Comments on: Bharat Gheewala’s dream

By: Priam

Priam — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:29:13 +0000

Umisha businessandpsychologywali is now your new name

By: umisha

umisha — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 20:05:25 +0000

how comes no one is talking about the hydro project.. but making the fun of out sur name… haha…!umisha

By: Sandra Ool

Sandra Ool — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 19:59:58 +0000

Well, I actually know the Gheewala family as well, and it’s true that their real name was ‘Datta’ because Umisha just told me. Umisha is Bharat’s youngest daughter

By: Msichana

Msichana — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 21:15:03 +0000

I actually know the Gheewala family in East Africa. Their real name was ‘Datta’ but they changed it to gheewala after years in the business.

By: Pagla

Pagla — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 22:09:42 +0000

Why is the name funny? Many last names translate to professions. Do you think Smith and Carter could be made up names? What about Sharma?

By: Blue

Blue — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 07:12:02 +0000

Gheewala says he now wants to build a hydroelectric plant to generate electricity in the south of Uganda, and create a lasting legacy for his family.

The full article also includes this quote:

There are some remote villages in the south where families still use candles. It's a real fire hazard and the kind of thing that we Asians who left and have done well take for granted. I want to use the river to power the electricity and raise the funds to build the power station. I will be inviting the people who made the film to take part in my project to bring light, not just the electricity but true light into people's lives.

One has to wonder if he wasn't also inspired by a particular desi film. ^__^

By: Ravi the Lurker

Ravi the Lurker — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 02:17:14 +0000

I met somebody with the last name "Treasurywala." I always thought that South Asian last names tended to be either location signifiers (from this town) professions, or something signifying faith.

Great that he wants to give back. Seems like good timing to announce.

By: The Great Ganesha

The Great Ganesha — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 02:16:26 +0000

I see your Geewala and Dosawalla and raise you a Screwvala. For an equal opportunity slam I give you Lunds Grocery Stores.

one word: sodawaterbottleopenerwala

By: Amrita

Amrita — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 00:36:12 +0000

Personally, I'm fond of Hathikhanewallah, taken either way.

I thought, on Oscar night, it would be nice to spotlight somebody who at least claims to have been inspired by the silver screen.

Ennis, did you see the cnn thing (I think cnn) where they asked a whole bunch of politicians what their favorite movie was and rendered a snap character analysis for each presidential candidate except Barack Obama? It turned out he hadn't responded...

By: Shodan

Shodan — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 23:02:42 +0000

Insert-your-profession-herewallah. It's a Parsi thing. Merchant, Mechanic etc. Same deal sans "wallah". Bharatbhai does not appear to be Parsi though.