Nav Bhatia

A Sikh role-model, popularly known as the “Super fan”, lives in Toronto. This role-model, named Nav Bhatia has a wonderful story from rags to riches. It was in 1984, when S. Bhatia after obtaining his Engineering qualification landed in Toronto. He tried many jobs, and ultimately became a car salesman. Although he was not much liked in his Sikh identity, but, his sincere efforts resulting into the sale of 127 cars, made him a record breaker and got him promotions as Manager and then General Manager. Gradually he became a car dealer and presently he is among the biggest dealers in Ontario province and among the top four-five in Canada. Known for his commitment and client allegiance, the 65 yrs. old Sikh car dealer has become so popular that most of the celebrities, leaders and prominent Basketball players of the National Basketball Association ‘NBA’ can often be seen at his Busy Mississauga Hyundai Superstore. His popularity is also because of his craze for Basketball.

He is a great fan of a basketball team known as Toronto Raptors. He never misses any game played by them anywhere in Ontario province or nearby areas. Sometimes he goes even to far off places for watching their play. That is why they have given him the status of ‘super fan’. What makes this ‘super fan’ a role-model is his unique gesture of popularizing the Sikh identity and this he does by spending a lot of money. In his words “During Vaisakhi and Diwali, I buy 3,000 tickets for NBA games for over $300,000 and give them to Sikhs and non-Sikh children so that they can enjoy matches. The idea is to make the mainstream in North America aware about turbans and my Indian identity. The idea is to integrate my Indian community with the mainstream.” The Super fan, who has watched more than 500 games, is not only a multi-millionaire, but also has a great love for his country and adoptive country. He wants that Canada should rise high on the Olympic Basketball table. He is also fond of introducing bollywood in a big way in Canada. He often arranges the release of Indian movie in Toronto for screening at multiple theatres. He has also brought many top-notch bollywood stars like Amitabh Bachchan, A.R. Rehman, Shahrukh Khan, Amir Khan, Akshay Kumar and others to perform before mainstream audience. He says that this helps to promote Indian culture and identity. Promoting my roots and culture remains my aim. Thus, a person loving his country, adoptive country, community and all the people in general, has a golden heart and definitely inspires all others for such welfare activities for his people, rather, all the people.