MUMBAI: Congress leader Mudassar Patel celebrated his birthday on Sunday with distribution of textbooks among 1,100 junior college students in Mumbai.
Patel who is vice-chairman of city Congress (minority cell) distributed sets of textbooks among around 1,100 students of 11th and 12th standards from Science, Commerce and Arts streams. Unlike many others who celebrate their birthdays with lavish parties, Patel chose to do a noble work and gifted textbooks free to poor students of different communities.
"When I heard that many poor students cannot afford to buy textbooks and study on a single mobile phone in their families, I decided to do something about it. I chose the occasion of my birthday to reach out to some of the poor students of junior colleges and gift them textbooks," said Patel.
When asked why didn't he give notebooks as well, he said that notebooks cannot be transferred to students who join these classes next year. "Used textbooks can be given to needy students who join 11th and 12th standards next year, but notebooks cannot be used again. Moreover, it is mostly textbooks which many students find difficult to buy. Besides, many other organizations distribute bags and notebooks," said Patel.
He clarified that he did it not for any personal glorification but also to motivate others that, instead of spending so much money on holding lavish birthday parties in clubs and five-star hotels, they should curtail the expenses and used the saved money to help the needy. "If everyone thinks like this, we can bring ba big change in our society," he said.
Known for his charitable works, Patel had hit the headlines during Covid-induced lockdown when he distributed ration kits among hundreds of needy people who were rendered jobless and desperately needed food.
Patel's Ramzan Ration kits in the holy month of Ramzan are also very popular. Hundreds of poor families get Ration kits in the holy month and observe fast comfortably.
