a small Eastern European country was invaded at a time when invasions were commonplace in 1939. So when someone mocks Britain as being a spent power, you remind them of the sacrifices of this island nation, and that this is our home, where people of my colour of skin are welcome and people of the colour of my skin in return volunteer to make it a better country – because paying taxes and being law-abiding is not sufficient discharge of our debts. That is why I am volunteering.
Another reason: because I must prove to myself the blood running through these veins under the colour of this skin, is the blood betrothed by good fortune to me by my ancestors of India. That it is the same blood in some small part as the blood of Gandhiji and the Sardar. Bloodlines should be put to the test – voluntarily not just in times of emergency.
You see volunteering is national service. It is often said that the greatest generation is the generation which fought in the second world war – the generation of my grandparents. Those who sacrificed their lives to rid the world of tyranny. And they did it in the national service. We god willing will never be called upon to show such greatness, but in times of peace, our proof that we are worthy of being the descendants of the greatest generation is if we too volunteer in the national service.
Because if we don’t do this, how do we look our children’s children in the eye when in years to come they will turn to us, as we tell them to get off the sofa and make a difference, and ask us, ‘well what did you do then?’ We have to be worthy of our grandparents, worthy of our grandchildren. That is why I am volunteering and believe in the politics of volunteering. Join me and the thousands on November 21st – because this is what we do, this is who we are.
Alpesh Patel (Member – NSD Advisory Board)
This article appeared in the Asian Voice last week. Alpesh Patel is one of the UK's best known financial commentators and authors. As well as writing 9 bestselling books on trading, he is a regular columnist for the Financial Times newspaper. He appears regularly on CNN, Sky Business News, CNBC and BBC radio and television. Alpesh is a Principal at Praefinium Partners and is also an 'International Dealmaker' for the UK Government's Global Entrepreneur Programme.
Tuesday 12 October 2010
National Sewa Day – Supporting Our Heroes on the Front Line…..
340 dead…..300 killed as a result of hostile action…..40 dead as a result of illness, accidents, non-combat injuries….
These are the number of British forces personnel or MOD civilians who have perished since commencement of Operation Herrick in Afghanistan in October 2001. In Addition, for the period January 2006 through to last month, September 2010:
These stats (for want of a better word) make hard reading. These figures are made worse by the fact that those killed thus far are so young (average age 27 years, the 300th death was reached in June 2010 with the sad demise of 23 year old Royal Marine, Paul Warren).
We’re very lucky in the UK. As civilians, we have the choice to debate and question our presence in Afghanistan. We have the ability to lambast our leaders and politicians regarding their motives for throwing our troops in behind the US lead effort in 2001…but our armed personnel don’t have this choice. It’s not in their job remit. Everyday, our boys and girls put their lives on the line, without question, to protect our way of life. Protect our freedom. Protect our right to question.
Our debt to these fine people is immeasurable and our gratitude should be without bounds.
As we hurtle towards Christmas, many families here will be without their loved ones (fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, sons, daughters) because they are either serving our country across the many trouble spots of the world or because they have made the ultimate sacrifice. So, on 21 November 2010, Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community (SKLPC), Northolt, will be creating gift parcels to be sent to wounded personnel in Afghanistan, as part of National Sewa Day (NSD). The parcels will contain presents and messages from children. Hopefully, we can bring a little joy into the harsh reality of the soldiers’ daily lives and, importantly, let them know they are not forgotten.
We need as much help as we can get for this worthy cause – we need 500 volunteers at the very least.
Please contact Anand Vyas or Nrupesh Jhalla at NSD (email: info@nationalsewaday.org) or Panna Vekaria at SKLPC (email: PannaV@vascroft.com) ASAP to get involved or register for this project today via our website
Saluting all our heroes and wishing them a safe return home.
Arup Ganguly
Chairman, National Sewa Day.
These are the number of British forces personnel or MOD civilians who have perished since commencement of Operation Herrick in Afghanistan in October 2001. In Addition, for the period January 2006 through to last month, September 2010:
- 1,485 UK military and civilian personnel were admitted to UK Field Hospitals and categorised as Wounded in Action.
- 2,817 UK military and civilian personnel were admitted to UK Field Hospitals for disease or non-battle injuries.
- 218 UK personnel were categorised as Very Seriously Injured from all causes excluding disease.
- 220 UK personnel were categorised as Seriously Injured from all causes excluding disease.
- 3,863 aeromedical evacuations have taken place for UK military and civilian personnel injured or ill in Afghanistan.
These stats (for want of a better word) make hard reading. These figures are made worse by the fact that those killed thus far are so young (average age 27 years, the 300th death was reached in June 2010 with the sad demise of 23 year old Royal Marine, Paul Warren).
We’re very lucky in the UK. As civilians, we have the choice to debate and question our presence in Afghanistan. We have the ability to lambast our leaders and politicians regarding their motives for throwing our troops in behind the US lead effort in 2001…but our armed personnel don’t have this choice. It’s not in their job remit. Everyday, our boys and girls put their lives on the line, without question, to protect our way of life. Protect our freedom. Protect our right to question.
Our debt to these fine people is immeasurable and our gratitude should be without bounds.
As we hurtle towards Christmas, many families here will be without their loved ones (fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, sons, daughters) because they are either serving our country across the many trouble spots of the world or because they have made the ultimate sacrifice. So, on 21 November 2010, Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community (SKLPC), Northolt, will be creating gift parcels to be sent to wounded personnel in Afghanistan, as part of National Sewa Day (NSD). The parcels will contain presents and messages from children. Hopefully, we can bring a little joy into the harsh reality of the soldiers’ daily lives and, importantly, let them know they are not forgotten.
We need as much help as we can get for this worthy cause – we need 500 volunteers at the very least.
Please contact Anand Vyas or Nrupesh Jhalla at NSD (email: info@nationalsewaday.org) or Panna Vekaria at SKLPC (email: PannaV@vascroft.com) ASAP to get involved or register for this project today via our website
Saluting all our heroes and wishing them a safe return home.
Arup Ganguly
Chairman, National Sewa Day.
Tuesday 5 October 2010
David Cameron’s Big Society is Coming…..More Volunteers Needed…NOW!!
By the end of this week, before the end of the Conservative Party conference, we will hopefully know how David Cameron plans to run his Big Society. This much we know – in the short term, many council funded community projects will have their budgets slashed or completely pulled. In addition, given that the Big Society Bank is still a year away, this means many projects will not be able to fund their staffing costs in the near term. Volunteers will need to step in to meet the shortfall. Yes, I know we all pay taxes and the government should take care of it but here’s the reality – there’s no money left in the kitty. …and actually, it’s not enough to say that paying taxes excuses us from our duty. We are all responsible for our communities and our environment.
That’s why 21 November – National Sewa Day – is so important. The Indian diaspora accounts for over 5% of the UK population. The magnitude of the impact we can have here, as a community, is huge. It’s time for us to fight for our country.
Why is NSD a Game Changer? This year, we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. I’m probably telling you what you already know but our small island fended off an enemy attack, despite being outnumbered to the tune of 4:1. We managed to win the battle of the day because we stood together as a nation, as a society, as a community – every man, woman and child. The profile of UK society has changed immeasurably in the last 70 years. Since the end of WWII, there have been numerous waves of immigrants from the Indian sub-continent – Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis (and more Indians via Africa in the 70’s). These immigrant communities have contributed both to the economic and cultural wealth of this nation. Immigrant communities also contribute a great deal of their time, quietly or otherwise, to tackling social problems in the UK.
However, I can't remember any single initiative to bring all these individual communities together all at once like NSD. That's why we have billed 21 November 2010 as the most significant and important community building and social welfare event for at least a generation, if not two.
We are part of a special group. A group of people who have decided to take responsibility for the way our communities interact, the way our society is being shaped. I feel privileged to be part of this group. Indeed I am humbled by the generosity I have seen from supporters of NSD.
Given the changes that are afoot and the nature of our times, it’s time for us to do our National Service. As John F. Kennedy famously said, in his inaugural Presidential address: “And so, my fellow Americans - ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country!”
Arup Ganguly
Chairman – National Sewa Day
That’s why 21 November – National Sewa Day – is so important. The Indian diaspora accounts for over 5% of the UK population. The magnitude of the impact we can have here, as a community, is huge. It’s time for us to fight for our country.
Why is NSD a Game Changer? This year, we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. I’m probably telling you what you already know but our small island fended off an enemy attack, despite being outnumbered to the tune of 4:1. We managed to win the battle of the day because we stood together as a nation, as a society, as a community – every man, woman and child. The profile of UK society has changed immeasurably in the last 70 years. Since the end of WWII, there have been numerous waves of immigrants from the Indian sub-continent – Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis (and more Indians via Africa in the 70’s). These immigrant communities have contributed both to the economic and cultural wealth of this nation. Immigrant communities also contribute a great deal of their time, quietly or otherwise, to tackling social problems in the UK.
However, I can't remember any single initiative to bring all these individual communities together all at once like NSD. That's why we have billed 21 November 2010 as the most significant and important community building and social welfare event for at least a generation, if not two.
We are part of a special group. A group of people who have decided to take responsibility for the way our communities interact, the way our society is being shaped. I feel privileged to be part of this group. Indeed I am humbled by the generosity I have seen from supporters of NSD.
Given the changes that are afoot and the nature of our times, it’s time for us to do our National Service. As John F. Kennedy famously said, in his inaugural Presidential address: “And so, my fellow Americans - ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country!”
Arup Ganguly
Chairman – National Sewa Day
Monday 4 October 2010
48 Days to go….Wake Up the Nation!!
4 Oct 2010: “Wake Up the Nation” came the rallying cry as yesterday’s National Sewa Day networking event kicked off. I thought the title of Paul Weller’s recent album very apt for the occasion. With 48 days to go, we need to rev up the NSD engine and ensure that participating communities are in the process of finalising their projects and signing up their members.
Yesterday’s event was held at the Swaminarayan Temple in Golders Green with an audience of around 100 community/project leaders. The aim of the session was to enable folks to a) meet each other and share ideas; b) hear from members of our high-powered advisory board.
Proceedings kicked off with a peace-lamp lighting ceremony. Mahesh Varsani (from the temple), Dixit Joshi (NSD Advisory Board), Dhirubhai Shah (from Sewa UK) and I were asked to step up to the stage and each light a candle (about the same time as the Commonwealth Games light was being lit in Delhi, as it happens!). After some opening remarks by me, we invited three of our Advisors to say a few words.
Here’s a few choice extracts from their speeches:
Alpesh Patel (Principal, Praefinium Partners), first up, said: “We have to remember that we are walking advertisements for a civilisation that is over 5,000 years old. Indian culture, more than any other, has a heritage of giving to the community and working together for the betterment of society”…..”We are going through hard times. Relying on the government to run everything isn’t an option anymore. It’s time for you and I to take responsibility for our community and the environment.”
Dixit Joshi (soon to be Head of Equities EMEA, Deutsche Bank and President of the NSD Advisory Board) followed Alpesh and made the following observations: “It’s not that such calls to action have never been made before. It’s just that NSD is the first such attempt to target the Asian community specifically.”….”for those folks who lead busy professional lives and find it hard to find time for volunteering, NSD provides a once a year golden opportunity to give back to the community”
Ramona Mehta (Partner, Miscon de Reya Solicitors) concluded: “NSD year one is crucial. If we fail to make an impact this year…we’re pretty much dead in the water”... “I set a target to each member of the audience here to tell at least 10 people every day, between now and 21 November, about NSD. There’s no reason why we can’t have 30,000 people take part this year!”
We then invited representatives from 5 different organizations to talk about their projects for NSD:
· Baiju Shah, from HSS - Wembley, updated us on their plans to clean up Ealing Road;
· Panna Vekaria and her team from SKLPC will be putting together gift parcels for armed forces serving in Afghanistan;
· Thalbir Shokar from the City Sikhs Network updated us on their projects centering around the homeless and nursing homes;
· Neha Sanghrajka and her team from the Art of Living Foundation will be collecting old teddy bears for re-distribution to needy children;
· Prem Patel and the team from the temple will be joining forces with the local Jewish community on NSD for a number of projects in the Golders Green area.
This was followed by an hour of networking and refreshments.
All registered projects will soon be viewable on www.nationalsewaday.org. If you are a project co-ordinator, please ensure your project information reaches our team to enable us to post it. If you want to volunteer but don’t have a project then please join in with an existing project from the NSD website.
If we can translate the level of excitement at yesterday’s event into footfall on 21 November, there’s no reason we can’t challenge Ramona’s target of 30,000. As a comparison, on Mitzvah Day - the Jewish community equivalent event - 10% of their community participates. If we could replicate the same level of participation, it would equate to over 300,000 people!!...so let’s rock n’roll!
Thanks to all our speakers, attendees and a special thanks to the Swaminarayan temple for staging the event.
Arup Ganguly
Chairman – National Sewa Day
Yesterday’s event was held at the Swaminarayan Temple in Golders Green with an audience of around 100 community/project leaders. The aim of the session was to enable folks to a) meet each other and share ideas; b) hear from members of our high-powered advisory board.
Proceedings kicked off with a peace-lamp lighting ceremony. Mahesh Varsani (from the temple), Dixit Joshi (NSD Advisory Board), Dhirubhai Shah (from Sewa UK) and I were asked to step up to the stage and each light a candle (about the same time as the Commonwealth Games light was being lit in Delhi, as it happens!). After some opening remarks by me, we invited three of our Advisors to say a few words.
Here’s a few choice extracts from their speeches:
Alpesh Patel (Principal, Praefinium Partners), first up, said: “We have to remember that we are walking advertisements for a civilisation that is over 5,000 years old. Indian culture, more than any other, has a heritage of giving to the community and working together for the betterment of society”…..”We are going through hard times. Relying on the government to run everything isn’t an option anymore. It’s time for you and I to take responsibility for our community and the environment.”
Dixit Joshi (soon to be Head of Equities EMEA, Deutsche Bank and President of the NSD Advisory Board) followed Alpesh and made the following observations: “It’s not that such calls to action have never been made before. It’s just that NSD is the first such attempt to target the Asian community specifically.”….”for those folks who lead busy professional lives and find it hard to find time for volunteering, NSD provides a once a year golden opportunity to give back to the community”
Ramona Mehta (Partner, Miscon de Reya Solicitors) concluded: “NSD year one is crucial. If we fail to make an impact this year…we’re pretty much dead in the water”... “I set a target to each member of the audience here to tell at least 10 people every day, between now and 21 November, about NSD. There’s no reason why we can’t have 30,000 people take part this year!”
We then invited representatives from 5 different organizations to talk about their projects for NSD:
· Baiju Shah, from HSS - Wembley, updated us on their plans to clean up Ealing Road;
· Panna Vekaria and her team from SKLPC will be putting together gift parcels for armed forces serving in Afghanistan;
· Thalbir Shokar from the City Sikhs Network updated us on their projects centering around the homeless and nursing homes;
· Neha Sanghrajka and her team from the Art of Living Foundation will be collecting old teddy bears for re-distribution to needy children;
· Prem Patel and the team from the temple will be joining forces with the local Jewish community on NSD for a number of projects in the Golders Green area.
This was followed by an hour of networking and refreshments.
All registered projects will soon be viewable on www.nationalsewaday.org. If you are a project co-ordinator, please ensure your project information reaches our team to enable us to post it. If you want to volunteer but don’t have a project then please join in with an existing project from the NSD website.
If we can translate the level of excitement at yesterday’s event into footfall on 21 November, there’s no reason we can’t challenge Ramona’s target of 30,000. As a comparison, on Mitzvah Day - the Jewish community equivalent event - 10% of their community participates. If we could replicate the same level of participation, it would equate to over 300,000 people!!...so let’s rock n’roll!
Thanks to all our speakers, attendees and a special thanks to the Swaminarayan temple for staging the event.
Arup Ganguly
Chairman – National Sewa Day
Friday 1 October 2010
A Game Changer for Indian Society....An Inspiration for Us All.
This time last week, India was pasted across every form of news media. Why? The apparent mess that the country had made in preparing for the Commonwealth Games. India was an international joke. Yet, only days later, India has somehow managed to show the world that when it comes to tolerance, reconciliation and fairness, no other nation shines brighter. Incredible (and complicated!) India never ceases to amaze me.
As people waited for today's supreme court judgement on the Ayodhya land dispute, we expected at least one side to come out feeling deeply aggrieved. Nationwide riots were anticipated. Two hundred thousand troops were shipped into the metros. Politicians, community leaders and celebrities alike called for calm. Nothing happened. Instead, the judicial system threw Indian society a curve ball. The land has been split in three between the various interested parties (although lines still need to be drawn). Wow! Every so often, India manages to transcend all the corruption, bureaucracy, widespread hardship to remind us that no other culture on earth is older or (at least sometimes) wiser. No other culture does "Big Society" better. Indian culture has been there, done it and worn the t- shirt.
L K Advani heralded today's decision as a new era for Indian social integration. The PM has great faith "in the traditions of secularism, brotherhood and tolerance" of the Indian people. It is envisaged that a mosque and temple will now reside side by side on the site. It is certainly my hope that this is the case and that rather than some grandiose structure, something is built on a more modest scale. A place of worship accessible by all. It is my greater hope that the Indian people, given their ancient heritage of peace and love, accept the verdict and work together to rebuild the site and communal relations.
India is not the country it was in 1992. It has moved on. Today, as the name suggests, Ayodhya is not a place of war but a symbol of unity. Hopefully the coming days and weeks offer nothing to alter my opinion. As we stand 50 days away from the first ever National Sewa Day, let us take note of today's events in India. Let us be inspired. Let us make 21 November 2010 a game changer for UK society.
Arup Ganguly
Chairman - National Sewa Day
As people waited for today's supreme court judgement on the Ayodhya land dispute, we expected at least one side to come out feeling deeply aggrieved. Nationwide riots were anticipated. Two hundred thousand troops were shipped into the metros. Politicians, community leaders and celebrities alike called for calm. Nothing happened. Instead, the judicial system threw Indian society a curve ball. The land has been split in three between the various interested parties (although lines still need to be drawn). Wow! Every so often, India manages to transcend all the corruption, bureaucracy, widespread hardship to remind us that no other culture on earth is older or (at least sometimes) wiser. No other culture does "Big Society" better. Indian culture has been there, done it and worn the t- shirt.
L K Advani heralded today's decision as a new era for Indian social integration. The PM has great faith "in the traditions of secularism, brotherhood and tolerance" of the Indian people. It is envisaged that a mosque and temple will now reside side by side on the site. It is certainly my hope that this is the case and that rather than some grandiose structure, something is built on a more modest scale. A place of worship accessible by all. It is my greater hope that the Indian people, given their ancient heritage of peace and love, accept the verdict and work together to rebuild the site and communal relations.
India is not the country it was in 1992. It has moved on. Today, as the name suggests, Ayodhya is not a place of war but a symbol of unity. Hopefully the coming days and weeks offer nothing to alter my opinion. As we stand 50 days away from the first ever National Sewa Day, let us take note of today's events in India. Let us be inspired. Let us make 21 November 2010 a game changer for UK society.
Arup Ganguly
Chairman - National Sewa Day
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