HINDU BROTHERS RESCUE SPIRIT ZONE


by John Sturgis

The Spirit Zone, the religious area within the Millennium Dome
which was under threat due to a lack of sponsors, has been bailed
out by one of Britain's wealthiest Hindu families.
Four brothers of the London-based Hinduja family, originally
from Bombay, have underwritten the £6 million zone, intended to
put religion at the heart of the 2000 celebrations, it was
reported today. The brothers, whose £1.2 billion fortune is
thought to make them the second richest Asians in Britain, were
the principal backers of the opulent Swaminarayan Hindu temple in
Neasden.

A spokesman for the New Millennium Experience today said the
company was"in discussions with four organisations who have
expressed an interest in sponsor-ship of the Spirit Zone",
adding: "We are confident that the zone will secure the necessary
funding. We are not at liberty to discuss the names."
But an unnamed company source, quoted in the Daily Telegraph,
said:"Effectively the Hindujas are underwriting the Spirit Zone.
They are ensuring that we can go ahead and build it and know the
money will be there."

Christianity will remain the principal religion represented in
the zone, though there will also be a place for the country's
other eight main faiths - Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Baha'is, Sikhs,
Jains, Zoroastrians and Buddhists.
The Hindujas have close political ties in Britain and India.
According to one they meet ministers "for economic developments
between India and Britain".

The brothers, Srichand, 62, Gopichand, 57, Prakesh, 52, and
Ashok, 47, lead a relatively austere lives. Their global business
empire, run from New Zealand House in the Haymarket, includes
interests in oil, investment banking, property and industry.