If one needs to look around to see how passionate a person can be, who is always ready to help people in need, especially to the people from his humble native place. The people in need could be the new migrants to New Zealand or someone struggling for survival in their personal sphere. From past 4-5 decades there is one individual who is always ready to lend a hand to those in need.
Roshan Nauhria will turn 77 years soon but there no dearth in his energy and the passion that he has carried through all these years, and which is close to five decades now. He has helped hundreds of young children in their studies and in shaping their careers and future and is now supporting a large number of families in need with groceries and fresh vegetables since Corona struck last year. During Covid lockdowns and shutdowns he organised to supply all the required goods for survival delivered to over 1,000 people to their homes. In 2009, he opened a charitable super medical hospital in his hometown at Dharamkot in Punjab, for which he took the late Prime Minster David Lange along with him to do the opening. He still supports this hospital financially, for its day to day running expenses. Whatever you have read about him so far, may appear like a fiction story or glorification of a person then let me tell you that this is not even half of the amazing work this great visionary and the philanthropist has done so far and continues doing.
Roshan Nauhria was the man who first saw the dream of having a Hindu temple for the Hindu community in New Zealand in 1986. He, along with his 4-5 likeminded friends, spared no stone unturned to make that dream a reality, which paved the way for opening of the first Hindu Mandir in New Zealand, Bharatiya Mandir (Indian Temple Inc.), in year 1993. Mr Nauhria was also instrumental in helping build the Gurudwaras in Hamilton. Otahuhu and the Kolmar Road in Papatoetoe and he has been a member of ISCON temple in Kumeu. Mr Nauhria regularly does charities in New Zealand and in India and helps several organisations and charity shows financially every year. Its not surprising that his great work for the communities have recognised time to time. In year 2009 he was featured in top 100 Indians Businesspeople of all time and later appointed as Member New Zealand Order of Merit by Queen Elizabeth II, in 2010.
Roshan Nauhria is a qualified Electrical Engineer and has been serving New Zealand’s construction industry for almost forty years. Last week Roshan Nauhria added yet another feather to his cap when he received the coveted Kiwi-Indian Hall of Fame award from the Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern, on Wednesday 16th June, at a glittering function at the Cordis hotel. The program was well attended by over 500 people from different walks of life including business leaders, politicians, High Commissioner of India Muktesh Pardeshi, Hon Consul of India Bhav Dhillon, and many others. Mr Nauhria’ s good friend and former National Party MP, Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi expressed his happiness on Mr Nauhria receiving the coveted award and wished him for many more of such accolade in future.
We at The Indian News, congratulate Mr Roshan Nauhria on his newest feat and wish him many more recognitions and honours in future. -Yugal Parashar
