If India is our mortal enemy, why do we rely on it for life-saving drugs?

Navdeep Chawla was born on August 11, 1956, into an Arya Samaj family in Fazilka, Punjab. His upbringing was deeply influenced by the values of education and service, as his father, Sh V.N. Chawla, served DAV educational institutions for over 45 years. Mr. Chawla believes that Pakistan can benefit immensely from India’s pharmaceutical sector and healthcare system. After all, India has not become the pharmacy of the world without reason. After completing his schooling at Sain Dass A.S. Higher Secondary School in Jalandhar City, he graduated from D.A.V. College, Jalandhar, in 1976. He initially ventured into entrepreneurship by running a small printing press for a year before beginning his professional career in 1978 with the pharmaceutical sales division of CIBA-GEIGY in Mumbai. Following seven years of valuable industry experience, he founded Psychotropics India in 1986. Under his leadership, the company has grown into a major pharmaceutical entity with a turnover of 294 crore rupees for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. Based in Faridabad, the organization now employs approximately 1,600 people and operates four state-of-the-art, WHO GMP-approved manufacturing units in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The company maintains a significant global footprint, exporting to over 50 countries and supplying UN projects, while also serving premier domestic institutions such as AIIMS, the Indian Army, and the Indian Railways. Beyond his business success, Mr. Chawla has established himself as a prominent leader in industry and academia. He served as the president of the Faridabad Industry Association from 2014 to 2017 and is a past president of the Rotary Club of Faridabad Central. His commitment to education is reflected in his roles as a member of the DAV College Managing Committee in New Delhi, Vice Chairman of DAV Public School, Sector-14, Faridabad, and his positions on the boards of Manav Rachna International University and the DAV Institute of Management. In recognition of his contributions, he was conferred a PhD degree by Manav Rachna University. He is also the treasurer of the Rotary Education Society and an executive member of several social organizations dedicated to urban charity work. Philanthropy is a cornerstone of the Chawla family’s legacy. He is a member of the prestigious Arch Klumph Society, having donated 2.5 crore rupees to the Rotary Foundation to support global initiatives like polio eradication. In memory of his parents, Sh Vishwa Nath and Smt Vimal Chawla, he established a 1.5 crore rupee healthcare center at the Arya Samaj in Faridabad, which provides dental, ayurvedic, homeopathic, and acupuncture services. This facility also houses a state-of-the-art physiotherapy center for stroke rehabilitation, developed in partnership with Rotary International and Manav Rachna College. As chairman of the FIA Charitable Society, he oversees a mental health and de-addiction center, and as a trustee of the Nav Chetna Trust, he contributes to environmental and social projects totaling 15 crores. His commitment to his roots remains steadfast, evidenced by his recent adoption and renovation of the Arya Samaj in his birthplace of Fazilka, where he continues to fund new community facilities. ************************************ Shakil Chaudhary is a journalist, author, and researcher. He is an alumnus of Government College, Lahore. He later studied International Relations at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, and Media and Communications at the London School of Economics. Over the years, he has worked for several leading English-language newspapers and a few other organizations. He is the author of “Handbook of Functional English.” These are some of his notable interviews: 👉 Sardar Masood Khan, former president, AJK, Part 1: https://youtu.be/h0jFAudsDuM 👉 Sardar Masood Khan, former president, AJK, Part 2: https://youtu.be/0esgmmI8XGE 👉 Ambassador Abdul Basit: https://youtu.be/qxWeiIzwskI 👉 Lt. Gen. Asad Durrani: https://youtu.be/x3mdfAklix0 👉 Shahid Siddiqui, a former member of India’s parliament: https://youtu.be/hRDiEe90z6Y You’re welcome to follow him on Facebook and Twitter. 👉 https://www.facebook.com/shakil.chaudhary/ 👉 https://x.com/ShakChaudhary