Pratap Bhogilal Journey Through Life

Author(s): Rauf Ahmed
Publisher: Bhupendra Singh Anand

Page 79

THE JOURNEY | 73
My father was greatly interested in women's education. Therefore we established a Commerce College at the SNDT University in Mumbai in my mother Champaben's name. Later on, the name was changed to Champaben Bhogilal College of Commerce and Science. Along with two leading citizens of Andheri, Jeewanlal Chinai and Sir Mathuradas Vissanji, my father had also set up a girls' school, the Andheri Girls High School. They also established colleges of Arts, Science and Commerce in Andheri, which are run by the Laxmi Charitable Trust in their respective names.
My father had died of cancer. So, in consultation with the famous oncologist Dr. Praful Desai, I donated for a laboratory at the Tata Memorial Hospital for cancer research, with a view to facilitate early diagnosis of cancer. We also donated a cancer ward at the Patan Janata Hospital in the name of my father.
My brother-in-law Dr. Suresh Store, who was a chest specialist, had died at an early age. So I thought it would be a good idea to set up a chest unit' in one of the hospitals which caters for the middle class. We established it at the Sushrusha Hospital in a Mumbai suburb in the name of my late daughter-in-law Anuradha. A library was named after my wife by Dr. Panda at the Asian Heart Institute. I had had my heart bypass surgery done at the same hospital.
It has been my normal practice to say two shlokas just as I get up in the morning and before going to bed at night:
Khamemi Savva Jeeve, Savve Jeeva Khamantu Me Mitti Me Savva Bhuyesu, Veram Mazza Na Kenai which means:
I beg forgiveness of all living beings, may all living beings forgive me; I have friendship with all living beings, enmity with none'
Shivamastu Sarva Jagatah, Parhitnirata Bhavantu Bhoot Ganaha Doshaha Prayantu Nasham, Sarvatra Sukhi Bhavatu Lokaha
Trust, but verify. Don't be afraid to see what you see. - Ronald Regan