It was in 1836 that Khanbhai's great-great grandfather decided sail from Kathiawad in Gujarat to the inviting shores of Tanzania (then German East Africa).

Since then, this Gujarati family has been doing well in business in Tanzania, especially in pharmaceuticals. The Khanbhai Group soon expanded its trade interests in other European countries, including the UK.``I have always believed that a man must spend at least 30 years of his adulthood in business or any other profession to actually get a taste of the real world, before plunging into politics,'' the soft-spoken, 53-year-old Khanbhai told Express Newsline.

On June 13, 1999, Khanbhai was elected as a member of the European Parliament from the largely white-dominated constituency of Eastern Region, in the UK.``There are 15 countries in the European Union, and I am among the 626 members in the Parliament. In fact, Britain alone has 87 members in it. My constituency comprises the counties of Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire, which have a total 4.8 million people,'' he says.

Asked how his success would benefit India, he says: ``Indo-British ties, especially in the field of trade, have always been good; and with people with Asian ancestry like me in the European Parliament, I will do my best to enhance this relation. He adds: ``It is commerce that connects people across the globe; or else I might have remained in Kathiawad all my life!''

But for the present, Khanbhai is busy receiving a deluge of accolades from the Indian sub-continent. He arrived in Mumbai on Sunday and will meet the prime minister in Delhi this week. Of course, he will visit business families like the Tatas, Ambanis, and Godrejs as well. Khanbhai says people will remain his focus in his new role. ``As amember of the Union, I also hope to concentrate of international cooperation and development, foreign affairs, and external economic affairs,'' he says.

On the Kargil issue, he is strongly against financing any group of infiltrators and militants. ``It is essential that India and Pakistan sit together and resolve the problem. And while doing so, the security and consent of the people of Kashmir should also be respected,'' he adds.