Learning from our East African experience

25 December 2010

One reason why we were made to leave East Africa was that we did not reach out to the local community. Those of us here in the or UK or USA are repeating the same mistakes. It is imperative that the Hindu, Jain, Sikh community reach out to the local people. The danger is that with the growing terrorism there will be a backlash and we will all be tared with the same brush unless we make special efforts to educate the local community who we are and what we stand for.

Food is a great medium through which to reach out. If Indian organisations in every town and city organised a Christmas lunch its impact would be immense. The new Jain temple in Potters Bar, London, had problems with complaints from neighbours and the local council. I managed to persuade the then president to organise a Christmas lunch. Many neighbours came. They were fascinated to see the temple and became good friends. The event was also mentioned in the local village newspaper. However it did not continue. The Navnat group in London had great parking issues with local neighbours at their old centre in Harrow. They started organising a Christmas lunch and all local issues were resolved!

In the Mahabharat there is the story of Dronacharya who sided with the evil Kauravas. When asked why he did that in spite of knowing that Kauravas were in the wrong he replied , ‘ I have worked for them all my life and I have to be faithful to them’. Similarly those of us living outside India have to be loyal, faithful citizens of the country we live in and do everything to uphold its values.

Nitin Mehta MBE