Indian expat gets Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award

He received the award for the year 2014 from the Vice President of India, Hamid Ansari, in the presence of India’s Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, Chief Minister of Gujarat, Anandiben Patel.

Bharat Bhai Shah received the award for the year 2014 from the Vice President of India, Hamid Ansari, in the presence of India’s Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj - Supplied Photo

Dubai: Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, one of India’s most-coveted recognition for stars of Indian diaspora, has been given to the prominent overseas Indian community leader, Bharat Bhai Shah, for his invaluable services in Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the UAE over the past six decades, by Vice President of India at a ceremony in Ahmedabad on January 9.

He received the award for the year 2014 from the Vice President of India, Hamid Ansari, in the presence of India’s Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, Chief Minister of Gujarat, Anandiben Patel, at the ceremony attended by a large number of celebrities and dignitaries.

He is the ninth recipient of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award from the UAE since 2003.

The others who received the award from the UAE since its inception in 2003 include M A Yusuf Ali (2005), Syed Salahuddin (2007), Dr B.R Shetty (2007), K. Kumar (2008), Dr J.R Gangaramani (2009), Dr Azad Moopen (2010), Mohan Jashanmal (2011) and Bava Pandalingal (2013).

Bharat Bhai, 83 is considered a fatherly figure for the Indian expatriates in Dubai, said: “I am very happy to receive the award in my own state of Gujarat where I am known for my services to humanity, particularly in times of calamities. What I am today is only because of my hard work and passion to serve the public.”

Most members of the Indian community in the UAE felt that the award has come to Bharat Bhai late, but they are happy it has been bestowed on the right person for his commitment and dedication to community work.

On January 6, he received the Jewel of Gujarat award from the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Anandiben Patel, in Ahmedabad. The Jewel of Gujarat award, given for the first time by a private organization, honours prominent Gujaratis from around the world.

Bharat Bhai said his entire life has been spent towards rendering community services to people wherever he resided. In Dubai, his office doors are open for all for 24/7. He is the only person who has a notice outside his office with his telephone numbers and can be contacted even after office hours and on holidays to seek any community help to individuals or organizations.

His latest task undertaken was ensuring that the Indian government allowed NRIs to take home gold ornaments worth Rs100,000 for women and Rs50,000 for men, raising it from Rs20,000 for women and Rs10,000 for men.

Bharat Bhai started his career as a houseboy in Aden, Yemen. He never went to a English school but is known for delivering extempore speech in English. He worked along with Dhirubhai Ambani for a French company in Aden for seven years where he drew Rs225 as salary while Dhirubhai got Rs200 as he was his junior by two years. Dhirubhai founded the hugely-diversified Reliance Group.

Bharat Bhai has previously been honoured with several awards including Prasastri Patra, Most Distinguished NRI of Asian Continent and Golden Elder. He has been featured in several books and TV programmes. He had been featured by the Forbes Middle East magazine in the list of top Indians in the Arab world.

He was also on the list of 60 distinguished Gujaratis of the world published by Chitralekha magazine. He has given 25 lectures at prominent institutions and forums related to NRIs in the UAE and India since 1988. A prominent voice of NRIs in the region, Bharat Bhai is the chairman of Al Mustaneer Trading LLC, a company dealing in building and sanitary materials in Dubai.

His wife, Induben, is also actively involved in charity and humanitarian activities. Their two son, Amar and Ketan, and their wives and four grandsons have remained staunchly dedicated to Gandhian principles – totally vegetarian, non-smokers and teetotalers.

Bharatbhai has been in the forefront of raising funds for people affected by calamities and other social and community upliftment initiatives. He is the Convener of NRI Cell of the Indian Business and Professionals Council, Sharjah, Founder Member of Executive Committee of The Overseas Indians Economic Forum, Dubai, Founder and President of Gujarati Samaj in Dubai and Vice President (International) of Gujarat Vishwa Samaj-Ahmedabad under the patronage of Chief Minister of Gujarat.

• UAE