Indian media mogul translates honour into help
Cheque accompanying award given to educational charity
One-room schoolhouses in rural India are a far cry from a lavish conference centre in Mississauga, but on Friday night the Canada India Foundation helped bring the two a little closer together.
During its 2016 Awards Gala, the foundation honoured Indian media mogul Subhash Chandra with its Chanchlani Global Indian Award and a cheque for $50,000, to be donated to the charity of his choice. Chandra chose Ekal Vidyalaya, an organization providing schooling in underserved rural Indian communities.
“There are either no schools or they’re not functioning properly,” he said. “This organization started as a movement, more and more people joined and now it’s running 53,000 schools.”
According to Chandra, the organization and area it serves has been expanding steadily — now 7,500 vol- unteers teach in schoolhouses throughout the country, providing basic education to more than 1.5 million children.
“I’m proud and honoured to win this award,” he said.
The Canada India Foundation, which seeks to improve relations between India and Canada, has been handing out the award since 2008.
“It’s the Oscar of Oscars,” quipped Ajit Someshwar, chair of CIF, indicating the crystal globe encompassed in swirling gold arms.
The list of past guests and winners glitters with star power, and includes former president of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Indian-American author Deepak Chopra.
“It’s an award for someone who has made global Indians proud,” said Vipul Jani, director of operations for CIF. “Not just with success in business, but who has made immense contributions to philanthropy and life as well.”
Aself-made man, Chandra now has a net worth of $3.9 billion, Forbes magazine estimates. Sometimes called India’s Rupert Murdoch, he launched the first satellite television channel in India, Zee TV.
“He changed the way people watch TV in India. . . . He always thinks ahead of his time,” said Jani.
Over the past few decades that tiny channel has grown into the fourth largest television group globally. On Friday, Chandra, 65, said his stations are watched by 1.04 billion viewers across 171 countries.
When asked if had any plans to enhance his media presence in Canada, Chandra joked he was open to suggestions, adding, “We are talking to some of our media partners here, like Rogers, and we are looking to expand in this market. It’s a friendly market, I feel comfortable here.”