SOCIETY GLOBAL INDIAN ICON AWARDS 2019
SOCIETY
NOVEMBER 2019
MEERA GANDHI’S Joy of Giving Back
1
2
Honouring Global Indian Icons
AWARDS 2019
Hospitality Partner
T he M ontcalm ÂŽ London 3
CONTENTS 1 A NIGHT TO REMEMBER -
Pg 6
To celebrate and honour the global success stories of Indian icons from across the world, Society magazine hosted its annual Society Global Indian Icon Awards in London on 10th July, 2019. Each award winner was chosen from diverse fields such as business, philanthropy, art, law, medicine and education, amongst others.
2 THE JOY OF GIVING BACK -
»»p.37
SOCIETY
GLOBAL INDIAN ICON AWARDS 2019 PUBLISHER & CMD
Nari Hira
EDITOR Proneeta Hira
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Born to an Irish mother and an Indian father, Meera Gandhi’s philanthropic journey began early on from India. Her outlook towards life took a 180-degree turn after her chance encounter with Mother Teresa at the young age of 16. A self-made businessman, Atul Pathak is one of the United Kingdom’s most successful franchise entrepreneurs. He is the largest McDonald’s franchisee in the UK and the Managing Director of Appt Corporation Ltd. With a current staff strength of over 3000 employees across 43 locations.
3 CREATOR OF A BETTER TOMORROW - Pg 26 Sanjay Joshi is leading a team of educators who are changing the world, one child at a time. With a unique & insightful vision, Sanjay has combined his extensive business knowledge of real estate and human resources with the collaborative talents of Montessori experts.
Karishma Jagtiani
MANAGING DIRECTOR Ashok Dhamankar
MARKETING DIRECTOR Shivendra Parihar
BRANCH HEAD (USA) Prashant Rane
BRANCH HEAD (LONDON) Shrikant Agarwal
All Rights Reserved Published by Magna Publishing Co Ltd., 100/E Old Prabhadevi Road, Prabhadevi, Mumbai 400025, INDIA
Pg 18
»»p.9
4 COOKING UP A STORM! -
Pg 30
Asma Khan has become an international hospitality inspiration, specialising in Indian cuisine. Astounding diners with sumptuous Indian dishes, she relentlessly also manages to push the boundaries as an advocate for social change.
5 A TRUE GEM -
Pg 34
In today’s world, it is rare to come across someone who looks beyond his personal profit-making goals and is inclined to give back to society. Craig Shah, a renowned celebrity designer of fine jewellery and Swiss watches,
6 UNITED WE STAND -
Pg 38
As Chairperson of Women Empowered (WE), Reena Ranger OBE would definitely agree with the above statement. WE is a social initiative that aims to inspire and aid women use their individual talents to the fullest by connecting them with successful and inspirational women. »»p.18
7 WHERE JUSTICE PREVAILS -
Pg 40
Advocate Dinesh Tiwari is a man who believes in letting his work speak for himself. Kudos to this lawyer whose heart is definitely in the right place and who reinstates our faith in our judicial system.
8 CREATING UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES - Pg 44
»»p.41
»»p.31
»»p.39
With over ten years of all-round experience in the trade, the Bhogals are much in demand and have to their credit the most lavish weddings across the world. Some of these include weddings in exotic locales such as Malta, Italy, Monte Carlo, and elaborate events in and around London.
»»p.27
A night to remember To celebrate and honour the global success stories of Indian icons from across the world, Society magazine hosted its annual Society Global Indian Icon Awards in London on 10th July, 2019. Each award winner was chosen from diverse fields such as business, philanthropy, art, law, medicine and education, amongst others. Attika Choudhary, Shabana Azmi 6
Mr. Atul Pathak OBE, Javed Akhtar, Meera Gandhi. 7
The grand event was held in collaboration with a visionary and a truly global humanitarian, Meera Gandhi, CEO & Founder of The Giving Back Foundation. This year The Giving Back Foundation celebrates its 10-year anniversary of Giving Back across continents and various people in need—a joyful journey that benefits those who give as much as those who receive. Held at Hotel Montcalm, the dazzling evening was a showcase of India’s rising stature in the world and a celebration of how Indians as global citizens have excelled across the world.
R
enowned Bollywood film actor Shabana Azmi and noted film writer and lyricist Javed Akhtar were the chief guests for the evening. Many well-known personalities from UK and India such as leading businessman Gopichand Hinduja, Dr Kartar Lalwani, King of McDonald’s chain Atul Pathak OBE, legal luminary Sarosh Zaiwala, amongst many others, attended the show. The event brought together thinkers and
8
high achievers from varied fields, who also participated in the Society Thought Leadership Forum— a platform for global thought leaders and influencers to get together and debate over issues of social relevance across the world. The eminent panellists for the Forum included leaders who ceaselessly strive to push for change in their respective fields. Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar, Meera Gandhi, Atul Pathak OBE and Dr Kartar Lalvani spoke on the
SOCIETY GLOBAL ICON AWARDS
importance of giving back to the community to help those in need and contribute to the common good. The panellists also answered individual questions on their respective areas of expertise. Shabana Azmi was asked to speak on how the powerful medium of cinema can be used to create more awareness about giving back, and if celebrities have become more socially responsible. Javed Akhtar, meanwhile, touched upon the transformative power of poetry and how it provides a language to share our humanity. Meera Gandhi spoke about her experience of mobilising public and government support, as well as garnering the support of the business community, to alleviate poverty, and improve health and education. On the other hand, Atul Pathak OBE spoke about how we all should take a pledge in saving our society, he emphasized on zero emission (pollution free air) and plastic free society. It was a stimulating and thought-provoking discussion, followed by the spectacular awards ceremony.
Mr. Atul Pathak OBE, Javed Akhtar and Meera Gandhi.
9
The winners included Shabana Azmi (Outstanding contribution to cinema and public service), Atul Pathak OBE (Business Leader of the Year), Meera Gandhi (Global Humanitarian), Sanjay Joshi (Excellence in the field of education), Advocate Dinesh Tiwari (Excellence in the field of Law), Gindy and Nav Bhogal (Excellence in International Event Production), Suleman Raza (Excellence in food business), Asma Khan (Excellence in culinary art), Reena Ranger OBE (Excellence in Community service) and Craig Shah (Excellence in luxury and lifestyle business).
Reena Ranger OBE.
Namrata Goyal, Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar, Sangeeta Datta and Ananya Dasgupta.
10
Tenille Reeves, Aliyah Rahal, Anne Darroux, Maya Patrick, Jodie Whitehead, Ti Camilla Potry and Paula Potry.
Subodh Agrawal, Atul Pathal OBE with Shabana Azmi.
11
The evening was sprinkled with a liberal dose of entertainment in the form of traditional songs and dances to celebrate India’s rich cultural heritage and showcase its limitless pool of talent.
Vijay Goel, Minister Ram Bilas Sharma, Shashikant Patel and Yogesh Saxena.
Javed Akhtar, Sarosh Zaiwalla and Mark Jones.
12
Craig Shah and Advocate Rajesh Vanzara
The Society Global Indian Icon Awards 2019 served as an unforgettable, iconic platform to honour the sincere hard work and success of our valued luminaries. We raise a toast to each and every one of them for their immense contribution to society. 13
Asma Khan and Prashant Rane.
Gindy Bhogal, Dr Rami Ranger CBE and Suleman Raza.
14
Atul Pathak OBE, Anil Sharma and Subodh Agrawal.
Shrikant Agarwal, Subodh Agrawal, Dr. Kartar Lalvani and Minister Ram Bilas Sharma.
15
Mr. Gopichand Hinduja and Dr. Rami Ranger CBE.
16
Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar and Advocate Rajesh Vanzara.
17
The Joy of Giving Back Meera Gandhi’s passion for serving the greater community translated into The Giving Back Foundation (GBF), which is now in its 10th year of existence.
18
Empowering Lives Born to an Irish mother and an Indian father, Meera Gandhi’s philanthropic journey began early on from India. Her outlook towards life took a 180-degree turn after her chance encounter with Mother Teresa at the young age of 16. Working at Asha Dan, Mumbai, and seeing Mother Teresa’s tireless dedication for the benefit of others, stirred something profound in Meera and that spirit of giving became her life’s core mantra. Since then, Meera has devoted her life towards empowering others. Her passion for serving the greater community translated into The Giving Back Foundation (GBF), which is now in its 10th year of existence. This philanthropic entity was founded with the aim of first raising awareness of its projects, then being an active platform for debate and dialogue, and then finally to support mental wellness amongst all people.
Meera started this initiative with the simple objective of improving lives, specially of the downtrodden sections of the society. The foundation aims at empowering through education, being a catalyst for positive change and is constantly sponsoring events and venues to give young people a voice. In 2015, the Mindfulness Platform was introduced, which organises and sponsors retreats to help people de-stress and lead happier lives. The joy she gets when the footprint of her work reaches thousands of people each day, is priceless. “Life is joyful,” she smiles.
19
Awards and Accolades
Attika Choudhary, Shabana Azmi, Atul Pathak, Javed Akhtar & Meera Gandhi. Meera Gandhi’s immense contribution towards society has been recognised and applauded over the years. Her achievements include: • Person of the Year by the Wayúu Tayá Foundation (2010) • The highest honour-the distinguished Alumni Award from Boston University (2011) • Donna Karan’s International Award for ‘Women Who Inspire’ (2011) • Corporate Global Humanitarian Award (2013) • Children’s Hope Humanitarian Award (2013) • Humanitarian of the year (2014) from Marc Anthony’s Maestro Cares Foundation • NYC Mayor Award (2015) LEllis Island Medal of Honor (2016) • Citation from Nassau County from Indian American Association in 2016 • City of New York Proclamation at The United Nations Sri Lanka Mission (2015) • Citation from Nassau County from Indian American Association (2016) • NYC Mayor Award (2015) • Ellis Island Medal of Honor (2016) • The Bharat Gaurav Award at The United Nations (June 2017) 20
Bringing out the Best
Meera Gandhi With Amelia Garibaldi and Barb Robinson in Capri
Meera Gandhi with the Vice Chairman of Elton John Aids Foundation Ms. Lynda Funke.
Meera Gandhi at Society Global Indian Icon Awards 2019 21
Apart from her contribution towards society and her Foundation activities, Meera has been involved with multiple activities and done full justice to them with, with her trademark élan.
experiences as helpful expressive tools.
She is currently filming her own eponymous television show—The Meera Gandhi Show— which airs on B4U TV Network, as well as on TheMeeraGandhiShow.com and SouthAsianTimes.com. She is the host of this show that aired in 12 countries and touches upon soulful and spiritual topics such as as finding inner peace, the practice of yoga, the idea of karma and destiny and more current issues such as climate change, sparking creativity and practicing gratitude, love and compassion. All in all, the show serves as a platform to spread the importance of leading a happy life. It has people from all walks of life come together to share their de-stressing mantras and success stories, with personal victories and
It doesn’t stop there. This multi-faceted lady has also produced a musical CD titled Giving Back. Featuring both well-known as well as upcoming international artists such as Marco Figueira, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Juliet Hanlon, David Harilela and Chandrika Tandon, the album saw tremendous success. What is more heart-warming is that she was able to provide a platform for upcoming talent to be recognised and appreciated by the public at large.
Using her celebrity stature to create as much joy as she can in society, Meera aims to spread positivity and happiness through her public appearances, interviews and anecdotes.
Apart from this, Meera has also been an active part of numerous panel discussions hosted by the Asia Society and BNP Paribas Bank about her book ‘Giving Back’.
Meera Gandhi at 73rd India day parade in Manhattan 22
Meera Gandhi flying helicopter in Nice
“
No matter how busy I am or whichever meeting I am attending, I always make it a point to answer my children’s phone calls. I am the centre of my family, and I take that role very seriously. How I can give to others if I don’t first give to my family?
”
23
Her Way of Life! Meera Gandhi lives mostly in NYC, and owns the historic town house of former First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. The Giving Back Foundation’s internationally based projects keep Meera jet-setting between New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Dubai and India, but despite her hectic travel schedule, juggling family life with work comes quite effortlessly to her.
Meera Gandhi 24
She describes herself first and foremost as a mom. “Although my children are now grown up—my daughters are 30 and 24, and my son is 22—they remain my top priority. Since we all live in different cities, and they are also immersed in their own impactful lives, we rely on daily communication and regular get togethers to keep our bond strong and our lives grounded.”
“Life is lived in moments,” according to Meera. “We must make every moment count.” And count she does, as she believes in being present at all times; she meditates twice a day, practices yoga to keep her busy schedule centered and lives a life filled with gratitude. A humanitarian at heart and by passion, it is an undisputed fact that Meera Gandhi has brought about significant change in society through her genuine efforts and incessant hard work. It is no surprise then, that her life motto is: ‘We are to the universe only as much as we give back to it.’ Her boundless energy is tangible, her spirit of giving is contagious and as one often feels in her presence, the lessons learned by Mother Teresa are evident. A true woman of substance with multiple feathers in her cap, Meera Gandhi continues to create value in her life and that of those around her.
25
Creator of a
Better
Tomorrow “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” - Benjamin Franklin Indeed, the value of sound education is priceless and no one can ever take that away from you. With this thought in mind, Sanjay Joshi is leading a team of educators who are changing the world, one child at a time.
When Sanjay was young, his family ran an elementary school in his hometown of New Delhi. While education is not where he would begin his career, it would serve to become a lifelong passion.
Sanjay Joshi holding the trophy
Sanjay Joshi and Gopi Chand Hinduja
26
With a unique & insightful vision, Sanjay has combined his extensive business knowledge of real estate and human resources with
(Left to Right) Prabhav Joshi, Aparna Joshi, Sanjay Joshi, Pratyush Joshi and Prashant Bhatt. the collaborative talents of Montessori experts, to build a school model that offers evidence-based early childhood education and the infrastructure of a high-quality childcare environment. This fusion has resulted in the birth of Wonderland Montessori, accommodating the modern needs of working parents who want to provide education that equips their children with 21st century skills. The students of Wonderland Montessori
are given the tools to become tomorrow's leaders, entrepreneurs and visionaries. Over the last decade, Wonderland Montessori has opened seven Montessori schools in the United States, with four additional campuses in development. Each day, their 200 staff members nurture and enrich the lives of over 1,200 students. As Wonderland has grown, Sanjay has led the initiative within his schools to
27
participate in the pathway to accreditation through the American Montessori Society, the gold standard of Montessori school excellence. After completing his MBA in the United States, Sanjay decided to convert his visa to a work permit one and then start working in earnest. After working in the fields of information technology and human resources in several firms, he gradually started several B2B businesses including auction portals. He eventually opened his own real estate company and, in the process, began learning about the Dallas market.
In 1998, Sanjay and his wife Aparna welcomed their first son, Pratyush, followed by Prabhav a few years later. Finding childcare was a challenge— programs offered either services such as meals and modern security, or highly educated and certified teachers. The void in the market propelled Sanjay and Aparna to enter into the education industry, launching their first school in 2010. They wanted to provide not only a high-quality education but also a solid infrastructure facility. This magic formula included teachers who love their jobs,
(Left to right) Malti O’Mahony, Sanjay Joshi, Meera Gandhi and Atul Pathak. 28
Sanjay Joshi administrators who help parents to navigate their childcare experience, and a kind of education that was proven to nurture the development of children. The choice to develop Montessori schools was clear. Named after Italian scientist, physician and method founder, Maria Montessori, the Montessori method is a child-centred educational approach based on scientific observations of children from birth to adulthood. This philosophy has been time tested with over 100 years of success in diverse cultures in the world. Montessori students can grow, learn and explore at their unique pace, utilizing their own strengths, needs, likes and learning styles. Teachers guide each child through the learning process by using specially created
materials that fit their specific needs. Recent Montessori socially traditional education regardless
research affirms that students perform better and academically than students, and Montessori equalizes child outcomes of socioeconomic factors.
When they aren’t leading the Wonderland team, Sanjay and Aparna enjoy spending time with their sons and their dog, Buddy. The Joshi family enjoys exploring the world and experimenting with new cuisines on their travels. True education and growth come about with varied passions and interests; and the Joshi family believes in this very idea of modern education. Here’s to a brighter future for our kids!
29
Cooking up a storm! Love for food is a common thread that binds the whole world together. Indeed, eating may be a necessity but cooking is definitely an art that a few do manage to master.
O
ne such MasterChef is Asma Khan, who has become an international hospitality inspiration, specialising in Indian cuisine. Astounding diners with sumptuous Indian dishes, she relentlessly also manages to push the boundaries as an advocate for social change. As an immigrant to England from India, she has found her calling in life by elevating the status of women around her—mostly immigrant women, women of colour, and those who would otherwise likely be housewives or house cleaners in West London. To that effect, Asma’s restaurant, Darjeeling Express, boasts an efficient all-women spanking kitchen. 30
As someone who has reached great success in the culinary industry, many may find it surprising that Asma left home without ever learning to cook. When she did eventually get married and move to Cambridge to join her husband in 1991, she couldn’t even boil an egg. Away from family and unable to recreate the food she loved and missed, she felt isolated and alone. In conquering her homesickness and inability to cook, Asma returned to India for a few months and busied herself in the kitchens of her home, where she learned to craft the royal Mughlai dishes of her childhood from the household cooks, as well as from her mother and mother-in-law.
Asma Khan
Upon her return to the UK, Asma got involved with starting her family, had one and then another child, became the first woman in her family to attend college, qualified as a lawyer and also managed to complete a doctorate in British Constitutional Law at King’s College, London.
received an immediate seal of approval from some of the best Indian chefs in the country too – Vivek Singh came for dinner one evening and promptly invited her to host a lunch at his restaurant The Cinnamon Club in Westminster.
In spite of her success, Asma’s family struggled to accept that she However, despite studying intensively had abandoned a career in Law to be a for her PhD, Asma always knew her future cook. Her children, in particular, were belonged in food. The journey started in understandably were not in favour of her own home, where she would invite strangers being in their home. Eventually friends –immigrant mothers and nannies a stop was put to the supper clubs. With she befriended at her children’s school— to nowhere to go to continue her mission, come and eat with her. The dinner parties Asma was offered a residency at the Sun became supper clubs and word of mouth & 13 Cantons in Soho. Darjeeling Express spread like wildfire. Asma’s home-cooked – as it was now called – had barely been Mughlai dinners became legendary. She open a month when renowned food 31
Asma Khan critic Fay Maschler arrived for lunch and recognised for their talents and released wrote a glistening review that launched from their shackles as second daughters. Asma’s name into the stratosphere. After Asma’s residency was up, she had The restaurant was packed for the next resigned herself to shutting everything nine months. Many of Asma’s friends down and returning home to write – the Indian nannies and housewives geography revision notes for her son. That that she had invited to her very first was until one of her regular customers, supper club – now worked with her in Simon Quayle, offered her a lifeline. As the kitchen. They were the lonely trees, executive director of Shaftesbury and, stripped and hollow, that she had seen in effect, landlord for a huge swathe of years before. Now they were empowered, Chinatown and Soho, he offered Asma a 32
Asma Khan site on the top floor of Kingly Court. The catch? She would have to compete with fifty-five other prospective businesses to get it. She had never written a business plan or even made a PowerPoint presentation. Asma sailed through this obstacle by breaking tradition and playing her strengths. The day of the meeting, she, along with her team, fed the whole building and won the lease.
cuisine in the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards and shortlisted for best debut cookbook in the Fortnum & Mason 2019 awards. Additionally, Asma is the founder of a charity for second daughters in India among other philanthropic efforts she feels passionately about.
Her Darjeeling Express is not just a restaurant for incredible Indian foodit’s a platform for social change. A true Fast-forward to today, Asma is now trailblazer, Asma is unstoppable in her the first British chef to star in Netflix’s mission to lift women around her, and award-winning show, Chef ’s Table. The her story is one of quiet determination, series’ sixth season, which includes strength and ambition. While cooking Khan’s episode, was nominated for an with love provides food for the soul, Asma Emmy in the Outstanding Documentary has managed to do so much more than that section. Her cookbook ‘Asma’s Indian through her delectable dishes and her Kitchen’ was the winner in the UK strong desire for women’s empowerment. category for food publishing in Indian 33
A True Gem Craig Shah 34
I
n today’s world, it is rare to come across someone who looks beyond his personal profit-making goals and is inclined to give back to society. Craig Shah, a renowned celebrity designer of fine jewellery
and Swiss watches, is one such person. Highly sought-after for his unique fashionable and creative concepts, Craig’s discerning client list includes those with an eye for luxury, style and a compassionate heart. Why compassionate heart, you may ask. What sets Craig apart from other jewellery designers is his selfless devotion to giving back to society. While his passion of designing has translated into great accomplishments, the beneficiaries of that success include children and soldiers.
35
Craig Shah
Craig Shah 36
Craig Shah
Craig has partnered with numerous prestigious organisations around the world. Some of his official Time partners are Cricket All Stars, Beverly Hills Police, IIFA, and Shriners Hospitals for Children. Craig is also on the Board of multiple high-end real estate and investment companies, as well as events company Kiss The Monkeys. His company, Craig Shelly proudly supports non-profit organisations such as A Soldier’s Journey Home, Along Comes Hope, and Akshaya Patra. With meticulously crafted one-of-a-kind bespoke pieces to his credit, Craig’s popularity was expected, but we believe that it is his heart of gold that will keep him moving ahead always!
37
WEStand
United
Reena Ranger OBE
B
ehind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women who have her back. As Chairperson of Women Empowered (WE), Reena Ranger OBE would definitely agree with the above statement. WE is a social initiative that aims to inspire and aid women use their individual talents to the fullest by connecting them with successful and inspirational women. It is championed and supported by prominent women and men from all walks of life, be it politics, media, finance or music, with the aim to support women in their quest to capitalise on their abilities and assist them in gaining new opportunities through a variety of events. A bundle of infectious energy, Reena is a woman who dons many hats with ease. She is as passionate about different sides of community and public service as she is about WE. Having been successfully elected
38
as one of the three District Councillors for Moor Park & Eastbury in May 2014 and being a Parliamentary Candidate in the 2017 General Election, she makes the most of the opportunities that come her way to meet people and make an impact. She addressed the delegates at the Conservative Party Conference in 2017 on the topic of ‘Fighting Injustices’ and remains active within the Conservative Party. At home, she is a warm, doting mother to two kids and also manages to remain a strong figure in the family business. She is a true inspiration for women who took breaks to start the journey of motherhood but also found a path to help and connect others along the way. She says that she was lucky enough to have attended many events through the course of her work and family life and met many inspiring speakers to broaden her horizons. It was this exposure
that helped her visualise limitless opportunities for herself after she had her kids. All around her, there were discussions had about how women can juggle a family, career, community and whether it is in fact possible to have it all. These issues became the inspiration for the original WE events. There was a clear need for an organization providing women a forum, a platform and a network where they could find support, mentoring and inspiration to try and get out of life everything they wanted. WE encourages mothers to bring their daughters and sons to meetings, to allow them to hear inspirational stories which may help to shape their future. WE is a grass roots organisation, with no annual fee or membership required. What started off as a short-term project is now in its sixth year, with over 20 events for over 2500 people under their belt.
has won the recognition for services to black and minority ethnic women.
Adding another feather to her cap, Reena Ranger has been recently awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, adding to the joy of her re-election in May. She
With so much already under her belt and many more milestones to be achieved, Reena is on a roll to shape the world for a better future. We wish her all the success and luck!
With all her experience and passion for making a positive change in life, what core principle does she live by? Pat comes her reply, “To keep learning, just for myself. I never could be called academic when I was younger, I regret it deeply. I found it hard to understand what was being taught to me and never found any joy in learning. It overwhelmed and confused me, but when I began to 'get it', I realised how much there was in the world to know and I started learning with wonder, enthusiasm and eagerness.� Well, the eagerness and enthusiasm are evident and show no sign of abating. As they say, empowered women empower women and Reena Ranger is the prime example of that statement.
39
ua www.katsq
re.com
Where Justice Prevails
40
It is said that the truth always triumphs in the end. It’s heart-warming to see that this statement does, in fact, hold true. While the ‘Me too’ movement rocked the world, here’s a man who is responsible for the ‘Men Too’ movement in India— a movement against false rape charges.
Advocate Dinesh Tiwari .
Advocate Dinesh Tiwari . 41
Advocate Dinesh Tiwari with his team.
Advocate Dinesh Tiwari with his team. 42
A
dvocate Dinesh Tiwari represented actor Karan Oberoi who was allegedly implicated in a false rape case, and even got him out on bail with severe strictures against the shoddy investigation carried out by the police. He was also the prosecution lawyer in actor Jiah Khan’s alleged suicide/ murder case and successfully got the investigation transferred from the Mumbai Police to the CBI. Tiwari began his legal practice with none other than Ram Jethmalani, the veteran of the industry. In his career spanning two decades, he has to his credit several high-profile clients such as the Lilavati Hospital, Hiranandani Builders,
Bombay Dyeing, Etisalat Mauritius, HDFC Securities, Essar Group, TATA Motors, ISKCON, Boney and Sridevi Kapoor, Adnan Sami, the Royal Family of Gondal, and the bodyguards of Hollywood star Angelina Jolie, among several others. Highly compassionate and extremely conscious of his social responsibilities, Tiwari also fought for a blind girl to get a residence order from the Bombay High Court. Dinesh Tiwari is a man who believes in letting his work speak for himself. Kudos to this lawyer whose heart is definitely in the right place and who reinstates our faith in our judicial system.
Advocate Dinesh Tiwari (right) with his family. 43
Creating unforgettable memories Organising an event or a wedding on a grand scale is a Herculean task and can be extremely overwhelming—especially if it is an international function. Who wouldn’t want an event specialist to step in and look into the minutest details to ensure a stress-free and memorable occasion? Well, in this sphere, two of the most renowned names are Gindy and Nav Bhogal of Royal Wedding Services (RWS) London, and they have successfully managed to stay on top of their game over the years.
44
Gindy and Nav Bhogal 45
With over ten years of all-round experience in the trade, the Bhogals are much in demand and have to their credit the most lavish weddings across the world. Some of these include weddings in exotic locales such as Malta, Italy, Monte Carlo, and elaborate events in and around London. Whether it’s an extravagant wedding or a private event that needs looking into, RWS covers it all. Their clients just need to sit back and relax with the assurance that RWS will handle the frenzy and chaos which are inevitable in large-scale events. Right from complete event design and dÊcor to production, this global entity has them sorted. For private events,
46
their repertoire includes celebration and themed parties, event concept and design, display and product launch parties, corporate cocktail parties, lighting event production—and the list goes on! All of this is thanks to the meticulous planning and professionalism that goes into every detail to ensure a smooth flow of events. With so many challenges and obstacles in such a field, staying consistent is never easy but Gindy and Nav Bhogal have managed to stay relevant without compromising on their creativity. These event planners par excellence leave one astounded with the most beautiful memories to last a lifetime!
47
THE GIVING FRAGRANCE BY MEERA GANDHI
SPECIALLY CREATED BY MEERA GANDHI IN PARIS AND NEW YORK!
48
Available at: TheGivingBackFoundation.net By telephone: 212-717-8321