Humanitarian Services- Blog #2

In the last blog I covered humanitarian services provided by Mr. Ramesh Shah and his wife Dr. Jaya Shah. Here I am going to cover different kinds of services provided by another distinguished individual Dr. Natubhai Shah (also known as Dr. N.K. Shah) from London, U.K. I have known Dr. Shah since my childhood. He happens to be my wife Kanta’s cousin brother.

Let me give you some background information about Dr. Shah (here after referred to as Shah). He practiced general medicine in India from 1957 to 1968 and in Leicester UK from 1968 to 1996. He retired in 1996 and moved to London to devote full time to promote Jain Religion, and bring Jain awareness and its values to the Western World. Before moving to London he left his mark in Leister by establishing a Jain Center, Jain Museum and a Jain Academy. Jain Center was the first of its kind in the Western World. Jain Center is a symbol of unity, has traditional architecture, museum and community facility that it is open to all. Shah found a creative way to get support from local community, a substantial grant from U.K. Government and support from Jains all over the World.

The center has become a place of pilgrimage for Jains, a major tourist attraction for the City of Leister and has been visited by many tourists and dignitaries, including the British Prime Minister John Major. The wider community also benefits from this Center as an educational and tourist resource.

After retirement Shah got his PhD in Jainism. Shah is the author of 2 outstanding volumes on Jainism. He has also written sections of Jainism in the Readers Digest World Religions, in the Times Encyclopedia of World Religions, and in the Philips Hand Book of World Religions. . He is also the Fellow in Jain Studies at University of Birmingham and School of Oriental and African Studies in London. He is the main force to start the Department of Jain Studies in Mumbai University and Faculty of Comparative Religions in Antwerp, Belgium.

He is recipient of many honors: in 1987 Vice president of India gave him an award in Delhi on behalf of Jain Mahasabha and in 2001 the Prime Minister of India awarded him the highest Jain award the ‘Jain Ratna’ for contribution in promoting Jain religion. He has been frequently invited at Buckingham Palace, including a private luncheon with the Queen in 2000. In 1990 he was honored as ‘An International Leader in Achievement’ by the Biographical Centre Cambridge UK and in 1991 was chosen as the ‘Man of the Year’ by the American Biographical Institute.

Apart from his community and academic activities he has involved himself in humanitarian activities to promote the Quality of Life and Human Dignity for the people. His main humanitarian works are very visible in Bihar and Gujarat India.

Over and above his outstanding achievements, one thing he has not lost is his focus on involving young people in each any every activity he gets involved in. In Leister Temple he added museum to educate and involve young people. It is very clear to him that youth of today and tomorrow is the only one who is going to carry on our message for the years to come. Addition of museum was also instrumental in securing grant from U.K. Government.

At present he is deeply involved in promoting a multi faith facility which will include separate worshiping areas for people of different religions. The facility will also include restaurants and entertainment facilities to attract youngsters. Shah is working on this concept to bring to a reality right in the middle of London. He has researched ways of acquiring government grant and subsidy from the developers.

Shah knows that nothing comes easy. He is working day and night to help youngsters from all walks of life. Even though his focus is on promoting Jain Religion, he never loses sight of helping people of all casts, creed, color or gender. He believes in the philosophy ‘the charity starts at home’ and always donates generously to whichever project he starts. He is the rare individual who is a leading community worker, academic and philanthropist

If you desire to start any humanitarian service, I am certain that Shah may be able to guide you in the right direction. Do not procrastinate. Pick out any area you can provide services in, and get the full satisfaction in providing services to a mankind.

My future blogs will cover the humanitarian services provided by the following individuals. They are not listed in any particular order.

1. Dr. Ashwin Pandya and his deceased wife Dr. Anjuben Pandya

2. Group of doctors who started health-fair and are providing free consultation services, to the people of all communities, at a pre-determined time during summer months

3. Dr. Rajanibhai Shah who built, a One of a kind, Jain Temple and a community facility in Queens, NY (one of the five boroughs of New York City).

4. Mr. U.N. Mehta, founder of world famous “Torrent Pharmaceuticals” and various other industries in Ahmadabad, India.

If you know about other such individuals please let me know. Before you mention their name make sure they have helped thousands of people with their dedicated service. Please make sure your introduction is very short. Do not send any attachments. My telephone number is 516-705-8758. Address of this blog is nickshahblog.blogspot.com and my email address is nick.m.shah@gmail.com

Dr. N.K. Shah could be contacted at: natubhaishah@aol.co.uk

Humanitarian Services- Blog #1

Several future blogs will be devoted to pay tribute to the people who have devoted their entire life for providing humanitarian services. There may be thousands and thousands of such people, but I will write about only the people I have known, or heard about, providing such services for a number of years. I intend to cover only those activities which could help hundreds or thousands of people who may not have known about these individuals or services provided by them.

Today I am going to write about one such couple whom I have known for the last 55 years. This couple is involved in several different kinds of humanitarian services. In this article I will cover only one such activity. Other activities will be covered one by one in the future blogs. Mr. Ramesh Shah and Dr. Jaya Shah of Cleveland, Ohio is a unique couple providing humanitarian services for a number of years.

Let me give you a little background about these two individuals. Mr. Ramesh Shah is an electrical engineer. He graduated in 1959 being number one from V.J.T.I. in Mumbai. He got his masters degree from University of Illinois in 1960. He also got his Masters of Business Administration degree from Marquette University located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Dr. Jaya Shah graduated from Grand Medical College, University of Mumbai. She has practiced pediatrics in Cleveland, Ohio for a period of 36 years.

The topic which we are going to review here is “Medical Camps (also known as Medical yatra)”. These camps are arranged by Shah’s for the last 7 years. They started with a small group of doctors and now about 40 medical professionals & volunteers service these medical camps. These camps took place at Bidada, Kutch; Chennai, Tamil Nadu; Kochi, Kerala; Jamnagar, Gujrat; Balighat, Orissa; Mt. Abu, Rajasthan; Surat, Gujrat and several other locations. The purpose behind these camps is to provide free service to all the people in need. Hundreds of villagers come to these camps where medical doctors provide all kind of free services. Services cover: Infections, malnutrition, hyper tension, pneumonia, eye diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, anemia, thyroid and many water borne diseases. Services also include bone density and checking blood/sugar for diabetes. Free medications are also provided to treat these diseases.

For doctors there is a very good incentive to join these camps.

Their service could benefit hundreds of poor and needy villagers, save lot of lives and provide an economic and social benefit for them selves as a bonus. Trip can be tax deductible at the same time they can visit their parents or loved ones, attend a wedding or go on a tour to India. Can you imagine the kind of satisfaction you will get when the person getting this service gives you blessing and hugs you whole heartily? I am sure all of us want to do some charitable work, but do not know how to. Many a time we procrastinate and never do the work which we desire to do. Shah’s who have hands on experience will be able to help you or any of your doctor friends who have a desire to help others at the same time help themselves by taking a tax deductible trip. Make it a point to at least introduce this article to 5 of your doctor friends. Even if you do not join this camp you will get satisfaction if any one doctor, who you introduced, joins this camp.

LET ME SUMMARISE WHY YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY

1. Tax deductible trip to India or the place where the camp is held

2. Visit parents, relatives or friends

3. Attend a wedding or any other occasion

4. Visit a pilgrimage or places of interest

5. Provide services to the needy people

6. Get the satisfaction by providing free services

7. Get the blessing from the people who got an eye sight or other medical help

8. Find out for yourself the pleasure of giving.

You can also arrange such camps in other countries too. Also you do not have to be from U.S.A. to join these camps. Many doctors from England, Canada and India have joined these groups from U.S.A.

“Hands that Help are Holier than Hands that Pray”- Vivekanand

In a near future I intend to write about another couple Dr. Ashwin Pandya and his deceased wife Dr. Anjuben Pandya from East Meadow, New York. Future blogs will also cover Dr. Natvar Shah (also known as Dr. N.K. Shah) from London, U.K. I will cover only those aspects of their life which directly or indirectly help to achieve the needs of thousand of people who are eager and waiting for such help. If you know about other such individuals please let me know. Before you mention their name make sure they have helped thousands of people with their dedicated service. Please make sure your introduction is very short. Do not send any attachments. My telephone number is 516-705-8758 and my email address is nick.m.shah@gmail.com

Please do not include my email address or Mr. Ramesh Shah’s email address in your general email group which you are sending to all of your friends. Mr. Ramesh Shah and Dr. Jaya Shah can be contacted at 440-460-1037. Their email address is jayashahmd@sbcglobal.net