Harshad Shah, Live!

Getting involved in relief work and donation drive is nothing new to Harshad Shah and the Swaminarayanis at BAPS. The organization has helped earthquake victims in San Francisco and Los Angeles. But the magnitude of the devastation in Gujarat has posed the biggest challenge to BAPS Care International, the charitable wing of BAPS.

Shah based at the BAPS Mandir in Milpitas in Silicon Valley first thought of raising $5 million for the quake victim. But now the target is beyond $25 million. He is working with hundreds of volunteers to raise the money for BAPS Care International. He is also involved in the efforts of other Silicon Valley organizations like The INDUS Entrepreneurs.

Shah's own financial background as an accountant and financial analyst has come very helpful in soliciting a variety of funds. "Many techies want to donate their stock options," he says.

He is also touched by the concern of non-Indians for the relief work.

"We continue receiving donations not only from Americans but also from people from Southeast Asian countries and Central America who have first hand knowledge of the devastations quakes cause,” he says.

The kindness of strangers impresses him. He then remembers BAPS is also committed to help all kinds of people from every walk of life and every faith.

"Disasters as such this earthquake hit the entire humanity," he says. "They do not differentiate between religions or castes or nations."

Join Harshad Shah on The Rediff Chat, on February 13 at 1700 hours PST (February 14, 0630 hours IST).