Lord Mohamed Sheikh was so pleased with our talk that he gifted me his book 'An Indian in the House'
The 81-year-old Conservative peer, who wore multiple hats, was eager to know things about India from an interviewer much younger than him. He was a man of open mind and big heart.
THE news was more than shocking. It was only on August 18 that I took an interview of Lord Mohamed Sheikh, Britain’s first Conservative Muslim peer and a successful businessman, as he was picked as one of the '50 Great Ugandan Asians' on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the expulsion of the community by former dictator Idi Amin. We were in contact post that hour-long talk also as the veteran was interested to know how the interview would come out in writing and politely shared his feedback over the draft.
It leaves me in a sea of sadness that the man would not be able to see the final interview.
During our August conversation, we often deviated from the interview’s core emphasis and delved deep into Indian affairs, particularly its history, and Lord Sheikh was so pleased with the exchanges that he ended up gifting me a hardcopy of his 2019 book An Indian in The House: The lives and times of the four trailblazers who first brought India to the British Parliament signed by him.
The book 'An Indian in The House' that Lord Mohamed Sheikh signed and presented the author with. (Picture: Author)
And soon after I got to collect that treasured possession, the news came that Lord Sheikh was no more. The shock was immense not only because I had just taken an interview of him, but also because the 81-year-old was ever active in playing diverse roles – as a politician, businessman, academic, writer and most importantly, a humanitarian.
During my conversation with Lord Sheikh which turned out to be an once-in-a-lifetime affair, I could certainly fathom certain qualities in the man that undoubtedly helped me to make it big. He spoke words that were filled with determination. The towering individual I spoke to was not somebody in his 40s, 50s or 60s but in the 80s but yet the confidence in his voice proved why he was an achiever.
“Amin could take our properties and processions but not our brains,” the lord famously said. “Ugandan Asians have historically done well in every walk of life. Since they succeeded well in Uganda, there was no doubt that they would do the same in the UK, a land of opportunities,” he added.
Lord Sheikh was also a man of heart and principle. He did not hesitate to give credit to his father for those qualities.
“My father had told us to be best in whatever we did and to do ‘seva’ (service) to the community,” he said. The late peer also had a secular worldview and it was again the values that he received in the family during his growing years that shaped that personality in him. As the president of the Indian association in Uganda, his father went to gurdwaras and temples with his family. Lord Sheikh himself was also the president of a Sikh association and he told me that India as a nation has always seen a harmony of people, something that he always cherished during his stay in Uganda where communal peace was as robust.
Lord Mohamed Sheikh in conversation with Shubham Ghosh for Asian Media Group's upcoming special edition titled '50 Great Ugandan Asians'
Lord Sheikh’s repeated emphasis on his Indian roots spoke volumes about the love that he harboured for his heritage. The man was truly a global citizen since he spoke highly about each nation that he connected with during his lifetime – Uganda (Africa), UK (Europe) and India (Asia).
“This country (UK) has been good to us and as hard-working people, we grabbed the opportunities that came our way,” he told me during the interview.
It may be mentioned here that while Lord Sheikh was born in Kenya and spent his younger days in Uganda and went to the UK for study before the 1972 expulsions happened, his family originated from Punjab. His first book (2017) was on Maharaja Ranjit Singh, one of the most powerful 19th century Sikh emperors from India.
Lord Sheikh did not forget to pay favours back either. One of the reasons for him to join the British Conservative Party is that it was a Conservative prime minister in Edward Heath and his home secretary Robert Carr who faced challenges to welcome the Ugandan Asians in the UK after they were thrown out from Uganda.
To recall one incident during the conversation, the lord looked dejected when I gave him a fact about one of the four Indian characters that he covered in his 2019 book – Lord Satyendra Sinha. As we spoke about Lord Sinha, a big 19th century name from colonial India to make it to the British ministry, I told the peer that Lord Sinha’s paternal house in Raipur in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal lies in ruins today where people shoot horror films. “That’s a pity,” he said, adding that he would try to speak to some authority on that matter.
That task remained incomplete.
Lord Sheikh was also enthusiastic to discuss historical affairs when he came to know that the interviewer was a Bengali. He spoke about Rabindranath Tagore; Bengali surnames such as Chatterjee and Banerjee; and in detail, the Battle of Plassey of 1757 where the last sun of independent India had set.
That the man was ever hungry to know things was evident whenever I gave him slight pieces of information, like there is a memorial now at Plassey where the British army of Robert Clive had defeated Shiraj-ud-daulah, the nawab of Bengal and the fleeing Indian king after the battle was, as the legend goes, identified by his shoes and executed. "India has such a fascinating history," he said.
I even shared pictures of Lord Sinha’s dilapidated house and the memorial at Plassey with Lord Sheikh as he was eager to see them. “Really!” reacted the enthusiastic student in Lord Sheikh when I let him know that the Tagore family had bought the land where their world-famous Santiniketan ashram stands today, from the Sinhas -- who were local landlords -- for a token rupee one around the mid-19th century.
A truly global personality indeed.
Towards the end of the interview, Lord Sheikh also remembered Ramniklal Solanki CBE, the founder of Asian Media Group, and a giant of Gujarati journalism. “He was one of the nicest persons I ever met, a very humble man,” he said, also adding that the chief whip had advised him to meet the senior Solanki after he became a member of the House of Lords and he enjoyed every minute of the meeting.
“He did extremely well and his sons are doing as well.”
Lord Sheikh had said that in 1972, Amin’s loss was the UK’s gain. On September 22, the UK also witnessed a major loss in his death. It is not easy to find somebody of the man’s stature who was truly one with multiple faculties.
Sitting at the centre of a long table, Trump was flanked by First Lady Melania Trump and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on one side, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on the other. (Photo: Getty Images)
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump praised Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Google CEO Sundar Pichai during a White House dinner with top technology executives on Thursday. The two Indian-American leaders thanked him for his leadership and for policies in the technology and AI sectors.
Trump described the gathering as a “high IQ group,” calling the executives “the most brilliant people.” Sitting at the centre of a long table, Trump was flanked by First Lady Melania Trump and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on one side, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on the other. Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Cook sat across from him, while Nadella was seated toward one end of the table.
“It’s an honour to be here with this group of people. They’re leading a revolution in business and in genius and in every other work you can imagine,” Trump said.
After his remarks, Trump invited the technology leaders to share their thoughts.
Pichai said the “AI moment is one of the most transformative moments any of us have ever seen or will see in our lifetimes. So making sure the US is at the forefront.” He called the White House’s “AI Action Plan,” announced in July, a “great start.”
“We look forward to working together. And thanks for your leadership,” Pichai told Trump. “Great job you’re doing. Incredible, really,” Trump replied.
Turning to Nadella, Trump said the Microsoft chief “has done a pretty good job” and pointed to Microsoft stock rising from USD 28 to over USD 500. “What a job you’ve done,” Trump said.
Nadella thanked Trump “for bringing us all together” and for policies that support US leadership in technology. He added that market access and global trust in American technology were key.
“I think that everything that you are doing in terms of setting in place the platform where the rest of the world can not only use our technology, but trust our technology more than any other alternative, is perhaps the most important issue, and you and your policies are really helping a lot,” Nadella said.
Nadella also thanked the First Lady for hosting a discussion on AI and economic opportunity. Trump responded: “A really amazing job you’ve done.”
Earlier in the day, Melania Trump hosted a meeting of the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education, joined by Pichai, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna and other industry leaders.
Speaking after Nadella, Gates said he is now in the second phase of his career, “giving away all the wonderful money that Satya’s good work has helped multiply a lot,” drawing laughter from Trump.
During the dinner, Trump asked Pichai about Google’s investment plans. Pichai said the company would invest USD 250 billion in the US over the next two years. “It’s great. We are proud of you. A lot of jobs,” Trump responded.
Trump also asked Nadella about Microsoft’s investment. Nadella said the company invests about USD 75–80 billion each year in the US. “Very good, thank you very much,” Trump said.
Responding to media questions at the event, Trump repeated his claim that he had “settled” seven wars, without naming them. He added that three of those wars had lasted 31, 34 and 37 years. Trump also said he would soon speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding, “We are having a very good dialogue.”
Other attendees included Google co-founder Sergey Brin, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Oracle CEO Safra Catz.
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Britain's prime minister Keir Starmer (R) and India's prime minister Narendra Modi (L) speak as they walk in the gardens of Chequers, in Aylesbury, England, on July 24, 2025. (Photo by KIN CHEUNG/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer is expected to make his first visit to India in early October, with technology and trade ties at the centre of his programme. He is scheduled to join Indian prime minister Narendra Modi at the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2025 in Mumbai, officials indicated on Tuesday (9).
The event, which runs from October 7 to 9 at the Jio World Centre, is organised by the Payments Council of India, the National Payments Corporation of India and the Fintech Convergence Council. It is promoted as the world’s largest conference in the sector and is supported by several Indian ministries and regulators, including the Reserve Bank of India and the Securities and Exchange Board of India.
Mumbai will be the main focus of Starmer’s trip, which comes a little over two months after Modi visited Britain to conclude the bilateral free trade agreement. The agreement, formally known as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), is now undergoing ratification in the UK Parliament. It sets a target of doubling bilateral trade to $120 billion (£89bn) by 2030.
Starmer’s visit may also include engagements in Bengaluru, reflecting the city’s role as a hub for India’s technology industry. The trip will follow shortly after the Labour party’s annual conference in Liverpool.
Officials in London and New Delhi have said the two leaders will use the opportunity to review progress across the wider India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Areas of focus include defence, security, education and innovation, in addition to trade.
Keir Starmer (R) and Narendra Modi have a cup of tea during a business showcase event at Chequers, in Aylesbury, England, on July 24, 2025. (Photo by KIN CHEUNG/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Technology cooperation has gained particular importance in recent years. The India-UK Tech Security Initiative, launched last year, aims to strengthen joint work in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology, critical minerals and secure telecoms.
Speaking ahead of the event, Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan, chair of the GFF 2025 advisory council, said the conference would explore how financial technology can be used to expand access and improve efficiency.
“The UK and India share one of the most dynamic economic relationships in the world. Financial services and technology are central to this association, with significant opportunities for a synergy between London’s global role in fintech and India’s digital public infrastructure and consumer base,” he said.
The theme for this year’s fest looks beyond artificial intelligence to what organisers call “augmented intelligence,” which combines human expertise with digital tools. According to the organisers, discussions will address how to create solutions that are responsible, inclusive and sustainable.
Policymakers, regulators, investors and academics are expected to attend, making the event a key platform for dialogue between the two countries. For Starmer, it will also provide an early chance to present his government’s vision for closer engagement with India, building on long-standing cultural and economic links.
Starmer accepted Modi’s invitation to visit during their talks at Chequers in July. At that meeting, both leaders underlined the importance of the relationship and expressed confidence that cooperation would expand further in the years ahead.
(PTI)
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Demonstrators gather in support of Khalistan during a Sikh rally outside the Consulate General of India, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on September 25, 2023.
AT LEAST two Khalistani extremist groups have received financial support from within Canada, according to a new Canadian government report on terror financing.
The report, titled 2025 Assessment of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risks in Canada, named Babbar Khalsa International and the International Sikh Youth Federation as the groups receiving such support.
This comes two months after a report by Ottawa’s intelligence agency said politically motivated violent extremism in Canada since the mid-1980s has taken shape through Khalistani extremists seeking to use violence to create an independent nation state called Khalistan in India’s Punjab.
The new report defined Politically Motivated Violent Extremism (PMVE) as encouraging “the use of violence to establish new political systems, or new structures and norms within existing systems.”
“While PMVE may include religious elements, actors are more focused on political self-determination or representation, rather than racial or ethnic supremacy,” it added.
The report noted that several terrorist entities listed under Canada’s Criminal Code fall under the PMVE category, including Hamas, Hezbollah, Babbar Khalsa International, and the International Sikh Youth Federation. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies have observed these groups receiving financial support originating from Canada, it said.
In 2022, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada’s (FINTRAC) Operational Alert on Terrorist Activity Financing identified Hezbollah as the second most frequently noted international terrorist group receiving Canadian funds.
The 2025 Assessment also outlined PMVE financing methods. It said Hamas and Hezbollah are well-resourced groups that use a variety of methods, including abuse of money services businesses and banking sectors, use of cryptocurrencies, state financing, exploitation of charitable and non-profit organisations (NPOs), and criminal activity.
“Khalistani extremist groups supporting violent means to establish an independent state within Punjab, India, are suspected of raising funds in a number of countries, including Canada. These groups previously had an extensive fundraising network in Canada but now appear to consist of smaller pockets of individuals with allegiance to the cause but seemingly no particular affiliation to a specific group,” the report said.
The report highlighted misuse of non-profit and charitable activities as a concern.
“The misuse of the charitable and NPO sectors has been observed as a prominent financing method used by Hamas and Hezbollah. Khalistani violent extremist groups have also been known to use networks to solicit donations from diaspora communities to raise and move funds, including through NPOs,” it said.
It clarified that revenue from NPO abuse represents a relatively small share of terrorist groups’ operational budgets overall.
The report added that drug trafficking is the largest money laundering threat in Canada, followed by fraud, commercial trade fraud, trade-based money laundering, and tax crimes.
“These threats are each estimated to involve billions of dollars in illicit proceeds annually in Canada,” it said.
The report follows the Canadian Security Intelligence Service’s 2024 assessment, released on June 18, which stated that ongoing involvement in violent activities by Canada-based Khalistani extremists continues to pose a national security threat.
“Since the mid-1980s, the PMVE threat in Canada has manifested primarily through Canada-based Khalistani extremists seeking to use and support violent means to create an independent nation state called Khalistan, largely within Punjab, India,” the CSIS report said.
That report aligned with New Delhi’s position that pro-Khalistani groups in Canada have been carrying out anti-India activities with impunity.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Education secretary Bridget Phillipson leaves following a cabinet meeting at Downing Street on September 9, 2025.
EDUCATION SECRETARY Bridget Phillipson has announced her candidacy for Labour’s deputy leader, becoming the most senior figure to enter the contest so far.
Clapham and Brixton Hill MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy is the only other declared candidate in the race to replace Angela Rayner.
Lucy Powell, who was removed as leader of the House of Commons last week, is expected to announce her bid.
Foreign affairs committee chair Emily Thornberry has said she is considering running, while former transport secretary Louise Haigh and Tooting MP Rosena Allin-Khan have ruled themselves out.
Candidates must secure nominations from at least 80 Labour MPs by Thursday evening. They also need support from either 5 per cent of local parties or three Labour-affiliated groups, including two unions. Those who qualify will face a ballot of party members, with the winner to be announced on 25 October.
Some Labour members have criticised the short nomination period. Ribeiro-Addy said: "It is absolutely unfair, and I don't think it's what the membership want." She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the party needed to reflect on "what's gone wrong," citing concerns over Gaza, winter fuel allowances and welfare cuts.
Announcing her candidacy, Phillipson said: "Because make no mistake: We are in a fight. We all know the dangers Reform poses our country."
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he had not yet decided whom to support. David Lammy will remain deputy prime minister regardless of the outcome.
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Passengers walk back to the reopened terminal after emergency services responded to what they called a 'possible hazardous materials incident' at Terminal 4 of Heathrow Airport.
HEATHROW Airport has reopened Terminal 4 after it was evacuated on Monday evening following what authorities described as a "possible hazardous materials incident."
The airport said the terminal was declared safe and apologised for the disruption. In a post on X, Heathrow said it was "doing everything we can" to make sure flights depart as planned.
The London Fire Brigade confirmed it had stood down its response.
Terminal 4, which handles both European and long-haul flights, was closed temporarily as specialist fire crews carried out an assessment.
The London Ambulance Service said paramedics treated 21 patients and one person was taken to hospital. The nature of the incident has not been disclosed.
The Metropolitan Police said specialist officers were at the scene and conducted a search of the area. The force said no trace of any "adverse substance" was found.
Video clips shared online, which could not be verified, showed passengers waiting outside the terminal. Heathrow’s departures board showed flights continuing to take off.
In March, Heathrow was shut for nearly a day after a fire at a nearby electrical substation cut power, disrupting flights worldwide and leaving thousands of passengers stranded.