A fundraising event to mark 25th anniversary of Shanti Bhavan as well as the launch of the UK Chapter was held on December 1 at the House of Lords.
Lord Waverley, who recently visited the Shanti Bhavan campus in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, India, hosted the event . Ajit George, director of operations at Shanti Bhavan, Lord Shinkwin, Lord Collins of Highbury, Lord Alton of Liverpool and Lord Leong have attended the event.
The meeting saw an overall participation of 89 people including donors, previous volunteers, and the UK Chapter board members.
Founded by Dr Abraham George, Shanti Bhavan provides education for children born into India’s lowest socioeconomic class, from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade, providing additional support through college and their early career.
Recently, the organisation was featured in the Netflix docu-series Daughters of Destiny.
"More than that, they pay it forward, changing their families and their communities forever. It has created a ripple effect, and we will–with the help of contributors–uplift thousands from poverty, permanently."
The Shanti Bhavan UK Chapter was founded this year. The event was held to raise awareness across the country about Shanti Bhavan’s impact and contribute to its fundraising efforts for current and future projects, a statement said.
These projects include repairing and renovating our current campus, expanding our school’s rigorous curriculum, and of course, building our second school, it added.
In 1997, Shanti Bhavan Residential School opened its doors and welcomed 24 girls and 24 boys in their first Preschool and Kindergarten classes.
With 169 total graduates, and 280 students enrolled for the 2022-2023 school year, the school promotes academic achievement, instills values of global citizenship, and emphasizes leadership development.
More events to mark the anniversary will be held in Chicago and New York on December 10, and in San Francisco and Australia next year.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a news conference in Jerusalem on June 15, 2026.
Netanyahu faces backlash for calling Britain ‘Islamic Republic’
Highlights
ISRAELI prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the UK as the “Islamic Republic of Britain”, drawing criticism amid growing tensions between the two countries.
Netanyahu made the comments during an interview for Israel's army radio while discussing British media coverage of Israel.
Praising journalist Randolph Churchill, son of former British prime minister Winston Churchill, for his coverage of Israel more than 50 years ago, Netanyahu said: “Go find that in today's Britain, in what is called the Islamic republic of Britain.”
When the interviewer asked whether Netanyahu was singling out Britain unfairly because other European countries had also become critical of Israel, he went further.
“Yes, but you know someone said the first Islamic republic with nuclear weapons will be the Islamic republic of Britain,” he said.
Pakistan, officially known as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, has possessed nuclear weapons since the 1990s.
Netanyahu's remarks have been criticised by political figures and Jewish organisations in Britain.
Avi Dabush, a member of Israel's opposition Democrats party, accused Netanyahu of attacking a key ally while Israel faces growing international isolation.
“That’s what happens when there’s a horrific diplomatic failure, and an inability to rally countries in the world in favour of our interests,” he said in a social media post.
'Dangerous and divisive'
The Movement for Progressive Judaism also criticised the comments, saying they were dangerous and divisive.
“At a time when antisemitism, anti-Muslim hatred and social division are causing real fear across our country, language of this kind is dangerous and irresponsible,” said its co-leads Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Rabbi Josh Lev.
“Prime minister Netanyahu does not speak for British Jews. His words do not represent us,” they added.
Gavin Barwell, a former Downing Street chief of staff, described Netanyahu's comments as “blatant Islamophobia”.
Relations between Britain and Israel have become increasingly strained in recent years, with London taking a tougher position over Israel's military actions in Gaza and settlement policy.
British prime minister Andy Burnham has said the UK should do more to put pressure on the Israeli government, including considering further sanctions and measures to restrict trade in goods from illegal settlements.
Netanyahu's comments also echoed remarks made by US vice president JD Vance during the 2024 presidential campaign, when he suggested the UK could become the first “truly Islamist country” with nuclear weapons.
The Israeli prime minister's office did not immediately respond to questions about whether his comments represented the official position of the Israeli government. The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office also did not immediately comment.