MAM
Saatchi & Saatchi Focus CEO Malavika Harita is president of Bangalore Ad Club
BENGALURU: Saatchi & Saatchi Focus Network CEO Malavika Harita took over as president of the Ad Club of Bangalore during the AGM on 25 April. Harita replaces Oglivy’s regional president Prateek Srivastava.
Harita said, “We will use technology to build a vibrant community of communication professionals. One of our most ambitious ventures this year is to take the Big Bang, our annual awards competition, process online. In addition to sports and other activities we are looking at a college program where we try and make young communication graduates and post graduates explore communication as a career.”
This is Harita’s second stint at the helm here. The other committee members include Kinetic India business director – South, Bindu Gopinath, Maxus India GM South Sanchayeeta Verma, VP & Head, E4M VP & Head – South Sneha Walke, Radio City AVP & NCD Binoy Joseph, Telibrahma Principal P R Satheesh, Mudra Max- South Head Anilkumar Sathiraju, Sampark PR Account Director Navin Nair, Pentagon Communication creative director Arunava Seal. Srivastava, the immediate past president will be an ex-offcio member of the committee. R T Kumar, three-time Past President will continue in the role of adviser to the committee.
Executive director Arvind Kumar will continue on the committee and manage the functioning of the Club.
MAM
Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia deepens philanthropic push in India ahead of retirement
Entrepreneur backs gurdwara project and education for slum children as he expands charitable footprint in the country
LONDON: Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia is ramping up his philanthropic footprint in India. On a recent visit to the country, the UK-based entrepreneur stepped up support for religious and educational causes, signalling a deeper long-term commitment as he prepares to spend more time in India ahead of retirement.
Ahluwalia reaffirmed support for key social initiatives, including a donation to Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara Kalgidhar Sahib in Gurugram and continued backing for a school in Faridabad for which he had earlier purchased the land.
The donation will fund the construction of the gurdwara, expected to be completed by mid-2028. Run largely by volunteers, the site will serve as a community hub and continue the Sikh tradition of langar — a community kitchen that provides free meals to all, regardless of faith.
Parallelly, the Faridabad school continues to deliver free, multi-year education to children living in extreme poverty in surrounding slums. The institution is part of the 12 educational facilities run by the Jagriti Sewa Trust, where Ahluwalia serves as chairman. The trust provides underprivileged students with free education as well as skill-development opportunities.
The latest support adds to Ahluwalia’s long record of charitable giving in India. In recent years, it included a £100,000 donation to the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation’s Justice for Every Child campaign, which provides legal and psychological support to vulnerable children and their families.
Through the Ahluwalia Foundation, the businessman regularly backs charities and non-profits in both India and the United Kingdom. The foundation focuses on projects linked to education, migration and the rights of children and women.
Ahluwalia’s philanthropic drive is rooted in personal history. Having fled to the UK as a refugee at the age of 13, he has long supported migrant-focused organisations, including the London-based Migration Museum, while also funding educational initiatives in India such as free schooling programmes in Hyderabad.
Now, as he gradually shifts more of his time to India, Ahluwalia’s charitable ambitions are expanding. Future plans include launching a classic car rally across the country to raise funds for causes he supports.
“Education and faith are very close to my heart,” Ahluwalia said. “For so many Indians, whether they live in India or abroad, a gurdwara or any place of worship is more than somewhere to practise faith. They are places of community and identity.”
Reflecting on the Faridabad visit, Ahluwalia added: “It was very special seeing the work of the Jagriti Sewa Trust firsthand. Knowing that disadvantaged children are receiving a free education — and that I had a small part to play in that — is deeply meaningful. Social status and economic background should not determine a person’s chances of success.”
