Lion Dr Surat Singh Malhotra
Founder & CMD, The Namdhari Group
Honorary Consul, Lesotho | Telangana, India
Janam Bhumi:
Nabha, Patiala, Punjab
Dharma Bhumi:
Lalamusa, Punjab (Now Pakistan)
Karma Bhumi:
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
A Life of Service, Laughter, & Legacy
The ‘Surat’ Factor: “If you’re not enjoying your life, you’re not living. Laugh, live, and be kind.”
THE MAN
Mark Twain once said, “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it does not matter.” One has to only look at Surat Singh Malhotra to understand that it is indeed that. He embraces life with unbridled curiosity and enthusiasm, and all with a sense of humour to match.
Born in Nabha, Punjab, he grew up in an environment that taught him discipline, respect, and pride for one’s roots. Growing up, he learned to make decisions with responsibility and integrity from his parents, Jagdish Singh and Joginder Kaur.
What sets Surat Singh apart is that more than his achievements or stature, he defines himself by his love for nature and travel. For him, his quiet teachers are greenery, landscapes, heritage cities and timeless places that are not only destinations but carry the weight of ancient stories and history, and that remind him that everything evolves, and that change is the only constant.
Fond of telling jokes, he believes laughter is one of life’s greatest gifts. “If you can make people laugh,” he says, “it’s the best thing you can do.” For him, “if you aren’t enjoying your life, reconsider how you are doing things,” because a life without joy is a life poorly lived.
THE JOURNEY
Surat Singh stepped into the events and exhibitions industry when it was still evolving in India. He carried an unwavering ambition alongside the go-getting spirit and turned his vision into The Namdhari Business Group. It began as an events company but has gradually grown into a diversified conglomerate, expanding its roots to agriculture, silver and gold jewellery, and community, shaped by decades of experience and trust.
In 2000, he executed the Hyderabad Shopping Festival, an event closely associated with government bodies. This landmark initiative significantly contributed to the upliftment of tourism and public engagement within the city. As a well-respected peer in the industry, Surat Singh has taken up leadership roles across industries, including becoming the President of the Indian Exhibitions, Conferences & Event Services Association (IESA). His professional leadership has also included serving as Founder President of the Telangana Chambers of Events Industry, Past Treasurer of the International Association of Exhibitions & Events (IAEE) India Chapter, and holding advisory and executive roles across multiple national and regional industry associations, including being the Chief Adviser to the Tent Dealers Welfare Association of India. He is also the President of the Council for Industrial and Trade Development India (CITD).
In recognition of his contribution to the events industry and social service, he has been awarded a PhD in Event Management and Social Service by the University of Maryland. Surat Singh is also a connector of nations, serving as the Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Lesotho for over two decades, a rare and distinguished honour, facilitating diplomatic and trade relations between the two nations. Be it business, leadership, or diplomacy, Surat Singh has one simple philosophy: “Love what you do and make it engaging, relevant, and human.”
THE SPIRIT WITHIN
Surat Singh practises quiet and continuous philanthropy. His association with social service spans over four decades, particularly through Lions Clubs International, where he has remained actively involved since 1980. Over the years, he has supported and organised many health camps in remote and underserved areas, extending medical access to communities often left on the margins. His commitment to service has never been merely administrative; it has been deeply personal, reflected in acts such as donating blood over thirty times and mobilising others to contribute to humanitarian causes.
During the COVID-19 period, even while personally affected by the virus, he ensured that no member of his staff was asked to leave, continuing to support them financially regardless of whether work was available.
He continues to be actively associated with organisations he has long been part of, offering guidance, leadership, and institutional memory. As Patron of the Red Cross Society of India and Trustee and Treasurer of multiple medical, educational, and charitable trusts, including the MAA Vaishno Devi Trust, he remains engaged in causes centred on health, welfare, and community upliftment. He also serves as Vice President of the Telangana Sikh Society and as Trustee of ‘Swarg Vatika’, a public cremation facility, contributing wherever support is required. Service, in his view, is not an obligation attached to success but a responsibility that runs parallel to it.
THE LEGACY
Surat Singh’s decades of leadership, service, and professional excellence have been recognised with many national and international honours, including awards from the Prime Minister and Presidents of India, international citations such as a letter of appreciation from the President of the United States, and multiple industry accolades in events and exhibitions.
But his life remains rooted in his family. He is married to Surinder Kaur, and together they have built a close-knit and respected household. They are blessed with two sons, Dharampal Singh and Maninder Singh, and a daughter, Simran Khurana. All three are well-placed in their respective professions and continue the family’s values of responsibility and integrity. His children and his grandchildren are all cut from the same cloth and follow religious and cultural principles, including vegetarianism, but he acknowledges the evolving nature of time. “Children today are smarter,” he says with humility. “They know much more than we do. They teach us how things work.”
Impermanence deeply influenced Surat Singh’s philosophy of life. “Cheezein badalti rehti hain,” (Things keep changing), he reflects. “Aaj main hoon, kal nahi.” (I am here today, tomorrow I might not be.) This awareness keeps him adaptable, humble, and unburdened by rigidity. His children have taken over the reins of the business. And it has given the 72-year-old Surat Singh all the time in the world to serve others, experience life, and continue to light up everyone else’s life with his sense of humour.
MAPPING THE INDIA WITHIN
Bharat: Then and Now
“I was born in Nabha and travelled extensively with my father. India has changed immensely. Growth is visible everywhere—from small towns becoming metros, from roads to metro trains, from aerodromes in smaller cities to air travel becoming common. Technology has made life easier. At the same time, COVID has taught us to slow down.”
Bharatiya Values that Travelled
“I have travelled across the world, and I am what my personality represents, it’s Bharatiya.”
Generations Abroad: A New Bharatiya Identity
“Since we’re Namdhari Sikhs, we teach our children to follow our religion and stick to its principles of vegetarianism. But the younger generation is smarter than we were at their age. They balance both culture and modernity.”
Pride, Progress, and the Spirit Of Bharat
“There is not one thing, or some specific things about India to be proud of. I am an Indian, I’m proud of that. I have pride in the progress of India; there is the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, which is a source of pride. There are so many aspects that make up the spirit of India, and together they make India unique.”
Dreams for the Youth and Future of Bharat
“The future of Bharat lies in responsible transition. Wealth creation is important, but so is consolidation, sustainability, and caring for those who stand with you. As for advice, it should be given only when asked. If a young person asks me for advice, I say: think big and stay consistent. Consistency is everything. Keep trying. The final strike may break the stone.”
BACK TO THE FUTURE – IN FIVE MOMENTS
Food Cravings
THEN
I had a fondness for food, especially sweets.
NOW
I still love food, and I enjoy having everything.
Sport Spirit
THEN
As a young boy, like every Indian, I loved cricket.
NOW
I do not play any games, but sometimes I watch the highlights of cricket matches.
Music Tastes
THEN
I loved listening to music, every genre, every artist of that era.
NOW
My love for music never faded. I still listen to music whenever I get the time.
Holiday Life
THEN
We travelled a lot due to my father’s job. I have lived in almost every state in India.
NOW
I still love travelling and exploring different places.
Leisure Habits
THEN
Playing with friends, swimming, and karate.
NOW
I don’t have leisure time. But, I read books; I have conversations with friends, and I travel.
AKA
Lion Dr. Surat Singh Malhotra | Honorary Consul, Kingdom of Lesotho | Chairman/Founder, Namdhari Group | Lions Clubs International District Governor
