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Mumbai: The life journey of Mahendra Mehta serves as a powerful testament to the boundless potential of determination, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to uplifting rural communities. As an IT professional, an IITian, he had the world at his feet. Yet he left his high paying job in the US to fulfill his commitment to serving the nation through education and skill development.
Here we give you a brief autobiographical life sketch of Mahendra Mehta.
Initial Years:
Born on February 26, 1956, in the picturesque village of Bhadsoda, 40 km from Chittorgarh in Rajasthan, he entered the world as a member of a humble farmer’s family.
His formative years were marked by close observation of his father, a dedicated social worker who selflessly devoted his time and resources for forty years to develop his village into a town through development. This profound act of selflessness left an indelible mark on a young man’s heart. Even as a child, he harboured a resolute desire to contribute to the well-being of rural communities through education.
Inspiration:
In addition to his father’s influence, he drew inspiration from his elder brother, M L Mehta, who served as an IAS officer. M L Mehta’s innovative and impactful work in implementing welfare programs for the underprivileged, notably during his tenure as Chief Secretary of Rajasthan in 1994-98, left a lasting legacy on him. M L Mehta’s unwavering dedication to social service received posthumous recognition with the prestigious Padmashri award in 2015. This further fuelled his determination to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s betterment.
Educational Journey:
His pursuit of education was marked by excellence with early schooling in his village and Bhilwara, where he laid the foundation for his future endeavours. In 1972, he embarked on a journey to IIT Delhi, where he pursued a degree in Chemical Engineering. His thirst for knowledge persisted, leading him to complete a post-graduation in Industrial Engineering in 1979.
While the allure of becoming an IAS officer was enticing, a unique opportunity beckoned, within just three months of starting his professional journey, he received an appealing offer from Tata Burroughs Limited for IT assignments in the United States. It was a tempting offer that posed a dilemma. Despite his dream of serving in the civil services, he made the difficult decision to defer that aspiration and embark on an international career in the IT industry. Nevertheless, he carried with him a profound childhood aspiration: to liberate impoverished families from the shackles of poverty in his country.
Returning To the Motherland from the USA:
Although the prospect of a lucrative IT consulting job in Detroit, USA, representing Tata’s was alluring, his heart remained in India. He made the choice to return to his homeland, forsaking the comforts of a burgeoning industry. After a brief stint with IDM, the successors of IBM’s legacy, he initiated IT-enabled services in Mumbai, catering to various sectors, including banking, pharmaceuticals, examinations, aviation, and IPO domains.
Planting the Seeds of Social Service:
In 2012, a pivotal moment unfolded in his life when he visited cattle vaccination camps organized by Swami Vivekanand Nyas in neighbouring villages of Udaipur. During this visit, he realized that a mere Rs 25 could provide crucial vaccinations to protect cattle from life-threatening diseases, thereby safeguarding the livelihoods of farmers. This realization ignited a profound determination within him. Committed to making a difference, he commenced fundraising efforts to support cattle vaccination programs, with the clear goal of ensuring that no cattle would go unprotected due to financial constraints.
His tireless endeavours saved the lives of more than 15,000 cattle, significantly impacting rural livelihoods. In 2013, he initiated fundraising efforts for Sumedha, his elder brother’s NGO. These funds primarily supported a college scholarship program, offering indigent yet meritorious students Rs 6,000 annually for the study material. This initiative aimed to empower deserving students and unlock doors to brighter futures.
A Spark for Joyful Learning:
In 2018, he conceived an innovative idea that would revolutionize the lives of countless underprivileged children. While observing his 5-year-old grand-daughter joyfully engaging with new toys every week, a profound thought struck him: “Children in villages lack access to toys, which are vital for joyful learning and mental development. Why not establish Smart Toy Banks in Government schools?” This visionary idea led to the birth of the “Antyodaya Foundation” in 2019, with a mission to establish Smart Toy Banks in the Government schools throughout India for joyful learning.
The foundation quickly gained momentum, expanding its reach to over 1,200 schools across eight states within just five years. This initiative benefited more than 1,50,000 students, and his vision is to reach 5,000 villages by 2027. The toy banks are continually enriched by collecting used toys from households in Mumbai and delivering them to schools. Teachers also contribute by periodically adding new toys, ensuring that children remain enthusiastic and spirited about learning. The mission has witnessed a substantial increase in enrolment in the schools. Toy banks play a pivotal role in expanding our network.
Impetus to Scholarship Classes and Digital Infra:
In 2020, while interacting with teachers, he identified a crucial gap in awareness regarding central government scholarship schemes. Many deserving underprivileged students were unintentionally missing out on these opportunities. To address this issue, he introduced free coaching classes within Government schools. This endeavour led to NMMS scholarships (Rs 48,000 each) for over 600 students and facilitated admissions for more than 400 students to Navodaya schools, known for their quality modern education and holistic development approach with the central government investing over 30 lakhs per student.
The tangible benefits resulting from the initiative, amount to an impressive sum of over Rs 125 crores, not to mention the significant intangible gains. His dedication to education also extends to enhancing digital infrastructure in government schools. His foundation provided Smart TVs, printers, projectors, sound systems, and computers to over 250 schools, equipping students with the tools necessary for comprehensive education and entertainment. Thanks to smart TVs, students’ learning of students continues even in the absence of teachers.
Empowering Women Through Financial Independence:
Another integral aspect of his work centres on empowering women in rural areas through skill development programs. These programs offer classes in tailoring, beautician skills, and cooking, all conducted within the villages to eliminate the need for travel. Each year, over 500 women receive training, empowering them to earn a monthly amount ranging from Rs 3000 to 10,000, helping them to achieve financial self-reliance and enhancing marital prospects of unmarried females.
They also contribute to environmental sustainability by crafting eco-friendly bags during their spare time. Additionally, destitute widows receive free sewing machines, providing them with a source of livelihood and a chance to live with dignity.
Relief to Indigent Families:
Clothing, an essential component of the “Roti, Kapada Aur Makan” trinity, is also at the forefront of his organization’s initiatives. With a dedicated team of five members, AF collects clothes from generous donors in Mumbai and distributes them free of cost to impoverished populations in over 200+ villages across Rajasthan, UP, and Gujarat, utilizing a network of teachers and social workers.
This endeavour has already benefited more than 150,000 families, providing them with over 12,00,000 clothing and household items. His vision extends beyond individual initiatives. He aspires to create a national network for the efficient distribution of clothing from urban, affluent communities to the needy in rural areas, further solidifying his legacy as a beacon of hope and transformation. Recycling household items, including clothing, helps protect the environment.
His foundation provides essential equipment for daily use to those in need. This support includes furnishing walking sticks for the elderly, as well as wheelchairs and crutches for disabled students. Through these efforts, he aims to enhance their quality of life and promote inclusivity, ensuring that individuals with different needs can participate fully in daily activities. To-date, 2500 walking sticks and 65 wheel-chairs have been provided to the needy.
Awards and Recognition:
The Government of Rajasthan has honoured him with the title “Shikha Bhushan” for two consecutive years, in 2023-24 and 2022-23. Additionally, his exemplary efforts to mitigate inequalities between the rich and poor were recognized by Micromax, which named him one of the “Heroes of India” in 2020-21.
A Beacon of Hope for the Underserved:
His five-point initiative, encompassing education, skill development, clothing for the needy, support for the disabled, and sewing machines for skilled widows, is dedicated to making a profound difference in the lives of “Antyodaya Families” those hailing from lower-income backgrounds. His unwavering commitment to providing employment to 500 people and scholarships to 1,000 students every year continues to flourish, thanks to the generous support of IIT alumni, trustees, friends, family, philanthropists, and corporates.
Plans are underway to launch YouTube channels for English lessons and competitive exam preparation. He has also authored three books on English vocabulary, taking a step forward to make learning English easier for Hindi speaking people, who make up around 44% of the population. His mission and vision are perfectly aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Out of 17 Goals of UN-SDGs, he is working to achieve the Goals listed at the following numbers-
-04 Quality Education
– 08 Decent Work and Economic Growth
– 10 Reduced Inequalities
He has a unified resolve to reach as many rural villages as possible, out of more than 6,50,000 villages of India, with a mission to transform, elevate, make a positive difference in their livelihood, and uplift the families of these regions.
