palanpuronline

News & Events

News Room >> News & Event >> News Content

23 Oct 2025

Three Conferred with Lifetime Achievement Award by Antwerp Indian Association

Three prominent members of the Indian diamond community were among those felicitated with Lifetime Achievement Awards by the Antwerp Indian Association (AIA) recently for their exemplary service to the Indian community in the social and cultural field. Those felicitated were Deepakbhai K Mody and Mehulbhai A Kothari originally from Palanpur and Rameshbhai M Mehta originally from Juna Deesa.

The awards were handed over at a grand function organised by the association in the presence of a number of families originally from Banaskantha, as well as other prominent families from different parts of India and Antwerp, and many other well-known personalities.

Mehulbhai Kothari received the award for his efforts to continue to honour a tradition started by his father Dr Anandlal Bapalal Kothari who lived and worked in Baroda. Dr Kothari used to offer free medical check-ups and treatment to patients at his clinic during Paryushan Parv each year. His family has, for the last 62 years, provided free medical check-ups and operations to patients at the Mahajan Hospital in Palanpur.

Mehulbhai was born in Baroda and worked in the diamond industry in both Navsari and Mumbai before moving permanently to Antwerp in 1983. He served on the Board of Directors of the AIA and was instrumental in organising many social and cultural programmes including lively celebrations during almost all Indian festivals. During Mehulbhai’s tenure at the head of the organisation, AIA was conferred with a prestigious award by former President Shri Pranab Mukherjee on the occasion of Indian Tourist Day.

Born in Palanpur, Deepakbhai Kirtilal Mody and completed his education in Secunderabad (AP) graduating with a Diploma in Electrical Engineering. He worked in the diamond industry in Navsari and Mumbai with Mahendra Brothers and Diarough (Antwerp) before moving to Antwerp in 1974. The area where he settled was like a mini Palanpur, and from the beginning, he was active in organising functions and celebrations during Paryushan, Diwali as well as social gatherings like Sneh Milans. Having learned from his parents to put service to society before oneself, Deepakbhai worked as a volunteer with the AIA alongside about 5-6 different chairpersons over a period of 45 years.

Deepakbhai was very popular among the community and his role in uniting the Indian residents in Antwerp was widely praised. He was a good cricketer and his passion for the game led him to set up a cricket club for children and youth in Antwerp which is still running today. The club has helped many Indians in Belgium receive rigorous training in the sport.

Deepakbhai’s warm and cheerful personality endeared him to all. He considered it his duty to serve people and would always generously provide refreshments such as chocolates, ice cream, lemonade, mango milkshakes, etc. to all.

Rameshbhai Manilal Mehta, a native of Juna Deesa, who worked in the diamond business in Antwerp since 1970, was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for his involvement in organizing religious and cultural programmes for the Indian community.