By our correspondent, Mumbai, 31 January 2013

Gujarat’s one of the most well know philanthropists Chimanlal Ujamshibhai Shah (CU Shah) passed away today in Mumbai. He was 95.

In Gujarat, there are dozens of education institutions that are named after Shri CU Shah. These all institutions including medical and engineering colleges among others are in existence due to huge donations made by Shri CU Shah.

As per an estimate, Shri Shah has made donation of as high as Rs 95 crore in his lifetime. Only in Surendranagar district there are 62 education, health and social institutions named after him. In fact Shri Shah was from Surendranagar only. He took birth in Limbdi town of this district.

After fulfilling a dream of setting up a medical college in Surendranagar his last dream was to establish a full scale university in Surendranagar to serve the local students.

During Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s Sadbhavana fast in Surendranagar, Shri CU Shah had announced donation of Rs 51 crore.

Shri Shah was involved in export business.

Congress leader Shri Ahmed Patel today in his message said Gujarat has lost a great philanthropist today who gifted many educational, health institutions to Gujarat through his donations of crores of rupees. Gujarat Congress President Shri Arjun Modhwadia, leader of opposition Shri Shankersinh Vaghela, Congress spokesperson Himanshi Vyas and Dr. Manish Doshi also condoled Shri Shah’s death.

Highlight of late Shri CU Shah’s life

-Born in Limbdi in 1918 on 14 May.
-Primary education in Wadhvan, later matriculation in Amdavad and then BA and LLB.
-He stood second in LLB exam in university.
-Meghji Pethraj took him to Africa.
-After returning to India in 1944 started international trade.
-Established 81 institutions. He was involved in administration of 25 institutions.
-The institutions are spread in Surendranagar, Mumbai, Chennai and other places.
-He donated Rs 15 crore for a medical college in Surendranagar in year 2000. Recently he donated Rs 1 crore to blind women in Surendranagar.
-Married to Dr. Sadgunaben in 1953. Sadgunaben passed away in 2004.
-CU Shah is survived by his daughter Minalben, son in law Rohitbhai(CA) and their son Paras and Soham.
-He passed away on Thursday, 31st of January 2013 at Mumbai at 12.39 pm on way to hospital due to breathing related problem.
-Shri Shah was honored with JITO award last Sunday.