Latest news with #orphaned
The Independent
8 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
Community visibly emotional during candlelit vigil for Air India crash victims
People attending a vigil in London to remember victims of the Air India plane crash became visibly emotional after learning that two young girls had been orphaned by the disaster. Faith leaders from the Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities led the service on Saturday at the Siddhashram Shakti Centre in Harrow, north-west London, where 20 of the victims are thought to have previously worshipped. One of the most emotional moments of the vigil came when Harrow Mayor, Councillor Anjana Patel, shared that two young girls had lost their father in the crash, just weeks after their mother died from cancer. Their father, Arjun Patoliya, had flown to Gujarat to scatter his wife Bharti's ashes following her death. He was returning home to his daughters, aged four and eight, when the plane went down. 'The saddest incident we have got here in Harrow is one parent had already died here because of cancer,' Cllr Patel said, as the crowd audibly gasped. 'The husband went to do the rituals in India and coming back, he was on board. He has left two little girls behind and the girls are now orphans. 'I really hope that those girls will be looked after by all of us.' She added: 'Caring is the most that we can do at this hour. 'We don't have any words to describe how the families and friends must be feeling, so what we can do is pray for them.' She also revealed how her sister-in-law's cousin had been killed in the crash. Local councillors, a local MP and residents packed into the temple for the ceremony, which included emotional tributes, candle lighting, and a message of condolence from the King. Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East, said it was believed to be the highest number of British deaths ever recorded in a plane crash, with 53 UK nationals on board. 'When someone dies in illness or old age, we celebrate their lives,' he said. 'But when an air crash happens – completely unpredictable – people are taken away from us immediately, just like that.' 'We think of all those families sitting by the telephone, wondering if their loved ones were actually on the plane.' He said the Gujarati community in the UK was deeply affected, with victims having links to Harrow, Leicester, Birmingham and beyond. 'The difficulty the authorities have already got is: who are they visiting? Which family members were they coming to see in the UK?' he said. Councillor Hitesh Karia, who represents Pinner South ward and is a member of the temple's congregation, also shared the impact of the tragedy. Speaking to the PA news agency, he said: 'It's nice that the local community can come together – the local support means a lot. 'Twenty devotees that come here have sadly lost their lives.' 'It shows there is a solidarity, and despite the high amount of diversity, we can come together when appropriate.' The vigil was held at the temple led by Shri Rajrajeshwar Guruji, who previously told PA he knew 20 of the victims personally. Many in the hall quietly wept as candles were lit by representatives of all four faiths. 'The only feeling left is sadness – we can't do any more,' Mr Guruji said.
The Independent
a day ago
- General
- The Independent
Young girls orphaned after father dies in Air India plane crash on way back from scattering wife's ashes
Two young sisters have been left orphaned after their father died in the Air India plane crash, just weeks after their mother died from cancer. Arjun Patoliya had travelled to India to hold a funeral for his wife Bharti. After fulfilling his wife's dying wish to scatter her ashes in Gujarat, Mr Patoliya boarded the Air India flight to Gatwick to return home to his two daughters, aged four and eight. The Air India AI-171 flight departed from Ahmedabad airport in the western state of Gujarat at 1.39pm local time (8.09am BST) on Thursday (12 June). However, after issuing a mayday call, it crashed into residential area of Meghani Nagar just five minutes after takeoff, India's civil aviation authority confirmed. All but one of the passengers on the flight died after the Boeing 787 Dreamliner struck a medical college, before bursting into flames. Images and videos from the city showed plumes of smoke pouring from the wreckage of the plane as emergency services rushed to the scene. There were 230 passengers and 12 crew members onboard the aircraft. They included 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese citizens and one Canadian, Air India said. A campaign to raise money for the two girls has been launched by close family and friends, to provide the children with 'security, stability, and love in the years ahead'. 'Now, these two beautiful young girls have been left without parents — their world turned upside down in just over two weeks,' the campaign reads. The GoFundMe campaign has raised over £55,000 of its £300,000 target in the past day. It can be found here. Indian investigators have recovered a second black box from the wreckage of the Air India flight as they continued combing the debris for evidence. The flight data recorder was found just hours after the first black box was discovered on Friday. Rescue workers have finished combing the crash site and were searching for those missing in the buildings as well as for any evidence that can help explain why the plane crashed soon after taking off. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefed by officials on the progress of rescue operations when he visited the crash site in his home state of Gujarat on Friday. Modi also met some of the injured being treated in hospital.
Malay Mail
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Music4Good — An evening with ‘The Polymaths' — Vasanthi Ramachandran
MAY 8 — To be orphaned is a deep and life-altering misfortune, and to live with physical or mental challenges is difficult enough. But when these challenges are met with a lack of support, the impact can be deeply isolating. In a world brimming with voices and visibility, these children remain voiceless, distant from public attention and even farther from opportunity. They need all the help they can get. To be orphaned is a deep and life-altering misfortune, and to live with physical or mental challenges is difficult enough. But when these challenges are met with a lack of support, the impact can be deeply isolating. — Picture via Unsplash/Farhan Abas For nearly 3 decades, Raja Singham, Managing Director and Chief Future Officer of the BAC Education Group, has been an advocate, tireless champion for orphans, people with disabilities, vulnerable and marginalised communities, ensuring they are seen and heard, and their issues addressed Over the weekend, Raja Singham spearheaded Music4Good presenting The Polymaths — a powerful two-day celebration of love, hope and humanity, that successfully raised almost RM210,000 for two very meaningful causes. OrphanAid, a heartfelt nation-building initiative by the BAC Education Group and Uplift and the Society for the Severely Mentally Handicapped (SSMH), and a voluntary welfare organisation that provides specialised care, education, and therapy for children with severe mental and physical disabilities, many of whom require lifelong support. On Saturday, in a striking departure from convention, Music4Good opened with a transparent and meticulous breakdown of how every ringgit was used to fulfil items on the orphanages' wish list. Raja Singham announced how each table's contribution directly supported a specific home — funding everything from basic groceries to essential appliances like fridges, stoves, water heaters, rice cookers, essential groceries. Music4Good was amplified by purpose with the dedicated performers. Sudesh Kumar Nair, the bassist, leads Baycom Malaysia as its CEO. Sundara Raj Ramamurthy, the guitarist, drives digital innovation as Chief Digital Officer at PwC Malaysia and Vietnam. On drums, Siva Ramanathan brought his high-energy presence and leadership as Partner and Chief Growth Officer at Ksher, Azlan Shaharbi commanded the keyboards with the wisdom of three decades of musical experience, and Raja Singham himself, brought his signature energy to the stage as a vocalist and keyboardist. Adding a youthful spark on both days was Singham's daughter Alisha Raja Singham, whose presence reflects how purpose and passion can span generations Percussionist Edwin Nathaniel, Founder of the Aseana Percussion Unit and the RISE programme for children with special needs, also joined the group with heart and meaning, and backup vocalist Lathah, tied it all together with soul and grace. In an age where many chase titles and personal gain, Raja Singham and friends continue to build platforms, initiate movements, and break new ground, sacrificing their time and energy, in service of others. While BAC garnered the Asean Business Awards (Best in CSR) in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021, the Asean Business Awards for Combating Covid-19 in 2020, and Raja Singham was named Education Man of the Year by Brand Laureate, it isn't the accolades that drive him — it's the real, measurable impact on people's lives. At the heart of Raja Singham's mission is a bold ambition: to transform 10 million lives by 2030, with a special focus on education. This concert was one of many ways Raja Singham brings his mission to life, by blending what he loves with what truly matters. Sharing the stage with The Polymaths, a band of professionals who channel their personal passions into purposeful action, the night became a powerful testament to what can happen when people come together for something bigger than themselves. As they wrapped up each night with soul-stirring performances, The Polymaths reminded us all that when passion is paired with purpose, music becomes more than just sound — it becomes a movement. For many of us, signing a cheque offers a comforting illusion, we have done our part, fulfilled our duty, and can move on. But real charity doesn't end with a transaction. It begins there. True giving demands engagement, accountability and presence. Yet we often look away — not because we do not care, but because facing the full picture asks more of us. Perhaps, the next time we give, we should stay for the story, ask the hard questions, and ensure our giving reflects not just kindness, but involvement. * This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
