2021 Celebrations of the Center:

PRESIDENT’S  REPORT

 

                                                             HAPPY HOLIDAYS 


Dear Friends:

The following is a brief report of the Zoom meeting held on Thursday, December 23, 2021. The meeting was anchored by Mr. Pankaj Parikh, VP, and hosted by Mr. Niranjan Patel, Secretary. Proceedings of the meeting were placed on YouTube by Mr. Jagdish Patel, VP-PR.  Thanks to all. 

Thanks to Bank of Baroda as a Grand Benefactor for Silver Jubilee Celebrations 2021-2022. Also thanks to our member Mr. Ashok Sheth for liaising with the Bank. 

The meeting started with a prayer by Mr. & Mrs. Bharatbhai & Neelaben Goradia. 

 

President welcomed members and urged them to avoid large gatherings in view of the fast-spreading Omicron variant. 

 

1. (i) Mr. Dinesh O. Shah’s Presentation:

 

President welcomed Dr. Dineshbhai Shah, 83, whose presentation was on વિજ્ઞાન , સાહિત્ય , સેવા અને સંસ્કૃતિનો અદભુત સમન્વય and referred to his short video which was sent to members earlier. It chronically described his life journey imbedded with sterling achievements. A man of vision, he is an outstanding scientist, philanthropist, poet, and scholar. In his presentation today, he succinctly narrated his life story underscoring the fact that he won’t easily accept a No to his proposal; instead, he would leave no stone unturned in his search for a solution. 

 

Our member Mr. Himatbhai Parekh of FL introduced Dr. Dineshbhai Shah (profile attached). 

 

Impressed by a line in the prayer – પ્રેમસે હમ ગુરુજનોકી નિત્ય હી સેવા કરે – Dr. Dineshbhai said that we are indebted to each of our Gurus who gave us શિક્ષણ and quoted Sant Kabir that Guru is superior to God. 

 

Having lost his father when he was 10, he toiled, worked in farms, and spinned threads from cotton to make a shirt for self. He struggled very hard and firmly believed that the perspiration emanating from hard work was more pious than Ganga Jal. For him, work was worship which fulfilled his dream of studying in the USA, earned a PhD and placed four publications under his belt. 

 

Lured by the poems of Rajendra Shah, Dr. Dineshbhai cultivated interest in writing poems which won prizes which in turn propelled him to write more poems. Thereafter, he developed a habit of writing poems on whatever he observed in life. 

 

NASA USA invited Dineshbhai to research on Surface Science which made him to learn about the evolution of the earth, sea, volcanoes, hurricanes, etc. He joined Columbia University to research on several scientific subjects including evaporation, collection of oil spilled from ocean tankers. He joined as an assistant professor at Florida University as a  chemical/anesthesiology engineer which compelled him to spend time in library to learn and justify his appointment. He was awarded the Best Teacher prize on Surface Science.

 

Dr. Dineshbhai happily described how he met and married his sweetheart Suvarnaben. Unfortunately, she passed away in year 2000 leaving responsibly of young family on his shoulders. 

 

It was his intense desire to pay back to his school in Nadiad and Dharamsinh Desai University by creating a Center of Nanotechnology & Surface Science which required about Rs. 9 crore. It was a challenge how to raise the monumental sum. Finally, funds were raised from Government – 3.5 crore, University – 3.5 crore, and Industries – 2 crore. Ultimately, the project came to fruition and the Shah-Shulman (professor) Lab started. Dr. Dineshbhai proved the old adage that where there is a will, there is a way!

 

Dr. Dineshbhai showed a 10-minute video of painless and bloodless tooth extraction based on an Ayurvedic method which benefited about 2,000 people. Thereafter, he showed and explained four pictures/books: પરબ તારાં પાણી, આંબે આવ્યો મહોર, સુવર્ણ સરિતા, અને his wife સુવર્ણાબેન who wore evergreen smile on her face.

 

Professor Chandrakant Patel has compiled a 268-page voluminous book titled PARAB (પરબ) (a cover page attached) concisely narrating the life journey of Dr. Dineshbhai. The title પરબ is most appropriate as in villages people while walking under the scorching Sun from one village to another take a brief rest at a પરબ located usually under the shadow of a tree, quench their thirst with a glass of water at પરબ at no cost, and proceed further to their destinations. 

 

The establishment of a  પરબ illustrates that someone has thought of the needs of others. The others who take advantage of પરબ are indebted to the person who set up the પરબ. Likewise, we travel between two villages: birth and death. During our journey in-between, we do drink water from many such Parabs – – which may be in the form of advice, encouragement, help, knowledge, guidance from elders, teachers, friends, relatives, etc. Therefore, we should likewise build up our own પરબ for the benefits of others. No wonder, the title of the book is selected as પરબ, since Dr. Dineshbhai has done selfless work to benefit others. He acknowledged four exceptional individuals on the front page of his book whose Parabs were instrumental for the successful life journey of Dr. Dineshbhai: Mother Shardaben, wife Suvarnaben, Premmurti Padmaben and inspirational Madhuriben.

 

Viewers were extremely impressed by the down-to-earth talk by Dr. Dineshbhai, who at the age 83 is as vibrant as a young man. Kudos to him for his vision, tenacity, courage and determination. His email address: dineshoshah@yahoo.com

 

(ii) Musical Program:

 

Singer Lipika Jena entertained viewers for an hour and a half with Bollywood songs. Dr. Tushar Patel also sang beautiful songs. The program was arranged through our member Bharatbhai Goradia. Dr. Tushar Patel introduced Lipika Jena. 

 

Bharatbhai has brought several talented artists to IASCCOFNY for entertaining seniors. Today’s program was his 28th since the beginning of the pandemic season (31artists so far). His voluntary service is priceless and he is a truly a cultural ambassador between the U.S. and India. We hope he will continue to bring more artists in the future and shower smiles on seniors. 

 

A Happy Birthday in advance to Bharatbhai as he is a Christmas baby and congratulations for the Bollywood Legend Award 2021 bestowed upon hin a few days ago. (See attached). 

 

The singers’ songs included Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Tune O Rangile Kaisa Jaadu Kiya, Ehsan Tera Hoga Mujh Par, Ajeeb Dastan Hai Yeh, Mera Juta Hai Japanese, Mein Gaoon Tum So Jao, Lag Jaa Gale, Na Tum Hamein Jaano, Jingle Bell, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Dil Ne Kaha Chupke Se, Hawa Hawai, Mera Dil Dhak Dhak Kare, among others. 

 

Viewers applauded singers for their performance. 

 

(iii) New Members: 

 

We welcome the following new members:

 

Dr. Shashikant Tolia

Sanjay & Sonal Patel

 

(iv) Contributions:

 

We thank Vasantbhai & Shakuntalaben Gandhi for their generous contribution of $151. Vasantbhai was the owner of New York Gold company in Jackson Heights, Queens. 

 

(v) Announcements:

 

(a) Mukund Mehta informed that nomination forms were received from Shobhanaben Doshi, Suhag Mehta and Ashok Sheth for the EC membership by the deadline of 12/20/21. Since Mukund Mehta is stepping down from his presidency and as an EC member at the end of 2021, there will be at least one vacancy. IASCCOFNY Constitution mandates that every two years, four EC members retire who are eligible for reappointment based on the EC members’ approval. Therefore, additional vacancy hinges on the decision of the remaining three retirees by the end of 2021. The 2022 EC will select a new President. 

 

(a) Mukund Mehta informed our member Dr. Nalini Juthani’s participation in discussions about “Relevance of New Year Resolutions” on iTV Gold interview with Mr. Ashok Vyas. The following is a link of the interview: 

 

 

(b) Congratulations to our member Gitaben Patel who is the 1st Runner Up in Mrs. Bharat Elite USA 2021 contest (photo attached). She intends to organize a fashion show of IASCCOFNY ladies for live presentation in 2022. 

 

(c) Pankaj Parikh, VP,  appealed viewers to become members since the goal is to increase the current membership of about 1,600 to 2,000. Membership data is being updated by EC member Nareshbhai Shah and Jyotindrabhai Patel. Members are requested to provide their information even if there is no change. 

 

(d) Happy Birthdays/Wedding Anniversary: 

 

Happy 75th birthdays to Chandrakant Shah (contribution $151) and Navnit Shah (contribution $101) whose birthday is on 12/21st. Happy Birthday in advance to Bharatbhai Goradia and Rajesh Shah whose birthdays are on 12/25th, and to Jitendra Zaveri, Jt. Secretary, whose birthday is on 12/28th. 

 

Happy Wedding Anniversary to Ajitbhai & Shailaben Marfatia on their anniversary on 12/21st. 

 

(e) Niranjan Patel, Secretary, stressed the importance of filling the cruise registration forms correctly. So far 60 rooms are booked. Thanks to our member Mr. Anuj Doshi of A&M Pharmacy (Hillside Ave) for providing cruise forms to members Monday through Saturday. 

 

A Vote of Thanks by Mr. Mukesh Kapadia (Toronto). 

 

2. The Computer Class:

 

No computer class on 12/25th. Merry Christmas!