The Loomba Foundation, under the tagline of ‘Empowering Widows in India’ initiated by Lord Raj Loomba, member of British Parliament, following the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi celebrated his 150th birthday with a fitting tribute to India’s Father of Nation.
Addressing invited guests at House of Lords in London, Lord Loomba welcomed the guests especially Shri Charanjit Singh, Deputy High Commissioner of India to the UK.
During the celebrations, Lord Loomba announced partnership with SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association), to provide skills training to 150 widows in Ahmedabad in garment making.
Talking about Bapu’s contributions to India and the world, Lord Loomba shared “Gandhiji was referred to as Bapuji or Father of nation in India, because of the profound effect he had on our country, and the way he conducted the freedom movement to gain independence for India from the British colonial rulers to race, and how he has inspired many world leaders, including Martin Luther King, and Nelson Mandela. Gandhiji known today as an apostle of peace non-violence.”
“What makes Mahatma Gandhi so special? Gandhi could have had an easy life, as he came from a privileged family in India. His father sent him to London to study Law and his future was virtually set. In college, his moment of enlightenment occurred in South Africa, where he went to practice law. He was outraged at the treatment of his fellow Indians and started campaigning for the rights. Gandhi eventually returns to India and started campaigning against the British rule. Not everyone agreed with his peaceful approach, and especially after the Amritsar massacre in 1919, when British troops opened fire on innocent civilians, who had gathered in the Jallianwala Bagh, he was enraged and demanded kindness.”
“Throughout his life, he faced discrimination and violence, yet he always insisted on non-violent resistance. He was sent to jail 19 times throughout his life, and even at the age of 75. He stood by his beliefs, despite all the pressures he was put under, and we must never forget the sacrifices that he made for the sake of our country.”
“We at Loomba Foundation recognize many of Gandhiji’s values. Over the past 22 years, since I set up the Loomba Foundation, we have raised awareness of the plight of women who, unfortunately, lose their husbands and suffer in silence to poverty, illiteracy, diseases such as HIV, Aids, , malaria, complex, and injustice.”
“We have made great strides by educating children of poor widows and empowering their mothers in many countries in South Asia, Africa, and South America.”
