Press Release: Hinduism In The City Event
CANARY WHARF, LONDON, 25 FEBRUARY 2010 – The City Hindus Network, in conjunction with the Barclays Capital Cultural Awareness Network, tonight presented Hinduism in the City, an event exploring the role and impact of Hinduism in the City of London.
Dixit Joshi, Managing Director and Head of Equities for Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific at Barclays Capital, hosted the event at the Barclays Bank PLC headquarters in Canary Wharf. The special guest speaker for the evening was Shaunaka Rishi Das, Director of the Oxford Centre of Hindu Studies.
This event, which was attended by around 250 City professionals from the Hindu community as well as leading businessmen and community leaders, examined concepts such as:
- Holistic thinking: Looking at the bigger picture within organisations and markets
- Your next life: Benefits of long term over short term planning
- Dynamism: Working to build effective relationships
The proceedings were filmed by Zee TV for their Out & About programme and after speeches, Dixit and Shaunaka were joined for a panel discussion and Q&A by Ramona Mehta, a Partner at law firm Mischcon de Reya.
Dixit Joshi said ‘Barclays Capital was delighted to host this event exploring the role and impact of Hinduism in the City, and to show our support for the City Hindus Network. We share with the network a firm belief that it is through diversity and meritocracy that we are better able to achieve our goals. With overwhelming demand and a very impressive attendance, it is clear that the voice of City Hindus is now more relevant than ever and we welcome the opportunity to ensure that voice is heard.’
Shaunaka Rishi Das said ‘It is very encouraging to see Hindus in the City begin to explore what unique contributions they may bring to their professions. This is a healthy development driven by a generation of British Hindus. By opening such broad dialogues about principles and values they exemplify the pluralism of their tradition. I am very inspired that the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies can be a part of such a positive initiative.’
Dhruv Patel, Founder and Chair of the City Hindus Network, said ‘This is the biggest event that the City Hindus Network has been involved in, I believe this event is the first event to be held at an investment bank specifically for our community that has been supported by the most senior banker in the City from our community. It has provided the City Hindus Network with the opportunity to further our aims of building unity and community spirit and has given us the chance to invoke further interest from our professionals in Hindu philosophy and culture.’
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Photograph shows from left to right: Dipesh Patel, Barclays Capital Cultural Awareness Network; Dhruv Patel, Founder and Chair, City Hindus Network; Ramona Mehta, Partner, Mishcon de Reya; Dixit Joshi, Managing Director and Head of Equities for Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, Barclays Capital; Shaunaka Rishi Das, Director, Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies.
The CITY HINDUS NETWORK (CHN) is non-profit organisation with a membership of around 750 professionals who mainly work in the financial services and related industries in the City of London and Canary Wharf. Its activities include organising around three or four major events each year, consultation with local and national governmental bodies and other non-governmental organisations, running a mentoring scheme for its members and promoting volunteering and charity work to them. It was founded and is chaired by Dhruv Patel.
DIXIT JOSHI is a Managing Director and Head of Equities, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific at Barclays Capital. He is a member of the Equities Executive and Management Committees. Prior to taking on his current position in October 2008, Dixit was the Head of Equity-Linked Products and led the growth of the Equity Derivatives business since joining the firm in November 2003.
Prior to Barclays Capital, Dixit spent eight years at Credit Suisse First Boston. He was most recently Managing Director and Head of Equity Index Arbitrage and Quantitative Trading for Europe and Asia. Prior to that, he served as Chief Risk Officer for CSFB’s Equity Derivatives and Convertibles Unit based in New York, and before that Head of Equity Derivatives Exotic Trading based in London. When he joined CSFB in 1995 he was in the derivatives subsidiary, Credit Suisse Financial Products. In April 2008 he was re-appointed a board member of ISDA (International Swaps and Derivatives Association) which is among the world’s largest global financial trade associations and is an Equities Board Member of the Association for Financial Markets in Europe. He serves as a board member of the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African Art in Washington, DC and is also President of the Advisory Board for National Sewa Day, a social action and volunteering initiative for community. Dixit holds a degree in Statistics and Actuarial Science from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.
BARCLAYS CAPITAL is the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC. With a distinctive business model, Barclays Capital provides large corporate, government and institutional clients with a full spectrum of solutions to their strategic advisory, financing and risk management needs. Barclays Capital has offices around the world, employs over 23,000 people and has the global reach, advisory services and distribution power to meet the needs of issuers and investors worldwide.
The OXFORD CENTER FOR HINDU STUDIES (OCHS) is an academy for the study of Hindu culture, society, philosophies, and languages, in all periods and in all parts of the world. It is dedicated to preserving India’s cultural heritage and promoting a better understanding of it through a comprehensive programme of education, publishing, and research. It is a Recognised Independent Centre of Oxford University, maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, originality, and excellence. Shaunaka Rishi Das has been its Director since its inception in 1997.
Media Contact:
Dhruv Patel