Lord Dholakia was the Chairman of Brighton Young Liberals between 1959 and 1962 and then moved to representative politics, being elected to Brighton Borough Council 1961-1964. In 1966 he became Development Officer for the National Committee for Commonwealth Immigrants and later pursued work with the Community Relations Commissioner. In 1969 he became Secretary of the Liberal Party’s Race and Community Relations Panel. Then, from 1976 he worked for the Commission for Racial Equality and most recently he was a member of the Commission on the Future of Multi-Ethnic Britain.
His first job was as a Medical Laboratory Technician at Southlands Hospital.
Lord Dholakia came to study at Brighton Technical College. He has also completed schooling in Tanzania and India. He is a keen photographer, gardener, enjoys traveling and cooking.