Gratitude to the UK

On 25 August 2025 I will celebrate 50 years in the UK. I arrived at the age of 18 from Nairobi with O Level qualification. The only family member here was Ramesh studying at university. Apart from that my contact was a neighbour from Nairobi with whom I stayed until I found accommodation as a paying guest. The nearest relation was my Mongimami in Leicester who looked after me and my cousin Indrajit was a huge pillar of support.

I found a couple of jobs in photography and thereafter pursued a career in Taxation initially with The Inland Revenue and working with various accountancy firms. I passed The Institute of Taxation exams was granted Chartered status and I became a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA). My gratitude to Francis Hughes for whom I work (currently 33 years) and the late Alan Hills (20 years).

I got married in 1982 to Nileshwari who has managed the household and raised our daughters Avanti and Deepti admirably. Avanti married to Jashinder – children Simran and Ranveer and Deepti married to Darshan - children Premal and Mahi.

I was a member of the MCC for 20 years from 1996 to 2016 and witnessed many exciting matches. I have thoroughly enjoyed playing golf for the last 17 years. I managed a hole in one on 8 September 2012.

LORD’S CRICKET GROUND	ESSENDON THE JOY OF GOLF

I enjoy travelling and nature interests me tremendously. I have through Nilesh Dodhia developed an interest in bird watching. I fulfilled my dream of seeing tigers in the wild during my visit to Kanha National Park (Madhya Pradesh) in 2019. Rutland Water and The New Forest are my favourite places.

THE NEW FOREST	RUTLAND WATER

A huge thanks to Marks & Spencer for meeting my clothing and lunch needs. Clarks shoes for my footwear and latterly Costco. BBC Radio 5 Live for keeping me interested in the English language and giving me the opportunity to use it for a wider purpose. Reading helps a lot in making enjoyable conversations.

I am currently semi-retired and work from April to October. Since 2023 having turned 66 I decided to collect funds from well-wishers and donate towards education in India. I spent 3.5 months on each trip and have met some wonderful individuals who are enthusiastic to serve the educational needs of the less we off children. I feel blessed to serve humanity on a small scale.

I served the Kathiawari Mochi community for 25 years both in London and the UK between the age of 21 to 46. My interest was to promote the community as a vibrant and successful one.

Ramesh and Ella for their contribution to my life. Milan and Gita for looking after me during my visits to Leicester.

A huge thanks to all the people who have been a part of my life. A simple life but well lived despite hardships to navigate. Every day starts with expectations and ends with experience.

My biggest gratitude goes to my late father who left India and settled in Nairobi. After losing our mother in 1961 he brought up four children with no family support and he did not shirk his parental duties despite all these difficult circumstances he faced. In his life he saw truly little happiness apart from his children’s educational success, when they got married and when he became a grandfather.

I claim to be an average man of less than average ability. I have not the shadow of a doubt that anyone can achieve what I have if they would make the same effort and cultivate the same hope and faith. Mahatma Gandhi 

When we leave from here our creation will remain, we do not know what we have created, but whatever we have created is wonderful – Poet Makarand Dave (translated from Gujarati).

I came, I saw but never conquered.

The family have all come up with a description of Dad in an acrostic format: 

J – Jovial nature, always joking- he can talk to anybody/or at any event in a joking manner which brings a smile to people’s faces.

A - Adventure - Dad loves to get on a plane and experience other cultures and countries.

Y – Young at heart – his thirst to learn new things makes him able to converse with young as well as old, keeping all entertained.

K- Kenyan Born – Dad was born and attended school in Nairobi, before moving to the UK in his early twenties, plus he loves his Kenyan chevdo too! 

I – Indian Roots – For those of you that may not know, Jaykishan’s dad is from Khamba, in Gujarat. He is proud of his Indian heritage.

S – His passion for singing, he loves to listen and sing along to Jagjit Singh, Anup Jalota, Pankaj Udhas. He loves to watch Indian Idol.

H – Hobbies, His love for books is great, but his love for sports, particularly cricket and golf is even greater! 

A – Animals, we all know Dad loves tigers, however in the last 15 years, Dad has broadened his passion to other animals; in particular engaging in birdwatching every weekend. 

N – Finally Nileshwari – his lifelong supportive partner over the last 40 years