Pratham Supporter Pravin Mody Passes Away

On February 27, 2016, Pratham lost a devoted supporter when philanthropist and businessman Pravin Mody, 75, passed away surrounded by his family in California.

Pravin made headlines last year when he and his wife Sudha generously donated $1 million to Pratham to set up a mega campus for technical skills training in Ahmednagar, a major hub of industrial activity in Maharashtra. The campus, to be known as the Pratham Mody Technical Institute, will provide residential training in electrical, welding, construction and plumbing to 200 young adults at a time. Phase 1 of the project is expected to be completed by December 2016.

“When I expressed a desire to go to the US to study, my family mortgaged the family jewelry to buy my plane ticket,” said the Mumbai native. “That day, I made a promise to myself that some day I would build an educational institute in my family name. Donating to Pratham is just fulfilling my promise.”

Pravin was a well-loved and prominent member of southern California’s Indo-American community, where he was involved in a variety of charitable projects and was an active Pratham LA board member. His zest for life led him to operate several businesses (including GBS Linens, one of the largest party linen supply companies), complete three marathons (after two heart bypass surgeries), and travel to all seven continents.

Pravin was diagnosed with the lung disease Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in 2014.

When asked what inspired him to donate, Pravin once replied, “I am driven by my personal beliefs that money loses its importance quickly once the basic financial needs are met… Use it for the greater good, don’t just hoard it… Life for me is not only about happiness. Life is about having meaning.”

Read more about Pavin Mody in these two India Journal articles.