Passionate about the need to use personal success for philanthropy and support,
Prof. Peter Virdee spends a great deal of time mentoring young people.
Whether it is helping disadvantaged children in India, Pakistan or in the West,Prof. Peter’s
enthusiasm extends to both major and minor charities, some of which are listed below. The Virdee foundation has helped Bharuch Welfare Hospital in India’s state of Gujarat, and has helped to build St Paul’s Children Care Centre in Nairobi.
He has also set up the Sardar Jagat Singh Charitable Trust in India, named after his
late grandfather. This charity has sponsored some 80 children into primary education
to help them to step out into the world on the right foot. It has also carried out 400
successful cataract operations in India, thereby looking after both ends of the age
spectrum.
Five centuries ago, Sikhism began with Guru Nanak. As the story goes, he was given 20 rupees by his father to go and learn to trade. Instead, he gave the money away to
the poor and homeless, and came home with nothing. “I am a firm believer in giving”
says Prof. Peter Virdee – “but when I look back at my business life, I was as ruthless as
anyone. It was ‘me’ – or ‘you’. Now I know it’s all about getting rid of ego and self-
importance in business. This has come through experience.”
Some of the charities supported: