BWI: Dr Kulwant Rai, Founder and Chairman Emeritus, IILM Institutes and Banyan Tree Schools, left for his heavenly abode on October 18th, 2011

Press release from Business Wire India
Source: IILM Institute for Higher Education
Friday, November 04, 2011 10:22 AM IST (04:52 AM GMT)
Editors: General: Consumer interest; Business: Business services, Education & training
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Dr Kulwant Rai, Founder and Chairman Emeritus, IILM Institutes and Banyan Tree Schools, left for his heavenly abode on October 18th, 2011


New Delhi, Delhi, India, Friday, November 04, 2011 -- (Business Wire India) -- Entrepreneur, Industrialist, Philanthropist, Educationist, Dr Kulwant Rai was a self made man. Born on November 4th 1924, in a family of wealthy landowners, he lost his father at the age of 12. After completing his graduation from Hailey College of Commerce, Lahore, in 1946, Dr Rai chose not to join the family business. Instead he moved to Delhi with Rs. 5000 taken from his mother, to venture out on his own. In a short period, Dr Rai built a large business empire having interests in steel, textiles, and electronics.

After 40 years in business, in 1986, Dr Kulwant Rai handed over the reins of his empire to his sons and decided to devote his life to education and to service under the Sri Sathya Sai Organisation. Dr Rai truly believed his success in business was made possible only because of the Grace of God and that he must devote his life in the service of the less fortunate. For him, the greatest wealth was love and humility.

He served as State President of the Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Organisation in North India from 1976 to 2001 and also as a trustee of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust. Dr Rai was instrumental in building the Sri Sathya Sai International Center in Delhi which was inaugurated by Bhagawan in 1999.
Dr Kulwant Rai's abiding passion was education. The Rai School (now known as the Banyan Tree School) was set up in 1986 and the Institute for Integrated Learning in Management (IILM Graduate School of Management) in 1993. Dr Kulwant Rai had explained his goal in education based on the teachings of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba: "The process of education is to render the individual a happier and more useful person; it must also make him a better citizen, able and willing to further the progress of the nation to which he belongs."

In 1992, Dr Kulwant Rai received the National Award from the Hon'ble President of India, Shri Shankar Dayal Sharma, in recognition of his contributions to the Social Cause.
Dr Rai was president of the All India Organization of Employers, the Indo American Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Indian Exports Organisation among others. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the State Bank of India and the Industrial Development Bank of India.

Dr Kulwant Rai was a strong proponent of Indian culture. He started an Ngo, the Sanatan Sangeet Sanskriti in 1993 to promote Indian art forms. The governing board comprised of eminent persons like former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Dr NKP Salve.

In 2000, the University of Bradford UK honoured him with the Degree of Doctor of the University.

Dr Kulwant Rai's devotion, his generosity, and his humility touched every one he met. His services to the less fortunate shall always be remembered with gratitude and reverence. His passing away is an irreparable loss to all who knew him.
The name "Kulwant Rai" evokes all that is positive and vibrant in business and in life. It exemplifies integrity, discipline, duty, and above all, character.

On the occasion of his 87th birth anniversary on November 4th, 2011, the charitable Trusts and Societies under the aegis of the Anil Kulwant Raii Group held a special meeting to condole the death of their founder. On this occasion the following resolution was adopted.

An extraordinary individual has left us, but we will remember Dr Kulwant Rai and his remarkable leadership, integrity, deep devotion and magnificent generosity with profound gratitude and the deepest respect.

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED:

That the Trust expresses its sorrow and its deep sense of loss on the passing away on the eighteenth day of October, 2011, of its cherished Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Dr Kulwant Rai, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That the Trust dedicates itself to living out the ideals Dr Kulwant Rai set before us and that his vision will always guide our endeavours.

To view the photographs, please click on the links given below:

Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh with Founder and Chairman Emeritus, IILM, Dr Kulwant Rai at the second IILM convocation ceremony in the year 1997

Founder and Chairman Emeritus, IILM, Shri Kulwant Rai receiving the honorary degree of doctor from the Vice Chancellor of University of Bradford, Professor Colin Bell in the year 2000

and Chairman Emeritus, Dr Kulwant Rai with the Banyan Tree School children at the Founder's Day in the year 2001
For picture(s)/data to illustrate this release click below:

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CONTACT DETAILS
Ms Rashme Oberoi, IILM Institute for Higher Education, +91 9811044220, rashme2k@gmail.com

KEYWORDS
CONSUMER, BUSINESS SERVICES, EDUCATION

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