Citation for Dr Abhay N. Firodia
House of Commons, 19 October 2026
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
The Institute of Jainology established the Ahimsa Award to recognise individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to the promotion of non-violence, compassion and respect for all life.
Previous recipients have included His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Majesty King Charles III.
This evening, it is our privilege to honour one of India’s most distinguished industrialists, philanthropists and champions of Jain philosophy, Dr Abhay N. Firodia.
I first came to know the Firodia family in the 1990s, when I had the privilege of meeting Abhay’s late father, Shri Navalmal Firodia, a freedom fighter who participated in India’s struggle for independence alongside Mahatma Gandhi.
He belonged to a generation for whom Ahimsa was not merely a religious teaching, but a powerful instrument of social and political transformation.
It is particularly fitting that, three decades later, we honour his son, who has carried forward that remarkable legacy through industrial enterprise, philanthropy and the promotion of Jain values.
Industrial achievements
Dr Firodia is Chairman of Force Motors and the Abhay Firodia Group, one of India’s foremost automotive enterprises.
The family’s industrial journey began in the 1950s, when his father helped establish the foundations of what would become Force Motors.
Under Abhay’s leadership, the business has grown into a major automotive manufacturer, producing commercial vehicles, passenger vans, specialist vehicles and advanced automotive engines.
Today, Force Motors is India’s largest van manufacturer, commanding approximately 75% of the market for light commercial school buses and ambulances.
The company employs over 10,000 people and operates major manufacturing facilities across India, contributing significantly to the country’s industrial development and providing livelihoods for thousands of families.
Perhaps most remarkably, Force Motors manufactures the engines for every Mercedes-Benz and BMW car and SUV produced in India.
This is an extraordinary endorsement of Indian engineering excellence and a testament to the technical capabilities developed under his leadership.
The company’s partnership with Rolls-Royce Power Systems also manufactures sophisticated engines for international markets.
These relationships with some of the world’s most respected automotive manufacturers demonstrate the international standing of the enterprise he has built.
But Abhay’s contribution extends beyond manufacturing.
He represents a generation of Indian entrepreneurs who have helped transform India from a developing industrial economy into a globally competitive manufacturing nation.
His achievements reflect decades of vision, perseverance, technical innovation and a commitment to building institutions that endure.
Yet, despite his considerable commercial success, he has consistently recognised that wealth and enterprise carry responsibilities to the wider community.
Jainism, philanthropy and Abhay Prabhavana
Through his charitable trusts, Abhay has supported education, healthcare, social welfare and the preservation of India’s cultural and philosophical heritage.
But perhaps his greatest contribution, and the reason we particularly honour him this evening, is the creation of Abhay Prabhavana, near Pune.
This extraordinary institution represents ten years of personal dedication, immense effort and an investment of approximately US$50 million.
Opened in 2024, Abhay Prabhavana is one of the world’s most ambitious institutions dedicated to presenting Jain philosophy and India’s spiritual heritage.
It is not simply a museum of Jain history or religious artefacts.
It is a museum of ideas.
Through remarkable architecture, art, technology and carefully researched exhibitions, it brings the profound teachings of Jainism to life for visitors of every background, culture and faith.
What makes Abhay Prabhavana exceptional is not simply its scale or the investment involved, but the extraordinary personal commitment that Abhay has brought to every aspect of its creation.
From the original concept to its architecture, scholarship, exhibitions and presentation, he has devoted a decade of his life to ensuring that the institution meets the highest international standards.
Few individuals have undertaken a project of such ambition, entirely dedicated to communicating the philosophy and heritage of their faith to the wider world.
Abhay has invested not merely in preserving Jain heritage, but in ensuring that its wisdom will educate and inspire generations yet to come.
His life demonstrates that industrial success and spiritual values need not be in conflict. Indeed, his achievements show how enterprise can provide the means to serve society and advance the principles of compassion and non-violence.
Tonight, we recognise a man who has devoted his resources, intellect and vision to making Ahimsa a living philosophy for the modern world.
On behalf of the Institute of Jainology and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Jainism, it gives me immense pleasure to present the Ahimsa Award 2026 to Dr Abhay N. Firodia, in recognition of his exceptional commitment to the promotion of Ahimsa.
Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in congratulating Dr Abhay Firodia.