King Charles commends Indian diaspora for philanthropic efforts
LONDON, June 12: King Charles III celebrated the contributions of the Indian and wider South Asian diaspora at a special event in London marking the 20th anniversary of the British Asian Trust, a charity he founded to tackle poverty and support development across South Asia.
The King, who serves as the Trust’s Royal Founding Patron, joined hundreds of guests at a gala evening highlighting the organisation’s achievements over the past two decades. The charity said its programmes have positively impacted more than 18.8 million people across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The event also raised more than £1 million to support its future initiatives.
British Asian Trust CEO Hitan Mehta thanked the monarch for his continued support, saying it remains a source of inspiration for the organisation’s work. He also praised the generosity and commitment of the British Asian diaspora, whose contributions have played a key role in expanding the charity’s reach and impact across South Asia.
The British Asian Trust was established under the patronage of Charles, then Prince of Wales, following an India-Pakistan charity cricket match in 2007. During the anniversary event, the King was presented with a framed photograph from the match featuring him alongside former cricket captains Rahul Dravid and Shoaib Malik.
Chairman Lord Jitesh Gadhia described the anniversary as a significant milestone but emphasised that the Trust’s mission remains ongoing. He highlighted the organisation’s focus on innovative social finance models and sustainable development programmes.
Among the major achievements showcased was the launch of the USD 4 million Nano Entrepreneurship Sustainability & Transformation (NEST) Outcomes Facility, India’s first outcomes-based finance initiative aimed at increasing the incomes of nano entrepreneurs. The Trust also highlighted Pakistan’s first outcomes-based employment financing programme and conservation projects that have helped reduce human-wildlife conflict across South Asia.
The event brought together several well-known figures of South Asian heritage, including Sanjeev Bhaskar, Meera Syal, Mahira Khan, Kunal Nayyar, Preeya Kalidas and Gurinder Chadha. Guests also enjoyed a performance by singer Jay Sean and a film celebrating the origins and achievements of the British Asian Trust. (AP)
