NRI hotelier, Chandu K. Patel elected chairman of NFIA

Los Angeles,  California, March 08, 2015
NRIpress-Club/GS/Karen

On March 08, 2015, NRI hotelier, Chandu K. Patel was elected chairman of National Federation of Indian-American Associations (NFIA) which represents 2.5 million Indian Americans in the US. He has also served as vice president of NFIA, Past President & Chairman of Federation of Indo-American of Southern California (FIA). He was the founder and chairman of the "Nav Gujarat Society", Southern California, Hotel-Motel Association & Indo-US Chamber of Commerce in the USA.

Chandubhai K. Patel, also known as "C. K. Patel" came to Los Angeles, USA as a student in 1974  to do his M.B.A. (Industrial Management)  degree, USA after  completing his B.Sc. (Geology) from M. G. Science College, Gujrat University.  He was the first NRI in the world to build, own and operate a full-service Prestigious Oceanfront (Five Star) Hilton Hotel at Dana Point in California in 1992. He has his farmland in Gujarat, particularly in his native place of Gandhinagar district and in Sabarkantha district where he works as socio-political leader.

 “He is proud himself to have farmland in Gujarat and has worked on his land as a farmer earlier,” C. K. Patel told our NRIpress-Club representative at Haveli Restaurant last week.“ Interestingly he is also proud himself as Patel/Punjabi farmer because Patels were migrated from Punjab to Gujarat.”

 CK Patel  Developed Greenport Energy Park (GEP), LLC for the purchase of a 1,309 acres (3.5miles) waterfront industrial park site which is located in the Greater San Francisco Bay Region of California, less than 12 nautical miles from the world famous Golden Gate Bridge.

 He setup the Sabarkantha Health and Research Foundation to take care of basic health and education in North Gujarat and started the Krishna General Hospital project in Himatnagar, expecting the cost of Rs.50 crore. He organize the medical/Eye Camp regularly every month in the rural area of north Gujarat to improve the general public health of poor people.

 He also helped  to set the “Geeta Girls Hostel” in Himatnagar by accommodate about 300 college students who come from rural areas. As President for the "Gujarat Bal Sarankshan Gruh" at Ahmedabad, CK has donated liberally to help build the lives of abandoned kids. This centre was set up by former Prime Minister Morarji Desai in 1956.

 He was awarded such as Glory of Gujarat Award", "Bharat Gaurav Ratna Award", "Pride of Gujarat Award", "Girnar Award", "Patidar Ratna Award", "Rotarary Centenary Award"…so on

  He was invited to attend several Presidential inaugurations, Party Conventions and also served on the Chairman Advisory Board of the National Republican Party. He has been a member of the Presidential Round Table and also a recipient of the "Republican Presidential Award". He also joined President Clinton's official visit to India as a Member of Mission, Indian-American Businesses. He was an invitee at the White House for the arrival ceremony for First State Dinner of Hon'ble Prime minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh and his wife Mrs. Gursharan Kaur which was organized by the US-President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama.

 Chandubhai K. Patel is an ardent follower of Gandhian philosophy and strongly believes that non-violent way of life is the only solution going forward to bring eternal peace on earth. He was awarded as Best Hotel Operator Award by Hilton Hotel Group of USA.

--------

PASSPORT SURRENDER RULES AMENDED to pay Miscellaneous

fees of USD 20.00

By Dilip Butani

In supersession of previous rules, Government of India has decided that Persons of Indian origin who have already acquired foreign citizenship until May 31, 2010 will not be required to pay renunciation fees of $175.00, he/she will be required to pay Miscellaneous fees of USD 20.00 when getting the old Indian passport cancelled/surrendered......Read More

India Day in the White House

Tuesday November 24th, 2009 Washington DC.
Anju Garg/ S. Dabgotra

It was a proud day for all Indo-Americans as President Obama and Mrs. Obama hosted the His Excellency Dr. Manmohan Singh and Mrs. Gursharan Kaur for the first state visit to the White House. All the roads leading to the White house had Indian and the American flags flying together. All visitors to the White house were given an American and an Indian flag. Indian colors were everywhere. On his arrival Dr. Manmohan Singh was given, Ruffles and Flourishes and Hail the chief honors followed by the Nineteen-Gun salute......Read More

Los Angeles, NRI Gujarat Congress leader joins BJP

Ahmedabad, Oct. 24, 2008
Santosh Kumari

Los Angeles NRI hotelier, Chandu K. Patel, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) along with a large number of his supporters. In 2007, he lost Gujarat assembly elections on a Congress ticket by 8,700 votes.

Patel said, "I am impressed by the dynamic leadership of the chief minister Mr.Modi. It is due to his sincere efforts that Nano has come to Gujarat."

It is considered to be a big blow for the Congress in the state. He was the richest candidate with assets totalling Rs.2.21 billion.

NRI patel from LA contest the Gujarat assembly polls on a Congress ticket
Indian politics is murky, dirty and polluted. I want to raise my voice in favor of clean system

Ahmedabad, Nov. 27, 2007
Santosh Kumari/Gary Singh

NRI, LA, California based hotelier, C.K. Patel will contest from the Himmatnagar constituency, Ahmedabad, near to his native place of Vaghasi.

On Monday night, the congress announced C.K. Patel and Mahendrasinh Vaghela, son of Textile Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela, are among the 24 candidates for the second phase of elections, voting for which will take place Dec 16.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is contesting all 87 seats and the Congress is contesting 82 seats. Up to now, the congress announced nominations for 74 out of 95 seats of the second phase

C.K Patel was one of the first NRI to Own prestigious Ocean Front Hilton Hotel resort in the world

C.K Patel brought move dairies & Motels. He started Taj development corporation which looks after all the aspects of Hotel business like development, construction & management. He is a licence broker & general contractor. The most & biggest challenge for C.K.Patel was at the time of building new hotel. The govt. had denied the permission to build the hotel, due to CK’s fast process on U.S. land . CK studied the law in details & convinced the govt that he is right & he won the case

He build and operate hotels in California , including the prestigious Ocean Front Hilton Hotel resort located at Dana Point, California. He also owns many other hotels in U.S.A. are looked after and manage by his two brothers and other family members.

In India: His Sabarkantha Health and research Foundation has donated Rs.51 lakh toward setting up the Geeta girls’ hostel in Himatnagar. He is an active contributor to various village projects, including water management in drought area in Gujarat, 'Bal Mandir', medical & eye camps and samuh lagnas in Sabarkantha District through Non-Governmental Organisations(NGOs) such as Asha, Manav kalyan trust, and the Gandhi Leprosy Foundation. These endeavors have strengthened his resolve to do more for the motherland in the years ahead, and in so doing flulfill his childhood dream of actively participating in Indian politics.

C.K Patel has not to bother about his business including Hotels in USA and spend most of his time in India on social activities and political career. He is willing and able to move back to India to pursue his political aspirations. He had never ever wanted to give up his Indian citizenship. For his dream, he had proudly kept his Indian passport.

His building projects include the $3.4 million Cultural Center and Community Hall for the Gujarati community in Rowland Heights, California.

C.K. Patel is Founder and Chairman, NavGujarat Society and Indo-US Chamber of Commerce, Founder, Southern California Hotel-Motel Association, President and Chairman, Federation of Indian American Associations (FIA) of Southern California, Executive Director, National Federation ofIndian American Associations (NFIA), Member, Board of Directors, National Federation of Indian American Associations
(NFIA), Member, Board of Trustees, National Federation of Indian American Associations
(NFIA)

C.K. Patel has also served on the Chairman Advisory Board for the National Republican Party. He has attended the last three Republican inaugurations since 1982, and is currently on the Presidential round - table. Although busy with his expanding hotel business, Patel still finds time for a strong political role representing the Indian Community, as well as to spend the weekends with family. He had listed in the Who’s Who of the Republican Party, an active life member of the Republican Senatorial Inner Circle and the Presidential Task Force, and member of the California delegation to the 1994 Republican Senate mid-term convention. He had been invited to attend the inauguration of Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H Bush and George W Bush, and awarded the much-coveted Republican Presidential Award. He served as Member of Mission during President Clinton’s visit to India, and as host at welcome receptions honoring the visits to the US of various Indian dignitaries, including former Prime Minister I. K Gujral, T. N. Sheshan and others.

For many years, he is working both with the Indo-American and the mainstream American political communities, tapping into the existing national organizational networks for establishing political connections and influence for ever closer trade, cultural and educational ties between India and the US. As a prominent member of the Patel Samaj , he is associated with dedication to good deeds and socially uplifting programs that include innovative projects like mass weddings to cut down on marriage ceremony costs

He was born in Sabarkantha district of Gujrat and the eldest son. He has two brothers, Manubhai & Babubhai & one sister, Arunaben.

C.K. Patel received B.Sc (Geology ) from Gujarat State University. He came to Los Angeles as a student in 1974 and received M.B.A. ( Industrial Management ) U.S.A.

In 1978, C.K. Patel married to Gitaben & has three children. His son has been attending the school in Ahmedabad for the past four years