Today, at my invitation, world-renowned Sufi maestro Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan will graciously dedicate his soulful voice and extraordinary musical performance to support Prem Nagar, the Land of Love, during a fundraising charity concert. It will benefit innocent orphans, special children, abandoned elders, widows, persons with disabilities and countless forgotten souls who continue to cling to hope despite life’s hardships. The charity show will be a tribute to resilience, compassion, and the enduring human spirit.
The journey continues with the second event of the Prem Nagar fundraising concert series in Hyderabad on June 14, followed by future concerts planned in Islamabad and Toronto. Through these gatherings, we hope to unite people from all walks of life around a common purpose: to bring comfort to the vulnerable, opportunities to the disadvantaged, and hope to those left behind by society. Every ticket purchased will not merely grant entry to a concert; it will help bring a smile to a deserving child, support an elderly person who has nowhere else to turn, and strengthen the hopes of someone struggling against the odds.
My great father, the late Dr Sital Das, devoted his entire life to serving the poor, the needy and the marginalised. He taught us a simple yet powerful lesson: if God has blessed you with more resources, better education, or greater opportunities than others, you carry a greater responsibility toward humanity.
Yet after his departure, our elder brother, Dr Prem Kumar Vankwani, became our guide, mentor and source of strength. Holding his hand, we learned not only how to live but also how to serve. He embodied the belief that true happiness lies not in wealth or status but in alleviating others’ suffering. Then came the painful day in April 2021 when Dr Prem Kumar unexpectedly left us. His sudden departure was a devastating blow to our family. It felt as though the brightest lamp in our lives had been extinguished.
In that moment of grief, the Vankwani family vowed to do something so meaningful and enduring that Dr Prem Kumar’s name would live on forever. We decided to establish a model village, Prem Nagar, dedicated to love, compassion and service in our native region of Tharparkar.
Today, only five years later, Prem Nagar, inspired by Rashidabad’s success and guided by the invaluable mentorship of Air Commodore (r) Shabbir Ahmed Khan, has become a symbol of hope. Spread across 150 acres, it is a place where no child will be left behind because of disability, no elderly person will be abandoned because of age, no widow will feel forgotten, and no orphan will lose faith in the future.
Currently, a Special Children’s Home and an Old-Age Home have been functional for the people of Tharparkar. The SOS Children’s Village for orphans is almost complete and will be functional by the end of the year. An academic campus has been developed with support from the Sindh government and is run by the Topian Spirit Foundation. Vocational training centres are running in collaboration with the Hunar Foundation. A nursing and paramedical college will also become functional this year, while a skills development centre, sports complex, IT hub, LRBT facilities, the Thar Natural History Museum and Thar University are also in the pipeline.
Yet dreams are not fulfilled by passion alone. They require resources, determination, courage, vision, and above all, the support of philanthropists and caring individuals who believe in serving humanity selflessly. This is why I reached out to the legendary Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and requested him to join this noble mission. I am deeply grateful that he responded positively and agreed to become part of this humanitarian journey.
Together, through the universal language of music, we can transform lives and prove that humanity is still alive. And always remember that whenever we bring happiness to someone, God, in His infinite mercy, blesses our own lives with happiness in return.
The writer is a member of the National Assembly and patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council. He tweets/posts @RVankwani
