Draft:Ishwarbhai Ambalal Patel

Ishwarbhai Ambalal Patel (December 26, 1934 – December 4, 2022), popularly praised as Shertha’s Bhamashah, was a businessman, financier, and philanthropist. Born and educated in Guajarat, India, he founded or promoted several businesses in or around Ahmedabad, promoted and chaired the Navnirman Cooperative Bank Limited, donated to many educational and healthcare organizations, and helped many under-privileged youths in various ways.

Life
Ishwarbhai was born on 26 December 1934, in Shertha village, Gandhinagar District, Gujarat, India, to Laxmiben (mother) and Ambalal Harjivandas Patel. He was raised there along with his two brothers and three sisters. He had his school education from Kadi Sarva Vidyalaya, and Bachelor (plus a part of Master) of Commerce from H L Commerce College in Ahmedabad. He married to Maguben Ishwardas Patel of Kadi. After age-related health issues, he died on 4 December 2022 in Ahmedabad.

Works
With three of his school mates, Ishwarbhai started a hardware store, which later became famous as D. Ishwarlal and Company, in Ahmedabad. This and his other related ventures partnered with Tata Steel and other distributors, and supplied iron and steel plates to most of engineering manufacturers in the Ahmedabad region.

As its Chairman, he contributed extensively and intensively to the sustenance and growth of the Navnirman Cooperative Bank Limited.

With Rajnibhai Patel and others, he was instrumental in the establishment and management of Lincoln Pharmaceuticals, which has now become a global supplier of pharmaceuticals.

His Patfab group of companies, founded by Prahladbhai of Shelavi, manufactured pressure vessels and other equipment for textile, paper, and cement mills. His Shelavi Pulp and Paper Mills Pvt Ltd in Chhatral grew from this collaboration.

Lifestyle
He lived a comparatively simple life, and rarely used car and other allowances available from the Navnirman Bank. He was an ardent reader of Guajarati literature and English literature, and enjoyed classical and spiritual music. He was an informal follower of Swami Sachchidanand, and occasionally participated in social reform activities.

Charities


He made numerous, known or unknown, donations to worthy causes in Shertha, Kadi, and many other places. He and his family have made significant financial donations to the Kadi Sarva Vidyalaya and University. Most academic and healthcare pursuits in Shertha were blessed with his generous alms. As a President of the Shertha Kelavani Mandal for many years, he helped the Shertha High School flourish and shine out, and helped Bal Mandir and Sanskar Dham in many different ways. He advised teachers there never to worry about any financial difficulty and encouraged them to shine out by making the best performance. He had his doors always open for financial aids for healthcare clinics, girls’ education, education of the underprivileged, higher education of deserving candidates, and other noble activities. He inspired and motivated others to make donations. He made historic efforts to awaken dormant wealthy people to help the poor of the society.