Hindu Matters In Britain - For British Hindus

Media

Diwali 2023 celebrated at the EP with MEPs Morten Løkkegaard and Maxette Pirbakas

On Wednesday 25 October, the Diwali festival was celebrated at the European Union Parliament in Brussels (Belgium). The festival will take place this year on 12 November, but due to Parliament’s own agenda and to allow the largest number of representatives of Hinduism in Europe to attend, it was held two weeks in advance, as reported by La Verdad de Ceuta.

The event was organised by the Hindu Forum of Europe (HFE) in collaboration with the Palan Foundation and the Phi Foundation. Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, has been celebrated in the European Parliament since 2015.

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The Confession Dilemma: What If Dominic Martin Hadn't Claimed Responsibility for the Jehovah's Witnesses Attacks?

In a shocking turn of events, India was recently rocked by a series of explosions at a Jehovah's Witnesses prayer meeting that claimed three lives and left at least 50 individuals injured. The incident took an even more unexpected twist when a Facebook video surfaced, showing a man named Dominic Martin claiming full responsibility for the attacks. However, as the authorities continue their investigation, questions arise about what would have happened if Dominic Martin had never come forward.

 

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A Victoria Cross to a Sikh Soldier

The son of the Sikh soldier Naik Gian Singh who died in 1996, was awarded the highest award for gallantry from King George VI in October 1945 for his part in the Burma campaign was left “in tears” when he found out his father’s World War Two medal is worth an incredible £250,000

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What happened at BAPS and Cisco is a timeless warning about the perils of presuming guilt

The testimony these workers and others stated formed the basis for a May 2021 guns-drawn, pre-dawn raid by Federal law enforcement, violating a highly sacred space. The unprecedented raid was accompanied by a simultaneous New York Times exposé which characterized the widely respected Hindu institution of BAPS as something close to slave-traders, the temple itself compared to the Temple of Doom from the Indiana Jones film series by other writers, and was even used to malign the current government of India, since BAPS originates from the same state as Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Now, those workers stating under oath that they were made to make false allegations are certainly not all of the workers alleging mistreatment in Robbinsville. The initial lawsuit had six named plaintiffs, who stated they were filing the suit “on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated.”  Following the raid some 110 workers were taken from the temple grounds. Where they are being held, we do not know.

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George Soros-backed OCCRP planning ‘expose’ on Indian firms: Report

The Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) – an organisation funded by likes of George Soros and Rockefeller Brothers Fund – is said to be planning an ‘expose’ on certain corporate houses in India, said a report on Thursday.

OCCRP, which calls itself “an investigative reporting platform formed by 24 nonprofit investigative centres… spread across Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America”, may publish a report or a series of articles, reported PTI quoting three sources with knowledge of the matter.

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Raksha Bandhan: An Overview

Raksha Bandhan is derived from two words: "Raksha" meaning protection and "Bandhan" denoting a bond. In Sanskrit, this translates to "a bond of protection."

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raksha Bandhan

Although it has gained popularity among the Indian diaspora around the world, Raksha Bandhan is a traditional Hindu holiday that is predominantly observed in India and Nepal. According to the Hindu lunar calendar, the event is normally celebrated on the day of the full moon in the month of Shravana, which often falls in August.

"Raksha Bandhan" means "the tie of protection" or "the bond of protection" in Sanskrit. It honours the unique connection between brothers and sisters. The words "Raksha" and "Bandhan" both denote protection and binding, respectively. This is a very precise allusion to the festival's central custom, in which sisters bind their brothers with rakhis, ornamental bracelets made typically of thread.

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PM Modi, Guest Of Honour, Indian Forces Take Part In Bastille Day Celebrations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the guest of honour at the Bastille Day celebrations in Paris, which began around 1.40 pm Indian time and saw four Rafale fighter jets and two C-17 Globemasters participate in the flypast.

A 269-member contingent of the Indian Armed Forces also marched alongside their counterparts from the French forces in the Bastille Day parade. 

French President Emmanuel Macron bestowed the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour - the highest French honour in military or civilian orders - on PM Modi yesterday. The Prime Minister, who became the first Indian PM to receive the award, thanked President Macron on behalf of the people of India

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The Blood Review - An independent review into how government engages with faith

The Bloom Reviwe:- Chapter 6: Hindu Nationalism:  Click Here For THE BLOOM REVIEW

Bloom Report Response from the Hindu Perspective by Insight UK 

We appreciate the government's intent behind the independent review examining how the government should engage with faith groups in England. Any such study is of great importance if the UK is to uphold its reputation as a successful, diverse, and multi-faith country, which protects its people's rights to practise their religion, faith or beliefs.

As INSIGHT UK, a social movement of British Hindus and British Indians we broadly welcome the report though feel some issues facing the community have been underestimated and certain reflections about the community need re-examination for they are misinformed and misplaced.

INSIGHT UK is concerned with the rise in anti-Hindu hate as reported all across the country. The cases of attacks and vandalism of our temples are on the rise, as are incidents of targeted grooming and conversions of Hindus. It is worrisome that these anti-Hindu hate incidents are under-reported or misreported. The media bias, gaslighting of Hindu victims by systematically making false allegations against them and victim blaming is an extension of this, and aids the failure to recognise hate crimes against Hindus in this country. In this context, we feel that the report has underestimated the problem of radical Islam and its impact on religious minorities.

We are glad to see the Report identifying the presence and impact of the violent Khalistan movement in the UK, and terror groups like Babbar Khalsa whose members have been given refuge by Pakistan. The recognition of the terror tactics employed by them, such as the extreme content being posted by Khalistan extremists to silence the majority Sikh community, fuelling hate towards the Hindu community and all those who do not subscribe to their violent ideology, is a first step towards eliminating this menace. The issue of Khalistan extremists disturbing peace and posing a serious threat to British Sikhs and British Hindus needs constant monitoring and immediate countermeasures.

The nature of conversions and attempts to convert British Hindus to Christianity as reported in some recent cases have included provocative messaging by aggressive missionaries. The suggestions made are that the Christian faith is the only way to receive forgiveness for one’s sins and the only way to receive eternal life. Mindful of the psychological pressure on individuals subject to such conversion attempts and resultant disharmony among families and the wider Hindu community, we urge that an impact study be conducted on this particular issue.

While we appreciate the importance of addressing extremist ideologies, we believe it is essential to approach the subject matter with accuracy and fairness. We were surprised to find the British Hindu community who have no history of association with any form of extremism, being mentioned at all in Chapter 6 of the the report which deals with faith based extremism The two paragraphs and fifteen lines highlighting ‘Hindu Nationalism’ without a shred of evidence not only seem forced but reflect misinformation, poor research and what could be best described as an attempt to monkey balance and play to a certain gallery.

It is troubling that an independent review would use terms often used by radical elements and Islamists with a history of inciting violence against the British Hindu and British Indian community. ‘Hindu Nationalism’ has been used to gaslight Hindus and especially victims of anti-Hindu hate in UK.

India is the birthplace of Sanatan Dharma, the Hindu faith and philosophy. It is this vibrant religious culture and the extensive stretch of Hindu pilgrimage places across the length and breadth of the country that makes India a sacred geography for all Hindus. The significance of and the connection to the landscape of India for British Hindus and Hindus all over the world is deeply spiritual and beyond the notion of a modern nation state. This connection is vital for all Hindus to enhance and strengthen their spiritual practices and it promotes cultural pride and preservation. The report has grossly misread this natural attachment to what is a holy land for Hindus.

Contrary to an apt example of extremism, the bombing of Air India Flight 182 by Sikh Khalistani extremists, the report mentions ‘extreme Hindu nationalism’ but fails to provide any evidence of extremism linked to this phenomenon. The report thus draws a false equivalence between religious extremism and Hindu nationalism. The allegation is baseless and the recommendations irrelevant. It is worrying that this can perpetuate stereotypes and contribute to the marginalisation of a peaceful community. Hindu faith is founded on principles of peace, compassion, and tolerance.

It is stated that the review is the result of consultations with thousands of faith leaders, however there is no reference to any feedback from Hindu faith leaders in the report, nor to the findings of credible independent think tanks who have studied the victimisation of Hindus in the UK. It is important to know who was consulted in relation to the UK Hindu Faith Community.

Unbelievably the report mentions two references, one a BBC story covering an interview with Majid Freeman, a known extremist and fake news peddler, and another article written by Sunny Hundal who has previously been known to have peddled fake news about the Leicester incident. Not only is this very shallow research, but is deeply problematic because a known Islamist and supporter of radical terror organisations such as ISIS and the Taliban, Majid Freeman, has been cited as a reference. Multiple independent think tanks and our own investigation revealed that Majid Freeman was actively spreading misinformation on social media about the Hindu community, potentially triggering further unrest, tension and violence against Hindus.

The other name cited is Sunny Hundal (extreme left-leaning journalist, former deputy editor for the Independent), who was one of the many others on social media stoking the flames of religious hatred by falsely equating the cricket fans as Hindus, the Hindu community, and nonexistent Hindu extremists. Warnings were made on social media that violence will soon be coming from the Muslim community. Nothing against Muslims or Islam had been uttered, but the false narrative spread like wildfire

There have been reports from reputable sources that clearly demonstrate the role of Islamists and the weaponisation of social media to incite further hate against the Hindus by spreading lies. On the contrary the recent Leicester incident was proven to have no links to Hindu nationalism by both UK and international research organisations. Sharing three reports and our own investigations which establish these links and the victimisation of Hindus:

1. Hindu-Muslim civil unrest in Leicester: “Hindutva” and the creation of a false narrative by the Henry Jackson Society: https:// henryjacksonsociety.org/publications/hindu-muslim-civil-unrestin-leicester-hindutva-and-the-creation-of-a-false-narrative/

1. Cyber Social Swarming Precedes Real World Riots in Leicester:

How Social Media Became a Weapon for Violence by the Network Contagion Research Institute Report (NCRI): https:// networkcontagion.us/reports/11-16-22-cyber-social-swarmingprecedes-real-world-riots-in-leicester-how-social-media-becamea-weapon-for-violence/?ref=quillette.com

1. Fact-finding report on Leicester violence 2022 by The Centre for Democracy Pluralism and Human Rights (CDPHR): https:// www.cdphr.org/Report-Final.pdf

2. How fake news was spread to incite hate and attacks on Hindus in Leicester- https://insightuk.org/how-fake-news-was-used-toincite-hate-and-attacks-on-hindus

We would like to emphasise the need for balanced and evidence-based reporting. It is crucial to provide accurate information to the public and policymakers, as inaccurate or biased reports can have far-reaching consequences. Such reports can lead to further stigmatisation, discrimination, and a negative impact on interfaith relations.

We kindly request that you reconsider the inclusion of Hindu nationalism as a major issue in your report unless there is compelling evidence to substantiate such claims. By doing so, you would be taking an important step towards ensuring that your report accurately reflects the realities of the current global threat landscape.

We request a meeting with you to discuss at length the Hindu community’s concerns. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We trust that you will give due consideration to the issues raised and our requests. We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Best Regards, INSIGHT UK Team

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"Colonial Oppression and Humanitarian Crisis: The Great Famine of Madras in 1877.”

The Great Famine of Madras in 1877, during the dark ages of colonial India, was a catastrophic event that brought untold misery and suffering to the people of the region. The famine, triggered by a combination of factors including prolonged drought, failed monsoons, and widespread crop failure, resulted in widespread starvation, disease, and death.

As the harsh drought persisted, rivers and lakes dried up, leaving parched lands and withering crops. Agricultural communities were devastated, and food became scarce and unaffordable. People were forced to sell their possessions, beg, or resort to extreme measures to survive. Hunger and malnutrition were rampant, leading to widespread health issues and diseases such as cholera and dysentery.

The British colonial administration, which controlled the region, proved ineffective in addressing the crisis. Relief efforts were poorly organized and insufficient, failing to reach many of those in need. The suffering was exacerbated by the exploitation of the poor by the rich, who hoarded food and raised prices to exorbitant levels.

The famine took a heavy toll on the vulnerable, including children, women, and the elderly. Many families were torn apart, as people migrated in search of food and water, leaving behind their homes and loved ones. The scenes of suffering were heart-wrenching, with emaciated bodies, despairing faces, and cries of anguish echoing through the streets.

The Great Famine of Madras in 1877 left a lasting impact on the region, as countless lives were lost, communities were shattered, and the socio-economic fabric was severely damaged. It stands as a tragic reminder of the suffering and neglect faced by the Indian population during the dark ages of colonial rule, and the urgent need for equitable and just governance.

 

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Open Letter To The BBC - Oct 2022

The misinformation that has circulated on social media sites regarding these attacks has portrayed the Hindu community as perpetrators of this violence.  Much of it has been instigated by the actual offenders, Islamists who wish to destabilise the peaceful co-existence of diverse religions, and worse still, increase the incidence of Hinduphobia in our communities.

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BBC documentary on PM Modi 'badly researched', doesn't represent UK govt's view: British MP

New Delhi: BBC documentary on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi “is a hatchet job. It was poor journalism, badly researched and casts smears against PM Modi which are completely unjustified,” says UK MP Bob Blackman.

The lawmaker further said the broadcaster (BBC) “does not represent views of the British government.”

Speaking to News18, Blackman said the two episode docu-series also “sought to demonstrate that the Indian judicial system could not be trusted and I am afraid that the judicial system in India is based on the British system, completely separate from politics and completely independent.”

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A Case Study of Religious Harmony and Dialogue

Among many examples of positive progress towards religious harmony and mutual respect is BAPS – a socio-spiritual organisation which has led the effort to bring about dialogue between different faiths and promote the values of unity in diversity.

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The Christian population in the UK has declined, for the first time, below the 50 percent mark

The Christian population in the UK  has declined, for the first time, below the 50 percent mark.

UK population by religion - In one of the most notable takeaways from the latest census data released by Britain, the UK's Muslim population has shown a 'rapid' rise, even as the Christian population has declined, for the first time, below the 50 percent mark. Interestingly, there is also a sizeable portion of the Hindu population in the UK - the UK population data has shown. This is the first time that the country's official religion - Christianity - has been followed by a minority population.

According to the excerpts of the data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), some 46.2% of the population of England and Wales described themselves as Christian on the day of the 2021 census, down from 59.3% a decade earlier. The Muslim population grew from 4.9% to 6.5% of the population, even as 1.7% identified as Hindu, up from 1.5% - news agency PTI cited.

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I have experienced racism in my life, says UK PM Rishi Sunak

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has revealed that he experienced racism growing up in the UK but the country has made incredible progress since then in confronting the issue. 

The British Indian leader was speaking to reporters on Thursday night in the wake of a racism row at Buckingham Palace, which saw the resignation of Prince William's godmother after it emerged that the senior palace aide had repeatedly questioned a black British charity worker about where she was "really from". .

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How British colonialism killed 100 million Indians in 40 years

Between 1880 to 1920, British colonial policies in India claimed more lives than all famines in the Soviet Union, Maoist China and North Korea combined.

Recent years have seen a resurgence in nostalgia for the British empire. High-profile books such as Niall Ferguson’s Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World, and Bruce Gilley’s The Last Imperialist, have claimed that British colonialism brought prosperity and development to India and other colonies. Two years ago, a YouGov poll found that 32 percent of people in Britain are actively proud of the nation’s colonial history.

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British Indians protest outside Pakistan High Commission on 26/11 anniversary

The Indian diaspora in Britain protested outside Pakistan High Commission in London on 26/11 anniversary. Protesters shouted slogans against Pakistan over the cross-border terrorism emanating from the country. They said Pakistan is not only responsible for 26/11 but numerous other terror attacks across the world. On 26 November 2008, 10 terrorists belonging to the Lashkar-E-Taiba terror group killed 166 people in Mumbai. 9 terrorists were killed by security forces, while one attacker Kasab was sentenced to death

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UK media’s anti India bias all too evident

 Ever since India got independence, the British media have painted a negative picture of the country. Indeed, many did not expect India to last long as a nation. There are countries that are failed states, countries which are engulfed in civil wars, but they do not get much of a mention from British and other Western correspondents. One reason for this is that being a democracy it is easy for them to report on India. Reporting on totalitarian countries is much more difficult. So India pays the price for being a democracy.

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Oxford Hinduphobia row: Rashmi Samant vindicated as internal investigation confirms how she was vilified, harassed and forced to resign

Months after the first female Indian President-elect of Oxford University Student’s Union, Rashmi Samant, was vilified and forced to resign from her post, an internal investigation by the university has vindicated her. The lawyer of Samant, Adithya Srinivasan, took to Twitter to inform that an internal investigation by Oxford University has confirmed that Samant was indeed a victim of bullying and vilification.

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India’s Vaccine Dilemma: Serving the nation vs Diplomacy

India has recorded the second-highest numbers of COVID-19 infections behind the USA. It is a sad state of affairs, but with a country of over 1.3 billion inhabitants, it is not surprising. What is perhaps more surprising, to at least the rest of the world, is that the country has the capability and the capacity to manufacture the vaccines and show the rest of the world why it is called the pharma capital of the world.

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Ranjit's win was announced on the 3rd December 2020, in London, UK

From less than 2% attendance to 100% - An inspiration to ALL #teachersaround the world.
Indian village teacher Ranjitsinh Disale, who transformed the life chances of young girls at the Zilla Parishad Primary School, Paritewadi, Solapur, Maharashtra, India, has been named the winner of the Global Teacher Prize 2020, in partnership with UNESCO.
Ranjit's win was announced on the 3rd December 2020, in London, UK
The impact of Ranjitsinh’s interventions has been extraordinary: there are now no teenage marriages in the village and 100 per cent attendance by girls at the school. The school was also recently awarded the best school in the district with 85% of his students achieving A grades in annual exams. One girl from the village has now graduated from University, something seen as an impossible dream before Ranjitsinh arrived.

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Is this a case of abhorrent perpetuation of Hindu Phobia?

Thank you for getting in touch about our article Coronavirus: What's driving India's 100,000 Covid-19 deaths?

The picture shows a municipal worker sanitising a graveyard in India after the burial of Covid victims.

We thought it was a good picture which is relevant to the story.

Best wishes, Sean Moss, BBC News website Complaints

 

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Never to be Forgotten - or are they?

It was in amazement to hear that Google Doodle celebrated the 80th birthday of an Indian swimmer. It is a story that most people would not have heard about and certainly most Indians would be very proud of – if they knew! So, thank you Google.  

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Coronavirus - Are we winning?

The world psyche revolves around the coronavirus as stories of death, economic destruction, and glimpses of inspirational individuals continue to cover the news headlines.

As the numbers of covers have begun to rise again, the data for the South Asian community does not look rosy. South Asians are five times more likely to get coronavirus than white people. Numerous reports have shown that BAME communities have a much higher chance of dying from coronavirus than white people.

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Did a group of UK MPs mislead the Britsh Parliament?

Did a group of UK MPs mislead the Britsh Parliament by paraphrasing the India's opposition politians without any basic research whatsoever? 

 

HuffPost > Systemic Hindutva Violence Waged On Muslims In India Sanctioned By BJP Govt: Indian-Origin British MP

 

The Express Tripbue > India comes under fire in British parliament over CAA, Delhi riots

 

How the British Public funded BBC and British Media failed to report imparially that BOTH Hindus and Muslims were killed during the fatal riots? 

 

Is the British media, in this case, in breach of impartiality by paraphrasing the Indian opposition politicians without due resarch? 

 

BBC > Delhi riots: How Muslims' homes were targeted and burnt

 

The Guardian > Inside Delhi: beaten, lynched and burnt alive (Hannah EllisPetersen)

 

BBC > Delhi riots: 'No-one who saw the photo thought I would survive'

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British Indian boy wins global Yoga contest

BRITISH INDIAN boy has won the ‘My life My Yoga’ global  contest launched by the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.

Ten-year-old Ishwar Sharma won the contest held on the digital platform by the Indian ministry of Ayush and the Indian council for cultural relations. It was launched on May 31, by Modi on the International Yoga day.

A total of 35,141 entries were received from India and nearly 2,000 entries were received from other countries. The contest was held in six categories- professional, adult (above 18 years) and youth (under 18) with male and female contestants considered separately.

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The global online summit to combat COVID-19

Life in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic is severe, stressful and in many cases fatal with the UK death rate rising above forty-four thousand. It is during this time; you see and hear about the brave and enduring individuals who find ways to beat the odds against the virus.

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Is China the new colonialist?

The world politely calls China a World Superpower. Critics would argue that its quest for world dominance has put the country on the path of the new colonialist. Its whirlwind of treacherous acts is a cause of much pain to global stability and the threat of earning a title befitting an international pariah if it weren't for its size and wealth.

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The Coronavirus Jigsaw Puzzle

The reasons behind why ethnic minorities are suffering greater losses over COVID than the white population continues. It is also getting more confusing as there is so much speculation, yet less clarity as to what it all means and what extra steps should BAME communities take to fight the dreaded disease.

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Most Diverse UK Parliament - Or is it?

It was one of the bruising general elections and that with the Brexit mixture made it a toxic concoction. The Labour Party in particular, antagonised the British Indian community with its stand on Kashmir.

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Is Corbyn playing 'divisive politics' with British Indians?

Jeremy Corbyn has always courted controversy. He's cloaked himself under the veil of justice, human rights and fighting for the underdog. But has he pushed a step too far with the British Indian community, who this year feel betrayed by a political party which like most immigrant communities, saw themselves as naturally aligned to the Labour Party?

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Lord Paul

The philanthropic gift by Lord Paul is in memory of his daughter Ambika who died of leukaemia. A similar donation of £1 million was made to the London Zoo in 1994 by Lord Paul. The Children’s Zoo is named after Ambika.

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The CB brand name

His full name is Chandrakant Babubhai Patel, but he is endearingly known as CB Patel. The initials ‘CB’ is synonymous with Asian Media Publications, entrepreneurship,

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Chandrakant Babubhai Patel

His full name is Chandrakant Babubhai Patel, but he is endearingly known as CB Patel. The initials ‘CB’ is synonymous with Asian Media Publications, entrepreneurship,

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Faith through a lens

Faith plays a positive role in many peoples' lives and this competition encourages people from all backgrounds and beliefs to engage with the subject of faith in its wider context.

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