Bahadursinh and Hasmukhben Thakor Memorial Bursary

Bahadursinh Pratapsinh Thakor was born on 12th of April, 1936, in a small village located in the Valod district of Gujarat, India. He grew up in simplicity, surrounded by humility and a deep connection to family.

His dream was to study engineering in London but life took him in a different direction due to financial hardship. Remaining in Kenya, he worked as a banking clerk before becoming a school teacher. In this role, he initially taught the most underprivileged children, offering them encouragement and instilling confidence. He later was promoted to teach a higher set where both his younger brothers attended.

Predicting Kenya would not prosper beyond its Independence. He took the bold step of moving to England based on one interview letter. In January 1964, he landed at Heathrow airport during a snowstorm, wearing nothing more than a pair of shorts and a short-sleeved shirt. He had just £12 in his pocket and lost half of that paying for a black cab to East London.

He only managed to stay at his friends place for a couple of nights before his friend demanded rent. With limited capital he reached out to a family member in Leamington Spa. As he travelled up to seek refuge his train broke down midway. With his Scout Master training he decided to walk the remaining 15 miles. Fortunately, out of the blue – an ice-cream van pulled over, the Italian driver seeing his struggles offered him a lift the rest of the way. Mr Thakor firmly believed that his saint, Sai Baba, was always watching over him, and this experience was a perfect example of that.

Despite being ridiculed at the job interview for leaving a well-paid teaching job behind and change of career at age 27 – he was offered the role of tea and errand boy. He faced racism and financial hardship, earning just £4.50 a week. To minimize his living expenses, he rented a small terraced house sharing with over 20 other tenants. The long bathroom queue in the morning alone would have sent most people running back to Africa.

Mr Thakor stood fast and was unstoppable—his love for education and unwavering resilience helped him rise above every challenge. He eventually became a Chartered Accountant, building his own successful practice more than once.

As Mr Thakor always said, “You come with nothing, and you go with nothing.” His message was simple: don’t be too materialistic. When you succeed, always thank Sai Baba and be charitable.

With this bursary we honour a man of remarkable strength, with unwavering determination, and boundless love. His life is a testament to the power of perseverance, the value of education, and the importance of family.