Oral History Interview with Girish Pandya

DESCRIPTION
Born in Dahood, Gujarat, India, Girish Pandya was involved in social work from a young age. He worked in Gandhi's Sevagram Ashram from 1941 to 1942. After graduating from college in Anand, India, Pandya had the opportunity to join the International Farm Youth Exchange Program in USA. He worked in Ohio and Kansas, and gave presentations at local high schools, farm bureaus and at college campuses. When he returned to India in 1954, Pandya conveyed his experiences of the IFYE program through radio programs. He was elected as President of the Taluka Krishak Samaj (Farmers' Association). During his tenue as President, the Rotary Club adopted a village in Gujarat. In 1961, Pandya came to the United States to study at Texas A & M University and earned a bachelors in science degree in Agricultural Engineering, and later earned his masters degree in Engineering Mechanics from Penn State University. He worked at the Dow Chemical Company from 1972 to 1992. In 1978, Pandya moved to Houston and became involved in the India Culture Center as its Treasurer. Pandya is very active in the Gujarati community, and was the President of the Gujarati Samaj.

ADDITIONAL METADATA
Date: September 22, 2011
Type: Oral History
Creator: Foundation for India Studies Inc.
Contributor: Smita Mehta
Location: Houston, Texas

PROVENANCE
Holding Institution: Houston Metropolitan Research Center
Collection: Foundation for India Studies Indo-American Oral History Project (Houston)
Item History: 2020-11-30 (created); 2020-11-30 (modified)

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