Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

‘Asians share in this moment of national loss’

‘Asians share in this moment of national loss’

By Lord Jitesh Gadhia

IN CONTRIBUTING to the debate [on Prince Philip’s legacy], I should like to give voice to the sentiments of the British Indian and wider British Asian communi­ty, who share fully in this moment of nation­al loss and in giving thanks for a life of extraordinary public service.


The many moving tributes paid to Prince Philip have highlighted two recurring themes.

The first is his impec­cable track record of ‘service and duty’ – in supporting the Queen, representing our nation and promoting the work of countless chari­ties, especially the pro­lific Duke of Edin­burgh’s Award scheme.

For the Indian com­munity these attributes are easily recognisable as sewa and dharma. They are among the no­blest of virtues for Hin­dus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists – faiths which share a common Vedic heritage.

Since last Friday (9), many of these commu­nities in the UK have held their own special prayers in memory of Prince Philip. This re­flects not only the affec­tion in which the Prince and Her Majesty are held, but also the pro­gress we are making to­wards a more cohesive society comfortable in expressing both our in­dividuality as well as shared values.

The second recurring theme is Prince Philip’s unique wit and wis­dom. His wry sense of humour, and quips helped break down barriers with those he met during his public duties. Although some­times viewed as lacking tact or diplomacy, Prince Philip certainly didn’t lack authenticity.

Whenever I had the honour of interacting with Prince Philip, or seeing him in close proximity, I was always struck by the twinkle in his eyes. He had a star quality that could rival any Bollywood actor. Indeed, his four trips to India – three of them with Her Majesty – drew large crowds, as well as inevitably the odd controversy.

The pivotal role played by Lord Louis Mountbatten in men­toring Prince Philip doubled up by sensitis­ing him to the complex­ity and importance of the Indian subconti­nent, a region which represents the largest of the 53 Commonwealth countries, and collec­tively almost 70 per cent of its population.

Which leads neatly to my final observation. The aspect which many among the British Asian diaspora find most intriguing is the Duke’s personal back­ground as a “refugee prince”. He was an outsider who came to this country with very little, and was a self-made young man be­fore marrying into the House of Windsor.

These are circum­stances which many migrant communities can relate to; as indeed they can to the charms and challenges of living in an extended family.

This background may well have ex­plained why Prince Philip was so keen to reach out to other faith communities. His pio­neering work on inter­faith dialogue and link­ing this with topics such as business ethics or protection of the natural environment, are among his most impor­tant legacies. Among many notable interac­tions are the presentation of the Jain Declaration on Nature in 1990; the visit to the BAPS Neas­den Temple in 1996 and the trip to the Golden Temple in Amritsar in 1997 – all of which have been remembered in recent days.

Across the UK and Commonwealth, we should all be grateful for the Duke of Edin­burgh’s long and distin­guished life of public service – it is doubtful we will see the likes of him again.

As the history of the second Elizabethan age is written, the role of Prince Philip will fea­ture prominently, not only in supporting the monarch and repre­senting his country, but also in reaching out to every section of society and embracing the wid­er Commonwealth family of nations.

Lord Gadhia was speaking in a House of Lords debate on Mon­day (12) paying tribute to Prince Philip.

More For You

Norman Tebbit
Following Thatcher’s third general election victory in 1987, Tebbit stepped back from frontline politics to care for his wife. (Photo: Getty Images)

What was the Tebbit Test and why was it controversial?

LORD NORMAN TEBBIT, the former cabinet minister who introduced the controversial “cricket test” to question the loyalty of migrants, has died at the age of 94. The test, later known as the “Tebbit Test,” suggested that immigrants who supported cricket teams from their countries of origin instead of England were not fully integrated into British society. His death was confirmed on Monday by his son, William, who asked for privacy for the family.

Tebbit first spoke about the test in 1990 as a Conservative MP. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, he said, “A large proportion of Britain's Asian population fail to pass the cricket test. Which side do they cheer for? It’s an interesting test. Are you still harking back to where you came from or where you are?”

Keep ReadingShow less
Air India flight crash
Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI-171 to London Gatwick, crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12.
Getty Images

Air India crash probe finds fuel to engines was cut off before impact

Highlights

 
     
  • Fuel to both engines of the Air India flight was cut off seconds before the crash
  •  
  • A pilot was heard questioning the other over the cut-off; both denied initiating it.
  •  
  • The Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people.
  •  
  • Investigators are focusing on fuel switch movement; full analysis may take months.

FUEL control switches to both engines of the Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff were moved from the "run" to the "cutoff" position seconds before the crash, according to a preliminary investigation report released early Saturday.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chinese vessel tracked in Bay of Bengal after disabling identification system

The Indian Navy and Coast Guard have consistently reported Chinese research vessel presence. (Representational image: Getty Images)

Chinese vessel tracked in Bay of Bengal after disabling identification system

A Chinese research vessel was detected operating in the Bay of Bengal near Indian waters while attempting to conceal its presence by disabling its Automatic Identification System (AIS), according to a report by The Economic Times, citing French maritime intelligence firm Unseenlabs.

The French company conducted a 16-day satellite-based survey tracking ships through radio frequency emissions. It monitored 1,897 vessels, with 9.6 per cent showing no AIS activity, indicating attempts to avoid detection. The survey raised concerns amid increased Chinese activity in the region.

Keep ReadingShow less
Asian-inspired garden earns
five awards at Hampton Court

(From left) Malcolm Anderson (RHS, head of sustainability) Clare Matterson (RHS director general), Lorraine Bishton (Subaru UK and Ireland, managing director) Andrew Ball (director, Big Fish Landscapes) Mike McMahon and Jewlsy Mathews with the medals

Asian-inspired garden earns five awards at Hampton Court

BRITISH Asians are being encouraged to take up gardening by a couple who have won a record five medals at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.

“It’s a contemporary reimagining of a traditional walled garden, highlighting the British and Irish rainforests,” said Jewlsy Mathews, who was born in Britain of parents from Kerala, a southern Indian state known for its lush vegetation.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk weather

Amber heat health alerts have been issued across several regions of England

iStock

England faces widespread heat alerts and hosepipe bans amid rising temperatures

Highlights:

  • Amber heat health alerts in place for large parts of England
  • Hosepipe bans announced in Yorkshire, Kent and Sussex
  • Temperatures could reach 33°C over the weekend
  • Health risks rise, especially for elderly and vulnerable groups

Heat warnings in effect as UK braces for another hot weekend

Amber heat health alerts have been issued across several regions of England, with temperatures expected to climb to 33°C in some areas over the weekend. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) activated the warning at 12 pm on Friday, with it set to remain in place until 9 am on Monday.

The alerts cover the East Midlands, West Midlands, south-east, south-west, East of England, and London. Additional yellow alerts were issued for the north-east, north-west, and Yorkshire and the Humber, starting from midday Friday.

Keep ReadingShow less