From a small town in Gujarat to the House of Lords in London, Bhikhu Parekh’s journey has been one of intellect, conviction, and humility. Born in 1935 in Amalsad, he rose from modest beginnings to become one of the most influential political thinkers of his generation. As Professor of political philosophy at the University of Westminster and later President of the Academy of Social Sciences, Lord Parekh helped shape modern debates on multiculturalism, identity, and democracy. His critical reading of Mahatma Gandhi drew wide attention, and in 2007, India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan.

Despite spending over six decades in the United Kingdom, his ties to Vadodara remain deep. In the early 1980s, he returned as Vice-Chancellor of Maharaja Sayajirao University — a role that strengthened

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