Harshad Patel: A story of four decades of service to the community

Harshad Patel, QSM, a prominent face in the Indian community has been serving the community in Auckland for almost four decades. Mr Patel hails from Gujarat, India. He completed his Bachelors Degree in Chemistry in 1972 and came to New Zealand with his wife in 1974 in search of a better life and career prospective for himself and his family. Here is an excerpt from an exclusive interview with him.

IWK: How did you start your Kiwi journey?

Mr Patel: I started his professional journey here as an officer in bulk tonnage with NZ Railways. Since I was from a chemistry background, I wanted to work in a laboratory. I applied for the relevant jobs in the labs, and after a long struggle, I managed to get the job with NZ Farmers Fertilizer as Research and Development technician. Unlike now, it was tough to get employment in a particular field with qualifications from an Indian institution, as only a few Indian universities and institutions were recognised here. I worked there for a few years before travelling to the UK and India in 1977. After returning from India, I found a job as a laboratory technician with Auckland Regional Authority, which later became Auckland Regional Council.

IWK: How did you connect with the small Indian community here?

Mr Patel: The Indian community was very small when I moved here. There were no temples, few Indian restaurants, and no dedicated community centres except for the Gandhi Hall in the CBD region. We celebrated Indian festivals there with a small number of people from the community.

Music and cricket were two of my passions that acted as a medium to connect and know the wider Indian community here. I started playing cricket and hockey for the Auckland Indians Sports Club and also played instruments such as harmonium, flute, piano, banjo, and accordion at different community events.

Navratri was one of the most popular celebrations for the community, and I started playing music for the event that eventually introduced me to the Auckland Indian Association in 1979. I performed at many community events and festivals, and later in 1984, I was elected as the Chairman of the Entertainment Committee and looked after the portfolio for 21 years.

IWK: How did you contribute towards building a strong Indian community in Auckland?

Mr Patel: The population of the Indian community was growing here, and we realised we needed a bigger place to host our events. I, along with a team of dedicated members, actively participated in raising funds to buy a property and establishing a big community centre. We bought the property from Findlay's Bakery in 1989 and refurbished it to Mahatma Gandhi Centre.

In 1996, I was elected as the vice-president of the Auckland Indian Association and then president of the Auckland Indian Association in 1999. My role as the head of the association was to look out for the community here, address the issues and concerns of the community, and resolve them. I also served as the president of the Pt Chevalier Lion’s Club and helped raise fund during national disasters.

We wanted to another place of worship since the Balmoral Temple constructed in 1993 was the only place of worship for the Indian community. We made a temporary worship place at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre, and in 2001, we demolished the place and constructed the Radha Krishna temple in that place. I also served as the vice president and president of the NZ Indian Central Association, the oldest Indian community organisation of New Zealand.

IWK: How would you describe the four decades of your journey in New Zealand?

Mr Patel: The journey has been fruitful, and I have witnessed how the community has grown to be more than 150,000 now from a mere 5,000 in 1974. Initially, I would feel aloof and alienated as many Indians did, but I am proud to say that I have played a reasonable role in tying the community strong together. I was honoured with the Queen’s Service Medal in 2010 for my services to the Indian community in New Zealand. Making time for my family was challenging when you commit to the community, but my family has stood by me, helping me to perform my duties towards the community and the country as a whole.

IWK: What is your message to the Indian community in New Zealand?

Mr Patel: Remember your roots because that is your identity and this is what you and your children will be known for generations to come. You have adopted New Zealand as your motherland, so perform all your duties and show gratitude to this country for providing you work, respect, and a peaceful multicultural society.