Nearly 300 people attended a special event on March 12 to recognize and appreciate Ram Jakhotia, his wife Rashmi, and a dedicated team of kitchen volunteers (Nita Shah, Rekha Chandra, Ramila Patel and Trushnabein) for selfless service to Tampa Bay seniors for 18 years.

“As soon as India Cultural Center was built, Ram came to ask about starting a senior group,” remembers Dr. Dipak Shah on behalf of ICC management. “He has been persistent and now we are enjoying the fruits. We thank Ram and Rashmi for their dedication, hard work.”

The free ICC Seniors get-to-gather, held every third Wednesday of each month from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., has been the place where seniors meet not only to socialize and network but also listen to world-class musicians and speakers specializing in elderly needs such as finance, health care, Medicare, spirituality, diet, stress management, etc. The ICC management team has been providing free use of the Lotus Hall, kitchen facility to cook food on site, as well as offering audio/video system, tables and chairs to seniors who come from such faraway places as Sarasota, Spring Hill, Lakeland, Plant City, etc. Also, rides are arranged for seniors who do not have transportation. For more information, call Mahesh Modha at (813) 476-1540.

Dr. Jayendra Chokshi recalled the tremendous hardship Ram Jakhotia endured in India before moving to the United States. “He was born in Jayal, a small town in Rajasthan. He studied under a tree and that’s how his education started. At 10, he moved to Bombay, graduated from high school, then college, with his brother’s support. When they married, Ram was 17 and Rashmi was only 14 years of age.”

Jakhotia wanted to be an engineer and earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in Sangli, Maharashtra. “He came back to Bombay but couldn’t find a job. Ultimately, he decided to move to the U.S. and came here via boat in 1962 with few dollars in hand. After finishing post-graduation, he got a job in New Jersey in 1965. ICC Seniors get-to-gather has grown from a handful to 250-300 people,” He worked for IBM before retiring in 1997.

“A dream without a goal remains a dream only,” noted philanthropist Dr. Kiran C. Patel. “It was a dream of Ram and a few friends, he persevered, persisted and now you see the outcome. Ram and Rashmi has been committed and dedicated monthly for the seniors group. They are involved in any community activity to volunteer, work without any expectations, and that’s what we have to learn from them.”

Jakhotia thanked ICC for offering the Lotus Hall and all its conveniences. “Seniors can make friends with other seniors when they come to Tampa to settle down in our city,” he noted. “They get good food, entertainment.” The Jakhotias’ sons Deepak and DJ Ravidrums along with family were also present. In recognizing his parents, Ravi aptly put it, “You both are the Tom Brady and Gronk of the Indian American community!”