Sanjay Naik Bhagat
Who is Sanjay Naik Bhagat?
Early Life:
Sanjaybhai Naik Bhagat was born on 8th April 1975. His father Shree Thakorbhai Ranchhodji Bhagat was renowned social worker and dedicated chartered Rotarian and past president of millennium club in Gandevi- Navsari region of South Gujarat. His mother Jyotiben is a devotee and housewife. He graduated with Bachelor of Commerce in the year 1995 from South Gujarat University, Surat and then went for higher studies and received Post Graduate Diploma and Business Management from Naranlala Institute of Management, Navsari, Gujarat. From his early childhood he was very much influenced and inspired by his father’s social services and dreamt about following the same path.
Career:
He started his career as a Salesman in Cement Company. At a very young age of 22, he started his own business of cement distributorship. He is first generation entrepreneur in his family. With shear hard work and dedication he made his name in South Gujarat. After 4 years he ventured in contracting business. Working in challenging environment & tough projects has been his hallmark. In very short period he gained reputation of completing prestigious and technically challenging projects in record time. During this tenure he worked with Samsung Engineers, DODSAL, ITD Cementation, Shapoorji Pallonji, InterContinental Hotel-Goa, Torrent Power Plant and IOCL. He also rendered his services in first of its kind “Sabarmati River Front” project, which was a dream of then CM of Gujarat and current PM of India Shree Narendrabhai Modi.
His foresight lead him to Real Estate Development sector in the year 2006 and he founded Sanjay Groups of Companies and established his name as a leading Real Estate Developer in South Gujarat within a short span in less than a decade. But as they often say that destiny has different path for a few selected individuals. His life suddenly changed when he lost his father at the age of 38 years. Rather than perusing a bright career in the world of business he decided to devote his life to public service, cherishing learnings from his father. He founded Shree Thakorbhai Ranchhodji Bhagat Charitable Trust. With the motto of CARE LOVE RESPECT, he gave a strong social message by organizing blood donation camp on his father’s condolence prayer- a true tribute to the father by his son is to follow his path of selfless service for people.
From the young age of 17 years he has been very active in Co-operative and anavil community of Navsari region and South Gujarat.
He always says that he derives inspiration from his father who was a dedicated social & religious worker. An age old Rotarian, from charter member to president, Shree Thakorbhai received Rotary International USA’s highest award- “Avenue of Services” globally and “Best President Award”. His father served mainly downtrodden and needy people & worked at grass root level. He organized many blood donation camps and cataract camps in the region of South Gujarat mainly Gandevi & Navsari. Sanjaybhai even today says that rather than father he was his best friend.
Under the umbrella of trust, various eye donation, cataract, dialyses camps, blood donation camps are organized with institutions like Red Cross society, Rotary Eye Hospital etc. Under “Thakor Jyoti Care”, various activities of cataracts & alike are undertaken with Sanjaybhai’s zeal of serving people. Many activities like tree plantation, organ donation are organized by the trust with various Government and non Government agencies. The trust provides nutritious food to almost 1200 kids of many anganvadis. From hospital to old age homes to Jail to Library- trust is involved in social transformation. The trust provides medicines at an affordable rate.
One of the activities closed to Sanjyabhai’s heart is to inculcate reading habits and he has donated not only funds but also time to “Vanche Gujarat” and Mahabharat Olympiad by Sayaji Library. He believes that reading is an essential quality to be successful in 21st century. Indian culture and promotion of various cultural activities are also closed to his heart and the trust has organized various cultural & religious programs not only for Anavils but for all classes of society. The trust had organized one of its kind medical camp with many specialties in association with CIMS. It had also carried “Medical Yatra” with AIPNO – Association of Indian Physicians of Northern Ohio & Rotary Club of Gandevi. The trust has conducted many Samuh-Lagna programs for various communities. Sanjaybhai has donated endlessly for temples & various humanitarian activities undertaken by various temples of South Gujarat. For knowing spectrum of projects of trust i.e. from child care-education to women empowerment and various programmes for Swatchh Bharat, please visit www.sanjaynaikbhagat.org.
Sanjaybhai has unique and innovative way of involving youth in social service. He has become a youth icon He believes that sports are very much necessary for youth as studying. Sports not only teach discipline but various other virtues like team work, sportsmanship etc. On regular basis trust organizes Cricket, Tennis tournaments etc. The youth involved invariably opts for social service through his guidance and inspiration. His belief of India making its place in Olympics, he sponsored pole & high jump candidate for Master Olympics held in France.
Last year inspired by PM’s commitment to enhance the living standards of Divyang (Physically and mentally challenged people) he co-founded Divyang Care Foundation and assumed role as honorary founding secretary & founding trustee. The word Divyang is coined by the PM himself. PM spent his 67th birthday with Divyang on 17th September 2016 in Navsari in a mega Divyang camp. The trustees of the Divyang Care Foundation were facilitated by the PM on the occasion. The goal of the foundation is to work for overall development of Divyang. The vision is to provide skill development training to Divyang so that they can live with self-respect and support their families.
“His novel ways of integrating blood donation, eye camps, health checkups into various societal functions like “Samuha-Lagna”, garba, sports tournaments, religious “katha” have been widely acknowledged by people not only in the region but also by the NRIs residing abroad. These interwoven events have created new benchmarks for younger generation which is vividly seen by their increasing engagement in such activities”. He is also the founder trustee of Bruhad Anavil Samaj.
Recently Sanjaybhai has been awarded Glorious India award in New York on 28-05-2017 for his outstanding contribution to social service. It is a matter of pride for Navsari that he was the only Indian citizen who received this award amongst all for their exemplary contributions to society in various fields.