Ramesh Shah is best known for his work with Ekal Vidyalaya—working to provide education to the millions of people in tribal India, who have little access to education. Ekal Vidyalaya originally operated from his home and he is now the global coordinator for the institution where he travels worldwide to advocate for Ekal’s mission ranging from Denmark to New Zealand. Additionally, with his other brother Dinesh, Ramesh Bhai is also active in Hindu Swayam Sevak Sangh and was also honoured at India House.
“Our focus is the holistic development of rural remote villages in India with first intervention aiming to bring basic literacy into the villages. We run single teacher schools in rural remote villages. Once the school is established and working well, we then add health services and skill development to bring economic opportunities for the villagers. But our long- term goal is to ensure that the villagers have the resources to live healthy productive lives in the villages,” said Ramesh Shah.
He has been a community resource in times of emergencies, helping the community navigate difficulties in immigration, accidents, and family crisis. He has block-walked for political campaigns around the US and in India. In 2010, Ramesh Bhai drafted a petition to the Indian Overseas Ministry and led a silent hunger strike to protest the unfairness of the renunciation certificate rollout.
In January 2017, Ramesh Shah had received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award from President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, the highest honour conferred on overseas Indians by the Government of India in recognition of achievements both in India and abroad.
