Bharat Gaurav Shri Gyanmati Mataji - Iconic Jain Nun
Ganini Pramukha Aryika Shri Gyanmati Mataji (Sanskrit Aryika Jnanamati) is considered an iconic Jain nun, known for undertaking several projects related to Jainism. The Ganini Pramukh Aryika is considered the legendary figure reflecting the true spirit of Jainism among the disciples.
She is also eminent for the construction of the Jain Temples representing Jain Cosmology models at Jambudweep, Hastinapr, Uttar Pradesh, which were supported by former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi.
She practiced her skills by writing 1008 Mantras of “Sahastranam” which improved her ability. She is considered the first Kshullika or a Jain Sadhvi in history to translate and author several Jain literature, scriptures, and manuscripts.
She surprised the world in the year 1969 by translating Nyaya-Ashtasahasri a renowned Sanskrit scripture into Hindi.
Since then, she had written and composed more than 250 different publications ranging from auspicious Quotes & thoughts to books & volumes. She has written and published 14 major books including the first two available in both Hindi and Sanskrit translations. Also, she composed the Sanskrit Teeka (commentary) of the Sutras in form of sixteen books of Shatkhandagam Grantha. She has composed a modern Rite for the Five Merus.
Achievements
Laid the foundation of Digambar Jain Institute of Cosmographic Research in 1972 with an aim of constructing a monumental model of Jambudvipa to have a better understanding of Jain Cosmology.
● Her dream was realized with the inauguration of ‘Jambudweep Gyan Jyoti’ in Delhi in 1982 by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
● In the year 1992, she approached the highest level of authorities including PMO, HRD, and Director of NCERT to correct a textbook teaching that Lord Mahavira is the founder of Jainism instead of Lord Rishabha Deva.
● She was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) by Avadh University, Faizabad on 5 February 1995 for Her outstanding contributions in the field of Literature.
● Bhagwan Rishabhdev Samavsaran Shrivihar was consecrated after the tour of the whole of India in April 1998 at Kevalgyan Kalyanak temple of Deeksha Tirth-Prayag at Delhi by then Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
● Organised International Vice-Chancellors Conference to present and share the facts and findings and basis of Jainism and its studies at Hastinapuron 8 October 1998.
● Ganini Pramukh was the main inspiration behind the 108 ft statue of Lord Rishabnath at Mangi-Tungi, the tallest Jain statue in the world. This statue holds the Guinness world record for the tallest Jain Idol. The certificate was awarded to Ganini Gyanmati Mataji, Chandnamati Mataji, and Swami Ravindrakirtiji on 6 March 2016.
Bharat Gaurav Mr Gaurav Shukla
Gaurav Shukla was born on 25th March 1971 in Barely, India. He was raised in a spiritual and religious family and his father was associated with many social organizations. After completing his MBA in Marketing from the University of Pune, he became actively involved with various social organizations.
Having a vast experience in accounting, financial management, and budgeting he was elected as a Treasurer for the UP council for Child Welfare from the year 2001–2004. He monitored and reviewed the financial position of the organization with the utmost precision. Having an orderly mind and methodical way of thinking he handled figures and cash judiciously so much that the organization scaled enormous heights.
He also served as the associate secretary for the UP council for Child Welfare under the Chairmanship of H.E. Governor of UP. He is also a fine orator and regularly speaks at conferences on issues concerning how to improve the quality of education and life of the young disadvantaged Indians.
Bharat Gaurav Late Shri. Ravindra Jain - Indian music composer and lyricist
Ravindra Jain (28 February 1944–9 October 2015) won the Filmfare Best Music Director Award in 1985 and was born blind to well-known Sanskrit scholar and Ayurvedacharya, Pandit Indramani Jain and mother Kiran Jain and his family hail from Aligarh. He is the third child among seven brothers and a sister.
He was a well-respected figure, and considered a role model for many people, as he overcame his disability of blindness. The legendary blind musician was the “son of Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh”, named Ramgarh by Jat ruler Surajmal, and later, ‘Aligarh’, by Shia Muslim Mughal commander, Najaf Khan, thus leading it to be the seat of Aligarh Muslim University. Not without meaning thus was his first released film, Kanch Aur Heera, released on 31 July 1972.
He started singing at a very young age, reciting Jain bhajans and poetry by famous Jain poets such as Pandit Dyanantraiji, Pandit Bhdhjanji, etc. at nearby Jain Temples. It was Ravindra Jain’s parents that first decided to teach him music. Jain received basic training under Pandit G. L. Jain, Pandit Janardhan Sharma, and Pandit Nathu Ram. Jain’s entry into films was in 1960 in Calcutta. Ten years later, Prathibhushan Bhattacharya took Jain to Mumbai where Jain composed his film Kranti and Balidan. In January 1972, Jain started his film career as a composer with his first film song being recorded in Mohd. Rafi’s voice — a song that remains unreleased to this day.
Ravindra Jain is one of the most notable Hindi music directors who started his career in the early 1970s, composing for hit films such as Saudagar (1970), Chor Machaye Shor (1974), Geet Gaata Chal (1975), Chitchor (1976), Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaaye (1977), Paheli (1977) and Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se (1978). Nadiya ke paar (1982). Along with composing music, he also wrote the lyrics for many of his famous songs. Ravindra Jain’s father died during the recording sessions of the film Saudagar, however, Jain did not leave the studio until the recordings were finalised giving utmost importance to his work.
One of his most famous songs is Akhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se from the film of the same name. Raj Kapoor, made him compose many super hit songs in movies such as Ram Teri Ganga Maili, Do Jasoos and later Henna (film), directed by Randhir Kapoor. B.R.Chopra gave him projects like Pati Patni Aur Woh (1978) and Insaf Ka Tarazu (1980) whereas Hrishikesh Mukherjee asked him to compose music for Kotwaal Saab (1977).
Ravindra Jain also composed for a few non-Hindi films including Sujatha, Sukham Sukhakaram, Aakashathinte Niram (Malayalam);Mhaarab Peehar Saasra, Kunba (Haryanvi); Chadi Jawani Budhe Nu (Punjabi); Gomti ni Shakhe, Shree Krishna Sharnam Mamah (Gujarati); Ganga se Naata ba Hamaar, Ganga Maiya Bhar de Achalwa Hamaar, Gaon Desh, Gaon aaja Pardesi, Nadiya ke teer, Piya Milan ke aas, Laagi aisi Lagan, and Jalsa ghar ki devi (Bhojpuri); Harishchandra Shaibya, Dristi (unreleased), Phoolan Devi, Bhaalodeshe Radha, Ananya, Bhanga Gara, Punorutthaan, Sesh Aghat , and Pati Param Guru (Bengali); Brahmarishi Vishwamitra (Telugu); Pardesi Chadhej jaa debi Sarva Bhuteshu (Oriya), and Educated Binani (Rajasthani).
During the 1980s and 1990s, Ravindra Jain widely composed for most mythological movies including Navaratri, Gopal Krishna, Jai Karoli Maa, Har Har Gange, Durgaa Maa, Badrinath Dham, Solah Shukrawar, Raja Harishchandra, Bolo he Chakradhari, Brahmarishi Vishwamitra in Telugu, Shanivrat Mahima and Jai Shakumbhari Maa.
Bharat Gaurav Mr Upendra J. Chivukula - Deputy Mayor - NJ
Chivukula has served as a Councilman and as Deputy Mayor, and Mayor of Franklin Township.
Commissioner and former Deputy Speaker Upendra Chivukula were born in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, he received the Government of India’s Merit-cum-Means scholarship to study Electrical Engineering.
Chivukula worked in the industry for 35 years and entered public service in 1997. He co-authored three books on supplier management and four books on best industry practices. His recent book “The 3rd Way” addresses economic inequality.
Chivukula is currently serving as Commissioner of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities since October 2014 when he was appointed by Governor Chris Christie. He has served seven terms in the NJ State Assembly representing the 17th district and also as Deputy Speaker: Chairman of the Telecommunications and Utilities, and Vice-Chair of the Homeland Security Committees; Founder of the Science and Technology and the World Languages and International Education Legislative Caucuses; Member of the NJ Commission on Science and Technology; Asian American Study Foundation; Health Information Technology Commission.
Chivukula has served as a Councilman and as Deputy Mayor, and Mayor of Franklin Township.
Chivukula’s public service includes serving as — an Elector for the Presidential Electoral College; Member of the New Jersey State Board of Social Work Examiners; Board of State Canvassers; Democratic National Convention Delegate; Asian American Study Foundation
National Political Activities — Indian-American Community· With the Association of Indians in America (AIA), organized the installation of a Marble Bench and Chairs at Cheesequake State Park, NJ to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi Jayanthi and UN Declaration of International Day of Nonviolence
Bharat Gaurav Dr Swati Lodha - Doctorate in Women Entrepreneurship
With a Doctorate in Women's Entrepreneurship, she is passionate about creativity and innovation.
Dr. Swati Lodha is an author of Amazon Bestseller Book titled “Don’t Raise Your Children, Raise Yourself” (2016) and other Bestselling Books like “Come On! Get Set Go” (2002) and “Why Women are What They Are” (2004)
She has been Dean, Faculty of Management Studies, JNU, and Director — AIMSR, Mumbai.
She founded her first venture SWASH Pvt. Ltd 17 years ago which offers Training Courses to Youth, Professionals & Women.
A recipient of many prestigious awards “The Suryadutta National Award” “The Veer Durgadas Award” “and Rashtriya Rajbhasha Puraskar”, she has mentored more than 10,000 individuals from different walks of life.
Her latest venture “LIFE LEMONADE” offers Corporate Training Workshops under four verticals: Life Transformation, Women Empowerment, Parenting, and Leadership & Motivation.
She is married to noted Actor-Poet, Shailesh Lodha. She lives in Mumbai with her husband and daughter.
Bharat Gaurav Mr Tejinder Sharma - Pravasi Hindi Story Writer
Tejinder Sharma is the best-known Pravasi Hindi story writer. His unique style of story-telling has given prominence and respectability to the Hindi literature written by the Indian Diaspora settled in the western hemisphere. He is a much-decorated writer whose stories have been prescribed in the syllabus of various universities in India.
Born in Jagraon (Punjab) on 21st October 1952 Tejinder did his schooling and higher degrees in Delhi. He obtained a Masters's degree in English literature from the University of Delhi. His father Shri Nand Gopal Mohla was a prolific writer of literature in Urdu and Punjabi languages. It can safely be said that Tejinder had inherited the art of writing through his genes.
Tejinder had a deep influence on his mother Suraksha Sharma who taught him the art of living posh with bare minimum means. She is a God-fearing woman with a great belief in traditions and culture. While Tejinder inherited his writing skills from his father, he learned the art of singing from his mother who herself was a soulful singer in her youth.
Hard work is the hallmark of Tejinder’s entire personality. He completed his BA Honours and MA degrees while he was working full-time at the Bank of India. While working full-time in the Bank and studying in the evening college, Tejinder had a meaningful stint with the All India Radio and Doordarshan as a drama voice. He learned the art of voice modulation while acting in Radio Plays.
Tejinder has always been involved with theatre, television, and films. He has had the honour of being a part of the writing team which created the first-ever daily soap of India “Shanti” produced by UTV.
The Bank could not hold the flight of imagination of Tejinder and he decided to join Air India as a Flight Purser.
Tejinder, as a flight Purser, had a chance to see the entire world. Places that he had only heard of were now within his reach. With his charming personality, it was not difficult for him to be chosen as the best Assistant Flight Purser in Air India and soon he became a part of Prime Minister Rajive Gandhi’s VVIP select crew. As a VVIP crew member, he had a chance to visit idyllic places like Cuba, the Bahamas and Bermuda.
Mumbai gave them a chance for Tejinder to try and enjoy his passion for acting. He acted in a number of stage plays, TV dramas and in a movie “Abhay” in which he was pitted against Nana Patekar.
He was married to Indu who was a PhD. Scholar in Hindi. Naturally, the English Bard had a strong influence on his beautiful wife and he started penning stories in Hindi. She was his first reader, critic and teacher. She gave him the best gifts of life Deepti a daughter and Mayank a son. She succumbed to cancer in 1995 and Tejinder was again stranded on a crossing in life.
He decided to bring the children to the United Kingdom and start a new life. He joined the BBC World Service Radio as a newsreader in Hindi. By now he had already published three collections of short stories.
In London, he soon became an integral part of the Hindi language and literary activities. He established an award in memory of his late wife — International Indu Sharma Katha Samman. Tejinder (as the General Secretary of Katha UK) holds this award function every year in the House of Commons / House of Lords in which a writer from India and a writer from the United Kingdom are honored with Katha UK awards. Mr. Barry Gardiner MP, Mr. Tony McNulty MP, Mr. Virendra Sharma MP, Lord Tarsem King of Bromwich, Councillor ZakiaZubairi, Councillor K.C. Mohan, and the Indian High Commissioner take an active part in this award function.
Tejinder has held many events in Hindi in the Nehru Centre (The cultural wing of the Indian High Commission). He has organized book launches, story-reading sessions, one-act plays, and talks to bring the Diaspora together and understand the fundamentals of living as a cohesive part of their adopted country.
Tejinder has directed short-story writing workshops in London, Birmingham, Nottingham, Toronto (Canada), and India. He has also organized Pravasi Hindi Seminars in Yamuna Nagar (Haryana), Delhi, and Mumbai.
Tejinder’s stories have become a part of the curriculum of various universities of India. Even the UGC has made one of his stories a part of the curriculum for the BA Honours Hindi program.
Bharat Gaurav Meera Gandhi - Founder The Giving Back Foundation - USA
Meera is the CEO and Founder of The Giving Back Foundation. She is an International community leader, committed humanitarian, and philanthropist dedicated to solutions to human suffering and deprivation around the globe. The Foundation is based in NY and also has offices in India, HK, and London.
Transformational Education of the girl child is the primary mission of the Giving Back Foundation.
The second arm is to act as a platform for positive dialogue and debate for young people to promote positive social change.
The three-arm announced this year is the spiritual arm “mindfulness “. To the end — a yoga all-day camp will commence on 17th July 2016 in upstate NY, moving to other destinations in the USA, India, and across the globe.
The Giving Back Foundation supports many entities with scholarships and grants which have been very carefully selected, and most often with 5-year commitments. The children of St. Michael’s School in India are being provided with meals on a daily basis and have had their entire school and its grounds refurbished as part of the 5-year commitment of The Giving Back Foundation.
The Giving Back Foundation and Meera Gandhi have received numerous awards over the year from all over the world. But most recently — She has received the Humanitarian Award of the Year from the Mayor’s Office of the City of NY in 2015, The Ellis Island Gold Medal Award in 2015, the Marc Anthony Maestro cares Humanitarian award in 2015 which President Bill Clinton was award last week in February of 2016.
Bharat Gaurav Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar - Humanitarian Leader
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a humanitarian leader, a spiritual teacher, and an ambassador of peace. His vision of a stress-free, violence-free society has united millions of people the world over through service projects and the courses of The Art of Living. He is frequently referred to simply as “Sri Sri” or as Guruji or Gurudev.
Born on 13 May 1956 in Papanasam, Tamil Nadu, Southern part of India to Visalakshi Ratnam and R. S. Venkat Ratnam. Gurudev was a gifted child. Gurudev was named “Ravi” (meaning “sun”) because his birth was on a Sunday and “Shankar” after the eighth-century Hindu saint, Adi Shankara because it was also Shankara’s birthday. By the age of four, Gurudev was able to recite the Bhagavad Gita, an ancient Sanskrit scripture, and was often found in meditation. He holds degrees in, both, Vedic literature and physics.
Gurudev’s first teacher was Sudhakar Chaturvedi, an Indian Vedic Scholar and a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. Gurudev holds a Bachelor of Science degree from St. Joseph’s College of Bangalore University. After graduation, Gurudev traveled with his second teacher, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, giving talks and arranging conferences on Vedic science, and set up Transcendental Meditation and Ayurveda centers.
In the 1980s, Gurudev initiated a series of practical and experiential courses in spirituality around the globe.
In 1982, Gurudev entered a ten-day period of silence in Shimoga located in the Indian state of Karnataka. The Sudarshan Kriya, a powerful breathing technique, was born. With time, the Sudarshan Kriya became the centerpiece of the Art of Living courses.
Bharat Gaurav Dr Ananthram Shetty - Expert of stem technology, United Kingdom
Dr Ananthram Shetty is one of the leading knee and Limb Reconstruction surgeons in the United Kingdom.
He is recognised as one of the world's experts in the application of stem cell technology to treat patients.
He has been awarded the prestigious Hunterian Surgical Medal and Hunterian Professorship for 2017 by the Royal College of Surgeons of England, London.
Named after the pioneering surgeon scientist John Hunter and dating back over two centuries, this continues to be a highly regarded and prestigious award within the field of surgery and is awarded annually. The honour of delivering the Hunterian lecture is regarded by surgeons around the world as a great privilege and a high accolade awarded to recognize their work. Subsequently, he was appointed to the prestigious position of Senior Tutor in Orthopaedics at the London deanery (London University) and he is the first Indian to hold this position.
His main interest is Stem cell research, cartilage transplant, complex bone repair, and the application of computer navigation and robotics in minimally invasive surgery. He treats some of the top national and international sports people and celebrities.He has published many papers and authored a few books. His recent book published by Springer entitled“Techniques in Cartilage Repair Surgery” is a great success and listed in the top 10 books published by Springer. He has delivered many national and international lectures.
His work has been extensively covered by BBC, Sky, Fox, Star and Hi-Tech Euro News. He is also been covered by respected print media like the Telegraph, Daily Mail, Times of India and News Week. He has been featured in the BBC hospital Heroes series carrying out some of the minimally invasive surgical techniques at the Kings’ College Hospital, London. He has won many awards including the Fred Heatleyresearch award, British Indian Orthopaedic Association (BIOS UK) research award.
Professor Ananthram Shetty was the winner of the 2011 Laing & Buisson Surgical Innovation award in the UK. Prof. Shetty was recognised at the prestigious Laing & Buisson innovation award for his pioneering work on Cartilage and bone regeneration. He appears in the list of innovators compiled by the Royal Society of Medicine, London, the UK which includes some of the Nobel Laureates
Recently his work on limb-saving surgery has been aired on ITV news and one of the inventions is exhibited in the Hunterian museum at the Royal College of Surgeons of England. He is a contributor to the health programme on Zee TV.
Dr Shetty is involved with charitable work in Africa and the Indian subcontinent, which involves both teaching and treating patients free of charge.
He is an artist and a keen photographer. He enjoys classical music in his free time. He lives with his wife and daughter in Hempstead village near Gillingham. His daughter is a classical musician and is currently pursuing her research in Stem cells for her PhD.
Bharat Gaurav Dr Rami Ranger- Founder of Sun Mark
Rami’s story is a fascinating one, which is not only interesting but also inspiring. Rami is a posthumous child who was born two months after the assassination of his illustrious father, Shaheed Nanak Singh who was against the breakup of India on the basis of religion. He said “India’s unity and diversity are like the colours of a rainbow, if one were removed, its charm and beauty would be diminished “
Today Rami is the Chairman of Sun Mark Ltd and Sea, Air & Land Forwarding Ltd, two of Britain’s fastest-growing companies. They sustain thousands of British jobs with their export activities. Both of his companies have received prestigious awards from Her Majesty the Queen, the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement 1999 and the Queen's Award for Enterprise in International Trade. No other company in Britain has received this accolade to date and in the process, his company has set a new British business record.
In 2005 Rami was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for his services to British Business and the Asian Community. He is a man of vision and works tirelessly to raise the profile of Asians in Britain and he has launched many groundbreaking initiatives to strengthen democracy and social cohesion in Britain.
Rami is also a founder member of the Hindu Forum Britain which was set up to unite all the different Hindu Organizations in Britain under one umbrella so that they could project a cohesive voice to British government departments. He felt that it was essential for the public to know about the Hindu religion otherwise they would continue to portray Hindu deities in derogatory ways such as on carrier bags, shoes, T-Shirts etc. This would also damage the self-esteem of Hindus. He organized the first-ever prestigious Hindu Ball at the Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, London to celebrate Hindu culture and its contribution to enriching British society. The Ball helped the local population understand more about this peace-loving community and helped stop people from using images of Hindu deities frivolously.
Rami believes in supporting education and helping to provide better facilities for students. He has a clear message on this and says that if it had not been for his mother being an educated woman, he would not be where he is today. To support this he donated £250,000 to London South Bank University to set up a fund for Enterprise Excellence and to establish the Dr Rami Ranger CBE Centre for Graduate Entrepreneurship which provides a hub and workspace for students and graduates on enterprise programmes. The centre was opened by The Rt. Hon. Theresa Villiers, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. He has donated £40,000 to the University of West London towards a new group pavilion in the campus library to enhance the facilities for the university students.
Rami’s contribution to both business and education were further recognised when he was appointed by the UK government to be an Apprenticeship Ambassador. This is a new body whose main aim is to spearhead the drive to engage new employers to commit to apprenticeship delivery in England and to increase opportunities for young people in Britain through introducing them to a wider range of opportunities.
Rami donated £100,000 to the Gandhi Memorial Foundation Trust which raised funds to erect a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Parliament Square, London. Rami was quoted as saying “The world owes Gandhiji a huge debt of gratitude for liberating one fifth of mankind through non-violence thereby creating a better world”.
Rami also supports many worthy causes. As a patron of the ‘Great Walk’ undertaken by the Chairman of the India Association UK. He has helped raise £100,000 for research into the cure for AIDS and cancer for the Northwick Park and St. Marks Hospitals in Harrow. He has also helped to raise £25,000 for the charity Help the Heroes. He donated £25,000 to the Indian Gymkhana to build accommodation for athletes. He helped raise £20,000 through walk for heart and stroke campaign at Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow.