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August 27, 2021
COMMUNITY
Nikhil Jain to Receive Hindus of Greater Houston’s Akhil Chopra Memorial Award By Manu Shah Houston: Sewa International’s Houston Chapter hit the ground running when Hurricane Harvey battered the city and the pandemic upended life. Sewa volunteer Nikhil Jain broke new ground in their relief efforts this year by launching mega food drives based on a self-scripted model. This Janmasthami, Nikhil is being honored with the prestigious Hindus of Greater Houston Akhil Chopra Memorial Award for his selfless service at the frontlines. He agreed to accept the award but on the condition that it would be on behalf of Sewa International’s Houston Chapter. By mid-April 2020, the ripple effects of the pandemic had started taking its toll on large swathes of underserved communities. PPEs were in short supply and widespread layoffs had caused acute food shortages. On 9h May 2020, Nikhil led the first food drive at Sewa’s Houston office’s parking lot. Working off a different model than food banks, volunteers fanned out to different apartment complexes that had been hit the hardest and either delivered it directly to their doorstep or set up a food center in the leasing office. Images of distress and helplessness intrude
of service by observing his parents who were actively engaged in the Jain community in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh where he was born and raised. He completed his engineering degree from the Visvesvaraya Regional Engineering College, Nagpur and worked in India for a few years. He moved to Houston in 2001 with his wife Ritu and two daughers Rashu and Suvi to join a Tech business (Applicantz) and serves as Director of Nilkhil Jain with his wife Ritu and daughters Suvi (left) and Rashu. Solutions Delivery. on his thoughts even today – an The Sewa team would go on to Realizing the imporelderly couple who were too weak have 38 food drives and delivered tance of staying connected to his to lift the gallon of milk or the six a staggering total of one million roots, Nikhil and his friend started year old who came to collect the pounds of food. Nikhil took to the Madhya Pradesh Mitra Manfood by herself as her mother was Facebook to garner more support dal in 2001, which is a thriving at work. Nikhil helped carry the and the response, he says, was organization even today. Since food to her apartment and put the phenomenal. 2006, he is associated with JVB milk in the refrigerator for an elIn April 2021, Nikhil joined Preksha Meditation Center, and derly couple. Sewa’s team in answering des- has served in various capacities The logistics of organizing food perate pleas for concentrators and including as president. from vendors across the country, other aid from India which was In 2016 Nikhil formally joined coordinating with organizations, reeling from a devastating second Sewa International’s team of volearmarking the communities that wave. Since June, Nikhil & the unteers. The notion of selfless needed food and more importantly Sewa team have channeled their service for all without boundarensuring that all volunteers ad- energies into assisting FEMA and ies of religion, working for the hered to safety precautions were organizing vaccination drives in community where one lived and challenges that kept him working underserved communities. Sewa’s wider platform appealed. long hours for months at a stretch. Nikhil, 50, cultivated this spirit Within a year, Nikhil’s organiza-
Indo-American News • Friday, AUGUST 27, 2021 • www.indoamerican-news.com
tion and leadership skills would be sorely tested with Hurricane Harvey where Sewa helped organize grassroot support and help. Nikhil’s wife and two daughters have been on countless food drives with him. His voice has a hint of parental pride when he shares how his younger daughter organized the distribution of 800 hot meals to the students of UT Austin three days after Uri hit. He is gratified at the way the entire Indian community and different organizations came together on one platform to serve. If the intent is good, he muses philosophically, things fall into place effortlessly and doors open magically - a fact he experienced time and again in his service to the community. Nikhil turns to exercise and yoga to help him juggle work, service, and family life. The regular practice which he “will never compromise on” helps keep his diabetes under control. This has not only made him champion the cause of being physically fit but also take the lead in organizing the 10-day Sewa SDM yoga camp every year. The virus put the brakes on his love for sightseeing and travel, but Nikhil is looking forward to the day he can plan his next vacation. He’s clearly earned it.