Indian-origin man quits lucrative job in Dubai to serve at BAPS Abu Dhabi Temple in UAE
According to reports, Vishal Patel quit his job in Dubai last year, i.e. in 2023, to serve as a full-time volunteer at the BAPS Temple in Abu Dhabi.
BAPS Abu Dhabi Temple: It was a great occasion for the Hindu community in the UAE when the first Hindu temple was inaugurated in Abu Dhabi on February 14 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Muslim Gulf country.
Now one of the devotees, a 43-year-old investment banker of Indian origin, has quit his high-paying job in Dubai to serve as a full-time volunteer at the BAPS Temple in Abu Dhabi.
The Indian-origin investment banker, identified as Vishal Patel, is a second-generation expat from Gujarat who grew up in London, UK and worked at the Dubai International Financial Centre. He has previously held positions at leading investment banks and hedge funds, The Khaleej Times reported on Monday.
Some reports say that Vishal Patel left his job in Dubai last year, i.e. in 2023, to serve as a full-time volunteer at the BAPS Temple in Abu Dhabi.
Speaking about his close association with the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha since his childhood, Vishal said their Mandir in London has been a guiding light in his life.
“Supporting this (Abu Dhabi) Mandir has allowed me to make a meaningful impact on society and participate in efforts that contribute to the greater good. This opportunity was too big to pass up,” Vishal, who has been living in the UAE since 2016, told The Khaleej Times.
He now serves as head of communications for the temple on a volunteer basis, overseeing several responsibilities, including media relations and strategic communications, and handling errands such as installing protective fencing at the construction site and serving food to guests.
Vishal took an active part in the temple construction process and said several other volunteers like him are willing to give up their jobs to serve at the BAPS Sanstha, says The Khaleej Times.
“Our spiritual leaders, Pramukh Swami Maharaj and Mahant Swami Maharaj, have left a lasting impact on young minds and inspired many to donate their time and efforts from all corners of the world,” he said.
After graduating with a degree in economics from the University of London, Vishal struggled to find work, and a breakthrough came when he volunteered at the BAPS Mandir in London.
He met a senior director at Merrill Lynch who gave him advice on entering the investment banking industry, which led him and other young volunteers to organize fairs at the temple for students and job seekers.
“That is why you see that young people volunteer at BAPS. The Mandir has given them a strong foundation in their lives. And that is exactly what this Abu Dhabi Mandir here will provide,” he told The Times.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, donated 13.5 hectares of land for the construction of the temple during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the country in 2015, and another 13.5 hectares of land was allocated in January 2019, which donated a total of 27 hectares of land for the temple.
(With IANS inputs)