Monday Special
The Radiant of Gujarat-4
The Rise of a Modern-Day Philanthropist:
Mahendra Patel
(A succinct biography: Ishwar Prajapati
In English: Pallavi Gupta)
Having generously donated a substantial sum of 100 crore rupees for the development of his homeland, Mahendra Patel, at the venerable age of 85, has earned a postgraduate degree in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Texas, USA.
The Rise of a Modern-Day Philanthropist:
Mahendra Patel
Countless individuals have ascended from humble origins to construct expansive empires, their journeys punctuated by unwavering determination and arduous struggle. Yet, the instances of such magnates willingly surrendering their vast fortunes to serve their motherland remain remarkably scarce.
Mahendra Patel, hailing from the quaint village of Nisraaya in Charotar, Gujarat, and now a prominent figure in the United States, stands as a testament to the extraordinary power of philanthropy. Renowned as ‘Mak Patel’ in the American landscape, he is the son of the revered ‘Netaji’ Chaturbhai Patel, a public figure deeply cherished by the people of Borsad.
Born in 1939, Mahendrabhai’s life has been an embodiment of resilience and generosity. Even as a student, he excelled not only in academics but also in sports, earning accolades for his athletic prowess. His accomplishments were recognized at a young age when he was awarded a distinguished medal by the then President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, for his outstanding performance in athletics.
In a recent, unprecedented act of benevolence, Mahendrabhai has pledged a staggering one hundred crore rupees towards the development of his ancestral village. This monumental donation has reverberated across the globe, inspiring millions and setting a new benchmark for philanthropy. His selfless act is a testament to his deep-rooted connection to his homeland and his unwavering commitment to giving back to the community that shaped him.
Patel, after earning a civil engineering degree from Gujarat University in 1960, embarked on advanced studies in structural engineering at Yale University in the United States. During this period, he was exposed to the emerging field of computer technology, which sparked a deep interest. His fascination with computer system design and programming led him to join IBM in 1962.
Recognizing his exceptional talent, IBM selected Patel and six colleagues in 1965 to develop the Attached Support Processor (ASP). The success of this project propelled him to ACT Consulting, where he was entrusted with designing simulators for IBM systems. After contributing to ACT until 1969, Patel was invited to join Wells TP Sciences in a technical leadership role. Within the same year, his remarkable abilities elevated him to the position of Vice President at this prestigious company.
Amidst the 1973 U.S. recession, a group of enterprising young Patidars from Charotar, Gujarat, demonstrated remarkable resilience by founding Patel Consultants Corporation, a pioneering software consulting firm. Mak Patel became the first Indian to establish a business in the former USA, and today his name is synonymous with excellence in the consultancy industry. His firm has forged strategic partnerships with Fortune 100 companies across Eastern Europe.
Affectionately known as ‘Mak Dada’ in America, Patel amassed immense wealth through his indomitable spirit and hard work. After 65 years, he returned to his homeland on November 12th to fulfill his filial duty. At the age of 85, he announced a generous donation of 100 crore rupees to establish a state-of-the-art educational complex.
The village warmly welcomed its returning philanthropist, Mak Dada. The entire village was adorned with lights to celebrate his homecoming. In a grand procession, he was paraded through the village, sitting in a decorated chariot. The village turned out in full force to greet him. Overwhelmed by the village’s development and the heartfelt welcome, Mak Dada was deeply moved.
The school in Nisarya village currently offers education only up to the 8th grade, forcing students to travel to other villages for higher studies. Moved by the challenges faced by these children, Mak Dada has decided to build a state-of-the-art educational complex in the village and has pledged a generous donation of 100 crore rupees. The plan is to invest this substantial sum in a fixed deposit, with the interest income alone being sufficient to cover all the operational costs of the educational complex.
This new complex will offer classes from the 9th to 12th grades and provide free boarding, lodging, and education to all underprivileged students. To ensure a high quality of education, the complex will also recruit expert teachers for all subjects. Over the past decade, Mak Dada has been a benefactor to 4,000 orphaned, disabled girls, and underprivileged students across India, providing them with free high school education.
Mak Dada, an entrepreneur and lifelong learner, has defied age by pursuing a postgraduate degree in Artificial Intelligence at the age of 85. At 81, he graduated from Lincoln University, one of the world’s top 300 universities, with a professional training certificate in Advanced Nutritional Therapy. He also became a member of the NICE and WISE in the same year. At 83, he earned a certificate in Emergency and Pain Management from Shridhar University, specializing in vibrational healing and other forms of subtle energy healing. His recent achievement of completing a postgraduate degree in AI from the University of Texas at the age of 85 has made him the world’s oldest person to hold a postgraduate degree in this field.
While India has many wealthy individuals, it is rare to find someone like Mak Dada who is so driven to constantly learn and contribute to society. If more philanthropists were to follow his example, the rural landscape of India would be transformed. We owe a deep debt of gratitude to the mother who gave birth to such a remarkable individual.
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