Page 15 - Hakoba Times

JUNE 12, 2020 | NORTH AmERIcAN Newsline | The Indian Eye 15

Community leAders rememBer And pAy

triButes to rAmesh pAtel

“we Are Committed to CArry on “enCourAging others CAme nAturAlly

the torCh lit By you” to him, As did Community serviCe”

e had a great loss of our life
as our dear RAMESH BHAI am at a loss of words to express my feelings about Ramesh
Wleft us very soon. We never Kaka. In the close to a decade of time spent under his care
imagined this. Ramesh Bhai was a good I and guidance, I have so many memories, so many anecdotes.
I remember the times I would argue with him to try out new
family man, good husband, good father, avenues for FIA. Kaka, on the other hand, would calmly listen
good grandfather, was son of a well cul- to me, and with his signature smile, tell me that my time would
tured family. come too, and that it would come sooner that I’d know.
I don’t know what I can portray him
as. A leader. A patriot of mother land. Now, as I look back, I feel lost. It won’t be an exaggeration
A pakka Bhartiya. A good mentor, who to say that I am still trying to comprehend this untimely episode.
He played the role of a fierce shield who protected and
always gave credit to others, good moti-
vator... elder brother. He was a Purshottam to me. dodged maligned interferences and jealousy-filled intrusions,
I even feel he was an ambassador of our motherland. A person while the doers did their tasks and played their roles. He lived by
from a business family, he dedicated his life to FIA, Mother India the theory of delivery and of the saying, “ideas are dime a dozen,
and to create that spirit in millions of Indians by involving them in implementation is priceless.”
charitable work and spirit you can’t compare. Encouraging others came naturally to him, as did community
Ramesh Bhai, you will be remembered by me and by so many service, which was his prized jewel which he was always proud to
people. We will definitely miss you but we are committed to carry showcase.
on the torch lit by you, FIA. With you in our mind, we will try keep A very clean and transparent hearted man, a people’s person
you dream alive, make you proud and happy where ever you are. who loved to interact with children including my own. Kaka was
indeed a man of the masses who worked very hard, did right by
Anand patel his family to the best of his ability and to the best of what he
fiA, past president 2016 knew how to, without caring for those who judged him. His goal
was to do right by his family and the community, which he did at
“he served our Community the very end.

selflessly for 40 yeArs” Ankur vaidya

assing away of our friend and
community leader Ramesh Pa- y very good friend Ramesh
Ptel is a great loss for the Indian Patel is not with us anymore.
American community. In the last 40 MI saw him on Facetime few
years, he served our Diaspora com- hours before this sad news came. He
munity selflessly in various capacities was friend of the whole Indian Amer-
starting as the FIA President in 1988 ican community, chairman for life of
and later as its Chairman for over two Federation of Indian Association NY/
decades. He also served as President of NJ/CT, passionate and patriotic.
the National Federation of Indian As- He was born on 20th April 1942. His
sociations (NFIA) from 1992 to ‘96. I birth year coincides with ‘Quit India
have had close working relations with him through these organi- Movement’. His love and dedication for
zation. In fact, in 1989, when the NFIA organized the First Global Bharat guided him to unite community under the banner of FIA.
Convention of People of Indian Origin in New York city, he was It is a personal loss, Ramesh Patel left us for the heavenly abode
a host and helped in organizing the convention where GOPIO on 6th June 2020, this is another great loss for the community due
was formed. His efforts and campaigns have helped to get support to Coronavirus.
from many Congressional Representatives and Senators for better A legendary father figure is not with us anymore but his spir-
US-India relations. There are only very few community leaders in it will continue to guide us. We are together with Patel family at
the USA who have over forty years of continuous community ser- this challenging time. We pray for strength to Patel family and our
vice and Ramesh has been one of them. We will miss him in our prayers for the liberation of Ramesh Bhai.
community campaigns and service activities as well as promoting Ramesh Bhai, you will be deeply missed. Deepest condolence
India’s causes. for all friends and family members from me.

dr. thomas Abraham
Chairman, Global Organization of people of indian Origin dr Sudhir parikh,
(GOpiO) international. former president fiA(tri-state)

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