Billionaire Hasmukh Patel passed away last week in Mombasa, Kenya, at the young age of 58. He was already a celebrity before he died, not because of his net worth but because of his net giving and sharing.
Every day, his charity fed 40,000 people. He started schools, hospitals and community centres, provided housing support and whenever people asked him to donate, he never said no. Born and raised in Kenya in the Swaminarayan Hindu tradition, Hasubhai, as he was fondly known, discovered a higher purpose and meaning in business, which very few are able to accomplish today.
In Gujarati, Hasu means joy, and his charity was delivered with joy, and instead of becoming poorer, he became richer for it. After he died, the whole town stood still when his motorcade passed, and tears were seen in every eye, from children to mothers, African, Indian, Chinese or many other local peoples who were touched somehow by his generosity. His life opened a stairway to heaven for many.
Hasubhai’s life story will now go into the history books. The President of Kenya is attending his funeral and no doubt his sculpture will be moulded to remind all Kenyans of his generosity. The children who have learnt in his schools will have a lifetime to grow and nourish society, and they will be the dividends of his genuine and selfless investment. Let us organise a Philanthropy workshop in all our communities to reflect on the nature and limits of money, and learn how to enjoy the giving of our wealth, instead of becoming constipated by it.
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For him, success was not about accumulation, but about sharing and giving in every which way. Modernity has created a large number of super-wealthy people, but many of them have also become super-insecure, and love to take comfort from their money, and keep making even more. Little do they accept that their wealth is made from the sweat or misfortune of others, and their risks are borne by those whose taxes are deducted directly from their wages. Charity means that the money leaves the investment pool, and also can lead to a loss of control over the donation, so that one cannot tell how it is being used or whether or not it goes for the stated purpose. Distrust grows with wealth, and the obesity of money and its gluttony has multiplied at the same time as the poor and young struggle to feed and clothe themselves, or find a decent job. I know all this from bitter experience of fund-raising.
I too was born in Mombasa, and know the town and its people well – it has a long history of migration and even trade with many countries due to its deep port. It is an island, and islands have that magical quality of bringing the residents closer together, encouraging community and growing interdependence, as opposed to independence and selfishness. Hasubhai is a blend of India and Kenya, two continents who have suffered from colonisation, and been victims of white superiority and exploitation. In spite of this, both nations have grown some of the best entrepreneurs the world has seen, and one of the secrets to their long-term success has been their faith and trust-worthiness.
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As we head towards our major festivals of Navratri and Diwali, let us dig deep into our hearts and minds, and see how much more we can give of our cultural, spiritual, intellectual and material wealth. Let us experience the joy of giving here and now, and not leave it to the after-life or when we retire. Accumulating everything so that we can give to the next generation will only ensure its quickest waste, including a decline in the family name and culture. Visualise the future trajectory of your success, and let it flow, in the here and now. Elevate your life and the wallet will guard itself.
Professor Atul K. Shah [@atulkshah] teaches and writes about Indian wisdom on business, culture and community at various UK universities and is a renowned international author, speaker and broadcaster.