Dad (Nilesh Chhotalal Sakaria) was born in Jinja, Uganda on 2nd August 1960.  Along with his parents and 6 siblings, Dad moved to England in 1972 at the age of 11, following the expulsion of Asians from Uganda. 

Dad was an incredibly intelligent, driven, and ambitious man.  His charming personality, humour and meticulous nature shone through in all his endeavours.  He had a hunger to succeed in everything he put his mind to and a passion to stand by what he felt was right. 

During school, he quickly developed an awareness of racism.  Using his strong moral fibre and resilient character, he stood up for himself and others facing the pressures of such discrimination.  Dad was the first in the family to pursue higher education and attended the University of Essex to read Mathematics, Economics and Computer Science.

Dad's thoughts were dominated by his unconditional love for his daughters.  He was an outstanding father in all respects.  He prioritised bringing friends and family together and bridging gaps where possible.  He relished in mischievous wit to brighten and bring laughter to those around him.

Dad found a joy in helping in others.  He used his intellect to better the lives of those around him, whether it be in the form of helping with applications, legal or tax problems or tackling personal issues.  Akin to a professional advisor, he offered his time to the Ram Krishna Centre and delivered tiffins to the elderly on behalf of the Jalaram Mandir after having developed an affinity for charitable duties.

Dad was thankful to his parents who all those years ago, opened the door of faith to him.  He exercised his faith like a strong muscle, or rudder that guided his life and attitudes.  In his later years, he began to ask religious and spiritual questions often seeking answers from elders and sharing his findings with the younger generation.  Dad had a personal faith in God and through that, a love for and belief in people.  In his heart, there was an enjoyment of life that he delighted in passing on to others around him.  He had a listening ear and a compassionate heart of understanding for all people.

“I say that I am bipolar but not without vision. My vision is that today, by simply being alive to the needs of others, I can and will make somebody’s day that much brighter. If we all adopted that attitude, then wouldn’t the world be a much nicer place?” – Nilesh Sakaria

Dad touched thousands of hearts.  He will be sorely missed, forever remembered and unconditionally loved by his family and friends.