Obituary: Our Founder Trustee, Mr. D.K.Patel, passes away

(29.08.1932 – 10.02.2020)

It is with deep regret that we announce that our Founder Trustee, Mr. D.K. Patel, passed away on 10th February 2020 in Hong Kong. Help The Blind Foundation was founded in Hong Kong by DK in 2005 with prominent local residents as directors. Initially the focus of the foundation was to help blind school-going children by building/improving existing schools. Later his vision shifted to providing visually impaired students in India access to university education in *integrated colleges*, which alone would give them the confidence to integrate into society and empower them to obtain decent employment. HTBF India was hence established in Chennai in 2010 with academics and professionals as Trustees to implement the mission of the Foundation and the journey of the Foundation began in earnest with DK at its helm.

For the past 10 years, he not only played an important role in the growth of the Foundation but as a visionary built up a strong and capable team to carry on its activities. His wife Mrs.Niti Patel, his daughters Ms.Deepa and Ms.Meera, and son-in-law, Mr. Sridhar have been taking active interest in the activities of the Foundation. Ms.Deepa is a Trustee in HTBF, India. Mrs.Niti and Ms.Meera have been Directors in HTBF, Hong Kong for several years and Sridhar has more recently consented to be Director in HTBF, Hong Kong. Mr. Kaushal Tikku, a long-time resident of Hong Kong who has been Director of HTBF since the last 2 years, has taken up the lead role in Hong Kong. He is a chartered accountant by profession, and has 20 years’ experience with Price Waterhouse Coopers and currently heads the Taxation Department of Hutchison group, Hong Kong. The set-up in India and USA have also been strengthened over the last 2 years with the joining of academics and professionals. The operations in India continue to be managed by experienced professionals and a strong team of volunteers.
At this hour of grief, we, the Trustees, Directors, volunteers, staff and other associates are determined to take Mr. Patel’s vision far and wide, which is the best way to honour his legacy. Mr.Patel’s spirit will live with us forever. We will continue to take the Foundation to greater heights with the continued support of well-wishers like you.