Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

‘An inspirational legacy’

‘An inspirational legacy’

By Cyrus Todiwala

IT WAS just two weeks ago that my wife Pervin and I were on a Face Time call with our dear friends, Kirit and Meena Pathak.


Kirit, as usual, was full of high spirits and said he was working on a new project he would like me to be involved in as it had a charity link in India.

We spoke about other things, our current situation included, in a chat must have been well over an hour. Thereafter, we ex­changed messages, too.

Imagine our shock when we suddenly got a message from Meena to say Kirit was involved in a car crash and broken both his legs. I was told he was ok and sent messages to the children to keep us up to date.

Kirit was, of course, asking for things to be set up around his hospital bed so that he could continue to work and keep on top of his things.

His two children in the UK were on their way to Dubai, and Meena breathed a sigh of relief as they would help with Kirit’s recovery and boost his spirits.

Sadly, however, Kirit did not make it and in his passing, we have lost a stalwart in our society.

Meena was my classmate at university in India and we did our catering qualification togeth­er, completing it in 1976. I start­ed out in the kitchen and Meena left for the UK in a few months and married Kirit, then not yet a famous personality.

When we arrived in the UK, we got in touch with them once we were established to some ex­tent. Later we got to know what the Pathaks had accomplished.

Their spice pastes and combi­nations were used across the UK’s Indian restaurant sector and a few products were displayed on supermarket shelves, but not much else was known about the brand at the time.

At a family lunch, perhaps in 1976 or 1977, Kirit and Meena were at our home in London. He told me his dream was to have a Pathak’s jar in every home across the world. He went on to achieve that goal and it became a house­hold name, trusted worldwide.

It was a result of his business tenacity, along with his inimita­ble spirit and his peaceful and calm nature.

Kirit was a deeply religious and spiritual man with a gener­osity of spirit and helpfulness for others. He was also a very private man. When Kirit spoke, you lis­tened, and often it felt as though you may be listening to a sage delivering a sermon.

Pervin and I have lost a good friend in Kirit, and his family will miss a doting father and hus­band. He shall be immensely missed, but he leaves behind an inspirational legacy for not just his family and friends but for all future generations of youngsters who wish to create success re­gardless of where we hail from, our religion, colour or creed.

Britain is the platform from whence success can be created and all we need is to be like Kirit – focused, determined, hard working, passionate, amiable, friendly, kind , generous and never afraid to make mistakes to learn and to succeed.

May Kirit’s soul rest in eternal peace and may his family carry that flag and keep on shining the light for others to follow.

I write this with deep sorrow and as a small dedication to the passing away of a great man who leaves behind him a large foot­print in the sands of time.

More For You

Piyush Goyal

Piyush Goyal recalled that in February, Narendra Modi and Donald Trump had instructed their trade ministers to conclude the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by November 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Trade talks with US moving forward positively, says Indian minister Goyal

INDIA’s commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said that negotiations on the proposed trade agreement between India and the United States, which began in March, are progressing in a positive atmosphere and both sides are satisfied with the discussions.

He recalled that in February, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and US president Donald Trump had instructed their trade ministers to conclude the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by November 2025.

Keep ReadingShow less
West Midlands Police

West Midlands Police said they were called just before 08:30 BST on Tuesday, September 9, after the woman reported being attacked by two men near Tame Road. (Representational image: iStock)

Woman raped in racially aggravated attack in Oldbury

A WOMAN in her 20s was raped in Oldbury in what police are treating as a racially aggravated attack.

West Midlands Police said they were called just before 08:30 BST on Tuesday, September 9, after the woman reported being attacked by two men near Tame Road. Officers said the men made a racist remark during the incident.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tommy Robinson

The event, which Robinson has promoted for months, is being billed by him as the 'UK's biggest free speech festival.' (Photo: Getty Images)

London prepares for rival demonstrations, police deploy 1,600 officers

Highlights

  • More than 1,600 officers deployed across London on Saturday
  • Far-right activist Tommy Robinson to lead "Unite the Kingdom" march
  • Anti-racism groups to stage counter-protests in Whitehall
  • Police impose conditions on routes and timings of demonstrations

LONDON police will deploy more than 1,600 officers across the city on Saturday as rival demonstrations take place, including a rally organised by far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, and a counter-protest by anti-racism campaigners.

Keep ReadingShow less
Baiju Bhatt

At 40, Bhatt is the only person of Indian origin in this group, which includes figures such as Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg. (Photo: Getty Images)

Baiju Bhatt named among youngest billionaires in US by Forbes

INDIAN-AMERICAN entrepreneur Baiju Bhatt, co-founder of the commission-free trading platform Robinhood, has been named among the 10 youngest billionaires in the United States in the 2025 Forbes 400 list.

At 40, Bhatt is the only person of Indian origin in this group, which includes figures such as Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg. Forbes estimates his net worth at around USD 6–7 billion (£4.4–5.1 billion), primarily from his roughly 6 per cent ownership in Robinhood.

Keep ReadingShow less
Mandelson-Getty

Starmer dismissed Mandelson on Thursday after reading emails published by Bloomberg in which Mandelson defended Jeffrey Epstein following his 2008 conviction. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Minister says Mandelson should never have been appointed

A CABINET minister has said Peter Mandelson should not have been made UK ambassador to the US, as criticism mounted over prime minister Keir Starmer’s judgment in appointing him.

Douglas Alexander, the Scotland secretary, told the BBC that Mandelson’s appointment was seen as “high-risk, high-reward” but that newly revealed emails changed the situation.

Keep ReadingShow less