‘Her life was a gift to us all’
RICH TRIBUTES PAID TO PARVATIBEN SOLANKI AT POIGNANT FUNERAL SERVICE
PEERS, MPs, and community leaders last week joined hundreds of mourners as the Solanki family bid farewell to their matriach Parvatiben Solanki, cofounder of Garavi Gujarat and the Asian Media Group (AMG).
Mrs Solanki passed away on September 8 aged 86, and her funeral took place at Golders Green, north London, last Saturday (17).
Among the 400 mourners were MPs Barry Gardiner, Seema Malhotra, and Dawn Butler, Lord Andrew Feldman, Lord Karan Bilimoria and Lord Popat.
A message of condolence from Baroness Patricia Scotland (who was unable to attend in person as she had duties as part of the Queen’s funeral service) was read at the funeral.
Scotland praised Mrs Solanki’s “gentleness, kindness, faithfulness, integrity and courage” that all so “quietly but powerfully expressed, left an impression on us all”.
In a letter to the family, she added, “She was your foundation stone. She was central to your lives and, with your father, created an environment in which you all grew and thrived.
“I know you feel it is impossible to imagine life without her. But you will continue in the path she helped set and in time, you will be able to remember her with only a sense of joy and satisfaction. Her life was a gift,
not just to you as a family, but to all those who were privileged to meet her.”
The poignant funeral service was conducted by Nanda Kumara Mattur of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, with readings from the holy Bhagavad Gita, while Bhavit Mehta compered the proceedings.
Kalpesh Solanki, AMG’s group managing director, and Mrs Solanki’s elder son, said, “Mum was the towering strength at the centre of the business and our family. She was our shakti, which means divine power, who enabled my father to do what he was brilliant at.”
He described his mother’s life as one “full of adventure, sacrifice, friendships and love” and noted how Parvati is the Hindu goddess of love, beauty, purity and devotion. “My mother was aptly named Parvati and she embodied all the attributes of a devi [goddess].
“She had immense strength and determination,” he said.
Shailesh Solanki, AMG’s executive editor, said his “pioneer” parents launched Garavi Gujarat at a time when there were few Indians in the UK. They had no financial capital and the technology to publish a Gujarati language newspaper did not exist in the country.
“Theirs is an inspiring story of triumph against the odds,” he said.
Paying tribute to his mother, he added, “She was my father’s confidante, his wise counsel, who possessed a razorsharp business mind, intrinsically understanding every aspect of the publishing business.
“She was the force behind the scenes. My mother had an innate understanding of the role of the newspaper as a powerful voice for Asian communities and as a tribune for equality and justice.
“For my sister, brother and I, we truly stand on
Himalayan shoulders. Everything we are today, everything we have, everything we do – our morals and our values – are down to them.”
In her eulogy, daughter Sadhana Karia recalled how Mrs Solanki raised the family while being involved in running the publishing business.
“You helped to build the Garavi Gujarat empire with Papa, still finding the time to cook and host any number of guests at our home with only a few hours’ notice,” Sadhana said.
She added, “You continued to serve and help all those that needed it, whether they asked or not.
“Each of us and your grandchildren knew we could come to you with any problem without fear or judgement. That didn’t mean you always agreed, but you made us feel understood before guiding us to do the right thing.
“You were a forward thinker and didn’t subscribe to rituals or societal constructs; rather guided by the Arya Samaj teachings of your father or your own logic.”
Along with her late husband Ramniklal, Mrs Solanki helped launch Garavi Gujarat in 1968, which grew and led to the establishment of AMG as Britain’s biggest Asian publishing house.
Today it publishes Eastern Eye, Garavi Gujarat (with editions in the UK and US), Asian Trader, Pharmacy Business, the Asian Rich List and the GG2 Power List.
AMG, which has offices in the UK, the US and India, also hosts several annual gala events celebrating ethnic diversity and leadership in Britain.