Kutch temple leader mourned

A PROMINENT member of the Kutch community in the UK and the Swaminarayan Mandir at Stanmore passed away earlier this month.

Founder trustee and president of the Dharmabhakti Manor Swaminarayan Mandir at Stanmore, in north west London, Bhimjibhai Mavjibhai Bhudia, passed away on January 13. He was a follower of Nar Narayan Dev Gadi and Pujya Acharya Shri and played an key role in the establishment of the temple.

Bhimjibhai was from Fotdi village in Kutch, India, and lived in Kenya before arriving in the UK.

With the blessings of Shri Tejendra Prasad Ji Maharaj, he contributed to Satsang activities of the Nar Narayan Dev Gadi-Swaminarayan Sampraday and was known for his service to the community.

His efforts were not limited to the UK; he helped spread satsangs in Australia, Africa and the US.

During the pandemic, Bhimjibhai, along with other temple workers and leaders, arranged for 150,000 meals to be provided to the elderly, the sick and those shielding at home. He also helped raise £80,000 from the Stanmore Swaminarayan Temple and satsangis for the Northwick Park Hospital and Watford Hospital in London.

Community and faith leaders recalled that Bhimjibhai dreamed of building a new primary school in the temple premises and sought planning permission for it.

He also hoped to set up a day centre for the elderly in the community in the temple. Among his other ambitions was to develop a takeaway restaurant in the temple so that devotees and visitors could enjoy a vegetarian meal. Bhimjibhai is survived by his three sons.