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IMPRESSIONS
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We now hold 50 camps all over India every year and approach colleges to get their students to participate. We also have a one-week camp every year at Deolali for students coming from all over India.Once lovershot the budget by Rs. 17,000 and was in a fix.I talked to M.R.Pai. He advised me to talk about it directly to PB as he was funding the training. I met PB and apologized to him for the budgetary deficit and explained the reason. His response surprised me:"Why should you be sorry?" he asked."It is an investment for the future of our country." He was always pragmatic and thought big!
He would attend our annual youth camps often along with the eminent lawyer, Nani Palkhivala, and would talk to the students on a one-toone basis. However, these days he only attends for a short time due to advanced age.
When M.R.Pai was being treated for cancer at the Shushrusha Hospital, PB was very concerned as he had never heard of a hospital by that name located in a Mumbai suburb. He was not satisfied till he had found out through his own inquiries that the hospital was indeed a very good one and Mr Pai was being taken care of well.
Forum of Free Enterprise is a non-political, neutral organization which aims at educating the public on economic affairs.
Mr. Arvindbhai Jivabhai Director of Poona Fine Chemicals and Prabhav Chemicals. Though I had been hearing about Pratapbhai for years, I actually got to know him intimately only around the time his father died, about 25-30 years ago. His father Sheth Bhogilal Leherchand had been a good friend of my father's. When I started my chemical business, I went to meet Sheth Bhogilal at his Shree Ram Mills. He welcomed me as the son of his old friend. I told him I wanted to sell my chemicals to his mill. He called his purchase officer and introduced me to him. He said, "This is Arvindbhai, the son of my good friend Jeevabhai, buy goods from him, but ensure that the quality and price are right." He was always direct and uncomplicated. He was always very supportive of me because of my father's friendship with him.
With the extinction of the flame of thought, conduct becomes blind - Vinoba Bhave
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