Remembering Gopichand Hinduja: The wealth of giving

As the world mourns a billionaire, a glimpse into the man who valued people over profits

- SUNDEEP BHUTORIA

The news of Gopichand Hinduja’s passing brings with it a quiet sadness. It’s the kind that settles in when you lose someone whose warmth transcends business empires and balance sheets. GP, as he was known to all who had the privilege of his friendship, left us on Tuesday in London. But what he left behind is far greater than the £35 billion fortune that crowned him Britain's richest man.

I will always remember GP not for his business achievements, but his gentle spirit.

My memory travels back to a summer evening in July 2016, at the House of Lords. I was attending a reception and as is often the case at such parliamentary gatherings, I wasn't expecting my taste of food. I had already requested my hotel to keep dinner ready for my return.

But that evening surprised me. It was the first time Indian cuisine had been served at the House of Lords. Pulao, aloo dam, dal, paneer bhaji, papadam, and raita had never tasted better.

Seated at my table were Baroness’s Lords and hotelier Ramesh Arora, the High Commissioner of Uganda, and GP himself. What struck me that evening wasn't just the food, but the company. Here was one of the world’s wealthiest men, completely at ease, sharing a vegetarian meal and conversation with equal warmth whether speaking to a baroness or a visiting friend from Kolkata.

That was GP. No airs. No fuss. Just a genuine man, looking for a genuine conversation. From Mumbai to the world

Born into a Sindhi trading family in Mumbai, GP was the second of four brothers. Barely an adult, he was sent to Iran to run the family’s business after graduating from Jai Hind College. In later years, he would recall this moment as being pivotal in providing him with a grassroots understanding of business.