COVER STORY
You were born in the year World
War 2 ended and also the same day
The United Nations came into exis-
tence. What does this symbolise to
you personally?
We all come here with a purpose,
a special contribution we came to
make. My purpose in life was defined
the day I was born, which coincided
with the day the United Nations came
into existence and the year World War
2 ended. This made my parents tell
me that I was responsible for world
peace. As a gullible child I believed
them and so working towards world
peace became the raison d’etre of my
existence.
This is of paramount importance in
today’s dangerously devisive world.
Peter (Pece) Giorgievski, the CEO
and Co-Founder of GDF asked me
to become the Vice Chairperson.
We are working together to build
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Foundation.
You are renowned for practising
business in a fair and credible way.
What is the key to you achieving
this?
As a kid I used to broker peace
between children in our neighbor-
hood when they had their juvenile
fights.
Immediately after 9/11, Ram
Maheshwary, the then Director of
the Times Group inducted me as the
first Chairperson of the Women’s
Movement for Peace and Prosperity
under the aegis of the Times
Foundation. This was founded on
the premise that if a voice is given to
the voiceless women, there would be
no wars.
Women work through compassion
and if given a chance through gender
equality, non violence would prevail
in the home, the work environment
and the world.
An opportunity arose when Mike
Handcock, Chairperson of Rock
Your Life asked me to join Global
Dialogue Foundation, (GDF) an
international organization based in
Melbourne. Working in collaboration
with the United Nation’s Alliance of
Civilizations, GDF tries to bring all cul-
tures and communities of the world
together through Unity in Diversity.
Peace Gardens, Unity in Diversity
Campuses, and Unity in Diversity
Companies. The ultimate dream is
to build United Civilizations head-
quartered in India. Just as the United
Nations works at the Government
level, United Civilizations will work
at the grass roots level, and the third
pillar for bringing people together
would be United Religions. I remember asking my mother- in-
law the secret of my father-in-law’s
fearlessness. Her reply was simple.
“He is not afraid of anyone because
he is honest.” In human relationships
and businesses, trust and ethics
is the basis of a solid foundation.
Companies that believe in fair play
are respected, loved and successful.
The others fall by the wayside.
It amazes me no end that my birth
coincided with the creation of the
United Nations, and now I will be
instrumental in starting United
Civilizations which could be even
more powerful than the United
Nations as it is a citizens movement. The Thadomal Shahani Trust
received the Jamnalal Bajaj Award for
Fair Business Practices at the hands
of the late President of our country,
Dr. Abdul Kalam, with former Chief
Justice Sreekrishna as one of the
judges. This is one of the most pres-
tigious awards that an organization
can receive.
Can you imagine a world filled with
love, peace and harmony. What a
beautiful legacy we would leave
behind for our children. I received
the Global Peace Award 2016 for my
work connected with Global Dialogue
The Trust also institutionalised the
Ethical Excellence Awards on the
occasion of our Founder’s Centenary
Year Celebrations. The first recipients
LEAD | January 2018