Queens of the Ball

The queens are calling, not least because they are staggered by the new fuzzy feeling of philanthropy embracing the haute bourgeoisie of India today. “I cannot believe that last week’s charity organised by Aman Nath for Khushi actually pulled in almost $3 million. That is truly stunning,” says Narula. Bachchan cuts in: “It was a smashing evening…”

Charity events took off in the country in the late 80s — the first being an art auction for HelpAge India. Since then, most have taken the art auction route, raising mega bucks for everything from fighting AIDS to raising awareness on autism. The reasons are clear — “it was a win-win situation for givers as well as the artists,” says a seasoned local charity queen. “Art prices were driven up with every gala, the buyer also gets a deal. It also gives philanthropy a good name.”

True enough. The fact that both Narula and Bachchan, each with an Asian of the Year award behind them, will spend more time here has got them to what they do best — swing into the benefit bonanza circuit. Bachchan, former mistress of Hampstead, and indefatigable Asian hostess of the 90s in London, has moved to Mumbai after a skuzzy divorce from her husband, Ajitabh Bachchan, brother of Amitabh.

Narula, mistress of Hyver Hall in the Hertfordshire countryside, will spend more time in Delhi, where she grew up, as her tycoon husband Harpinder Singh Narula, is now a major investor in infrastructure, in liberalised India. Together, they have raised several million pounds in the mix and mingle galas — from concerts of peace with Ravi Shankar and Zubin Mehta at the Royal Albert Hall to couture fashion and jewellery shows in the ballrooms of the Dorchester and Grosvenor House, lavish exhibitions at the V&A and movie premiers at Leicester and Covent Garden.

Bachchan has headed Pratham UK, a charity for children in India and a successful fundraiser for several organisations, even the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation headed by Sonia Gandhi. Narula is co-founder of the Consortium for Street Children — a network of over 40 UK-based development agencies among other posts on voluntary organisations.

In London, there were stories of the rivalry and competitive chase the two once indulged in, but now, Bachchan says: “It was the media that created this rivalry between us.’’

The Asian Queen Bees of London have descended in the country in their Joan of Arc armour to save children from poverty, disease and illiteracy. But of course as patrons of PLAN India, the just-launched Indian chapter of the global Plan International, a development charity working with communities in 45 countries to alleviate child poverty.

“Isn’t it a shame that millions of people and children live in poverty even as India moves ahead?” asks Narula, an enlisted Conservative. “If charity rubs the guilty side of the rich, they’re both in business.” Not that they think India needs lessons in charity. “We are not saying we are doing something new,” says Narula. But, adds Bachchan, “charity events are not as common as in the West, and never in that extravagant scale. They have a whole season where people are booked for almost every night.”

So what makes a great charity event? “First, there should be a good, emotive cause to attract support,” says Bachchan, “the event should be compact, classy and exclusive to get the right people. The host must be able to communicate about the charity, or it can get lost in the glitz. Having a few celebs brings on the zing.”

Their gala mid-summer April night will showcase 40 entrepreneurs on the ramp in couture rags which will be auctioned after the Rs 20,000 per plate dinner for 700 invitees at a five-star hotel. The purpose — to ensure free and compulsory primary education for children under 14. Bachchan would like to see the gala as an annual event, Narula demurs. “I get bored with this dinner and dance stuff,” she says, “I’d like to promote the cause through other events too.”

The two are sisters in arms, energized and vitalized by their motive and goal. “We kind of paved the way back in London, there’s always room for more in India,’’ they chorus.