The City Hindus Network is a non profit-making organisation

Non-profit organization

Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...

 created to promote networking

NetworKing

NetworKing is an educational simulation computer game by NASA for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows and web browsers with the Unity plug-in released in 2011. In NetworKing the player assumes the role of a satellite manager responsible for growing the communications network.-External links:* **...

, education

Education

Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...

 and charity

Charity (practice)

The practice of charity means the voluntary giving of help to those in need who are not related to the giver.- Etymology :The word "charity" entered the English language through the Old French word "charité" which was derived from the Latin "caritas".Originally in Latin the word caritas meant...

 amongst Hindu

Hindu

Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...

 professionals. It was founded in 2005 and its current Chairperson is Pratik Dattani, who took over from founder Dhruv Patel in October 2010. The organisation a member of the Hindu Forum of Britain

Hindu Forum of Britain

The Hindu Forum of Britain is an organization that represents over 275 Hindu groups throughout Great Britain with joint annual income of at least £34 million...

 (HFB) and Hindu Council UK

Hindu Council UK

Hindu Council UK was formed in 1994. It is an umbrella organisation for all Hindus living in the United Kingdom. The Hindu Council UK represents all the Hindu faith denominations, various Hindu communities and Hindus from different parts of the world settled in the United Kingdom.-External links:*...

 (HCUK) British Hindu

Hinduism in the United Kingdom

Hinduism was the religion of 558,342 people in the United Kingdom according to the 2001 census but an estimate in a British newspaper in 2007 has put the figure as high as 1.5 Million....

 umbrella bodies. The CHN is focussed on building closer relationships between professionals working in the City of London

City of London

The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...

 of a Hindu or India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

n background.

History

Following CHN's establishment, it became a member of the HFB and the HCUK (the two major Hindu organisation umbrella bodies in the UK

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

) in 2006. The CHN's first major event was held by the then Mayor of London

Mayor of London

The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...

, Ken Livingstone

Ken Livingstone

Kenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...

, for the British Hindu community, at City Hall

City Hall (London)

City Hall is the headquarters of the Greater London Authority which comprises the Mayor of London and London Assembly. It is located in Southwark, on the south bank of the River Thames near Tower Bridge...

 in London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

.



Since then, the CHN has organised networking events, talks on Hindu philosophy

Hindu philosophy

Hindu philosophy is divided into six schools of thought, or , which accept the Vedas as supreme revealed scriptures. Three other schools do not accept the Vedas as authoritative...

 and spirituality

Spirituality

Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...

, a mentoring

Mentoring

Mentorship refers to a personal developmental relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps a less experienced or less knowledgeable person....

 scheme, charity and volunteering

Volunteering

Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity, intended to promote good or improve human quality of life, but people also volunteer for their own skill development, to meet others, to make contacts for possible employment, to have fun, and a variety of other reasons that could be...

 events for Hindu professionals and taken part in community and government liaison on behalf of the Hindu community. Many of its events have been in conjunction with the accountancy

Accountancy

Accountancy is the process of communicating financial information about a business entity to users such as shareholders and managers. The communication is generally in the form of financial statements that show in money terms the economic resources under the control of management; the art lies in...

 and consulting firms and investment banks in London, alongside other Hindu community partners and charities such as the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies

Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies

The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, founded in 1997, is a Recognised Independent Centre of Oxford University. The Centre is engaged in developing academic programmes of education, research and publishing in the field of Hindu studies...

 (OCHS), Sewa International

SewaVolunteers

SewaVolunteers is a British charity dedicated to the promotion of public service and volunteering.With links to several causes and local groups, members of SewaVolunteers are encouraged to participate in events, campaigns and specific projects that the associated groups and charities put forward.In...

, the Vaishnava Professionals Network (VPN), National Sewa Day, Swadhyay Parivar

Swadhyay Parivar

The Swadhyay Parivar is a group of people in a family setting who study the Vedic scriptures and carry out various activities of self development in a devotional way...

, Children in Need India

Child In Need Institute (CINI)

CINI, known internationally as Child In Need India and in India as the Child In Need Institute, is an international humanitarian organisation aimed at promoting "sustainable development in health, nutrition and education of child, adolescent and woman in need" in India...

, the Asian Foundation for Philanthropy, IndiCorps and Connect India.



The following is a brief overview of the events organised by the CHN since 2006:

• 9 May 2007: Mayor of London’s Reception, at City Hall, London

* 25 February 2010: “Hinduism in the City,” hosted by investment bank Barclays Capital

Barclays Capital

Barclays Capital is a global British investment bank. It is the investment banking division of Barclays plc which has a balance sheet of over £1.2 trillion . Barclays Capital provides financing and risk management services to large companies, institutions and government clients. It is a primary...

 

• 7 August 2010: ‘Day of Leadership from Indian Source, hosted by the OCHS

• 15 September 2010: “Sanksrit: an ancient inspiration for modern society,” hosted by financial corporation State Street

• 21 November 2010: Three events for National Sewa Day, taking place across four London Boroughs

• 24 November 2010: ‘Faith in the Workplace’ multifaith discussion, hosted by law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner
  Berwin Leighton Paisner
  Berwin Leighton Paisner is an international law firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom and a member of the 'Silver Circle' of leading UK law firms. It has nine offices in eight countries around the world, predominantly providing services in corporate, finance, dispute resolution, real estate...
  
  

• 3 March 2011: “Hinduism and Science: Conflict, Co-existence or Cooperation?” hosted by consultancy and outsourcing firm Accenture
  Accenture
  Accenture plc is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company headquartered in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. It is the largest consulting firm in the world and is a Fortune Global 500 company. As of September 2011, the company had more than 236,000 employees across...
  
  

In 2010, the CHN published its Constitution for the first time, which includes its committee rules. In October 2010, Dhruv Patel stepped down as Chairperson and Pratik Dattani took over. The current CHN committee is made up of 8 members from London, including Vice Chair and Treasurer Aekta Mahajan, who has been a committee member since 2006. Click on the links below to read the messages to members from Dhruv Patel and Pratik Dattani in October 2010:

• 26 October 2010: Pratik Dattani introduction email to all members.
• 24 October 2010: Dhruv Patel steps down as Chair and Pratik Dattani appointed.

CHN principles

The CHN Chairperson’s message to members in 2010 upon taking over as Chairperson said: “As Hindus, we have made a large contribution to the economic, cultural and social life of Britain. Hinduism

Hinduism

Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...

 teaches us tolerance and respect for others; it teaches us the importance of family, community and education; it teaches us the fundamental importance of Dharma

Dharma

Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...

 and Sewa

SEWA

The Self-Employed Women's Association of India is a trade union for poor, self-employed women workers in India. SEWA was founded in 1972 by the noted Gandhian and civil rights leader Dr Ela Bhatt. SEWA's main office is located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and it works in several states of India. SEWA...

 in everything we do. Through the City Hindus Network, I want to inspire others to learn more about Hindu philosophical thought, build relationships and networks and contribute to the sustained betterment of our community.”

The CHN Constitution and its website define the following set of principles that each event or association by the CHN must be consistent with:

• Philosophy: Be apolitical and promote the principles of the Sanatan Dharma philosophy and culture.
• Networking: Promote the development of personal relationships and professional growth amongst members.
• Education: Establish education events and a mentoring scheme to provide members with access to experienced professionals.
• Sewa: Provide and promote volunteering and charitable opportunities.
• Solidarity: Promote solidarity amongst Hindus, and promote mutual learning with other beliefs.
• Representation: Represent the socio-economic and political interests of Hindu professionals to governmental and other bodies.