The Hinduja Group plays a prominent role in global economy and contributes significantly to the development of several countries.
The changing course of time can be understood by looking at the current economic and political scenario in Britain. There was a time when England ruled over India, dictated our budget, and even during the horrifying famine (1943), Indian grain was taken to feed hungry British soldiers, resulting in the death of millions. But today, Britain depends on people of Indian origin for its fundamental institutions, with close to £36 billion worth of business relations, along with contributions in the country’s banking, healthcare, education, hotel industry, and other essential sectors. Indian-origin professionals play a vital role. These relations also have a profound impact on the country’s politics.
The Prime Minister and 15 Members of Parliament of Indian origin take pride in being Hindus. Over the past 45 years, I have had several opportunities to visit Britain, either on private trips or at the invitation of the British government or Indian Prime Ministers. This time, after a considerable interval, I had the opportunity to go on a two-week private journey, which resulted in many pleasant experiences and provided a glimpse of India’s growing social and economic influence. During the trip, I also had the opportunity to have discussions with various experts from different fields, including Mark Runacres, who has previously served in India, and Amish Tripathi, the Director of the Nehru Center and a renowned author.
In London, a significant transformation was witnessed this month with the unveiling of a grand hotel, the “Raffles” Hotel. I spent two hours in the hotel’s coffee shop, only to discover that the historic “Old War Office” building has been acquired by the Hinduja family, an Indian-origin group led by G.P. Hinduja. The Hinduja brothers had previously purchased a substantial residence with 25 bedrooms on Carlton House Terrace in London in 2006 for $58 million. They also acquired the former wartime office of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill eight years ago. The former “Old War Office,” which is located in Whitehall Building in London, was once the wartime office of Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The Hinduja Group, in collaboration with Raffles Hotels, has transformed this historic building into a luxury residence, restaurant, and spa. The construction of the Old War Office was completed in 1906 and designed by British architect William Young. Throughout history, this building served as the offices of several influential leaders, including Winston Churchill and David Lloyd George. This building has also been featured in several James Bond film series and was recently shown in the Netflix series “The Crown.” The new hotel offers 120 rooms and suites for guests, featuring a large ballroom and renowned chef Marco Calogero preparing meals for visitors. Within this hotel, a heritage suite has been created in the place where great leaders once had their offices. The historic building houses 85 luxury flats, nine restaurants, and three bars.
Winston Churchill is often considered a villain in India due to his responsibility for the devastating Bengal Famine of 1943, which resulted in the deaths of millions due to a shortage of grain. Churchill, during World War II, diverted grain from Bengal to support his soldiers, leading to the severe food shortage. This is why the purchase of his former office by a family of Indian origin and its conversion into a luxury hotel is both intriguing and significant. Currently, Britain is facing economic challenges as well. Many British royal properties and government buildings are being sold, while people of Indian origin are increasingly purchasing properties in London and other cities. The British government is encouraging investment and business expansion in the UK by groups like Hinduja, Tata, and Ambani, in order to create more employment opportunities for their people.
The Hinduja brothers top the list of Britain’s wealthiest individuals. According to “The Sunday Times” rich list in London, it is estimated that the Hinduja brothers have a fortune of £28.472 billion. They have had associations with prominent figures from around the world, including former Iranian Shah, former U.S. President George Bush Senior, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. They have also maintained positive relationships with leaders ranging from Indira Gandhi to current Prime Minister Narendra Modi and various party leaders. After the recent passing of his brother Srichand P. Hinduja, 83-year-old Gopichand P. Hinduja has assumed the position of Chairman of the Hinduja Group. A senior British politician has informally mentioned that Gopichand Hinduja is a respected businessman and a philanthropist. He is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Business and Competitiveness and a trustee of the Hinduja Foundation, which supports various charitable causes in India and around the world. The Hinduja Group is a multinational conglomerate with interests in a wide range of industries, including automotive, energy, finance, and healthcare services. The group operates in over 60 countries and provides employment to more than two hundred thousand people.
The Hinduja Group was founded by the Indian businessman Parmanand Deepchand Hinduja in 1914 in undivided India. The group initially focused on trade and finance, but it soon expanded into other industries like manufacturing, energy, and healthcare services. In recent years, the Hinduja Group has seen significant growth and is now one of the world’s largest privately-owned companies. The Hinduja Group plays a prominent role in global economy and contributes significantly to the development of several countries. The Hinduja Group is known to have a strong belief in finance and trading. As far as the group is concerned, they believe in one thing, that is, what we have to give. Everything belongs to everyone. In the group, it is believed that everything belongs to everyone, and nothing really belongs to anyone.
On the other hand, the group’s perspective on the economic development of India and Britain is that the future is green, stable, and electric vehicles. They believe that the old economy has ended, and things have changed. Therefore, they do not confine themselves to just one business. They have approximately 11 technology companies. They are particularly focused on cybersecurity. The company is called CyQureX, and the future of cybersecurity looks very promising. Certainly, this group has developed over the past 100 years and will continue to grow in the future. Gopichand Hinduja, the Chairman of the Hinduja Group, has stated on economic platforms that India can achieve a 5 trillion-dollar economy by 2024. However, to rapidly progress towards this goal, there is a need to change the bureaucratic system, similar to the British era. Hinduja has mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken excellent steps to boost the economy, and his vision is remarkable, but his team needs to perform at a faster pace. His company wants to invest more in India, as compared to other countries, India offers the most opportunities.
The writer is editorial director of ITV Network—India News and Dainik Aaj Samaj.