Draft:Dr. Manjeet Singh Pardesi

From 2005 to 2012, Dr. Manjeet Singh Pardes.i, an Indian Chartered Accountant and a renowned social worker in India, played a pivotal role in establishing essential services in remote and tribal villages of Jharkhand and Odisha states in India. These included setting up of child care homes, homes for destitute women, a drug de-addiction center, old age homes, and homes for mentally challenged individuals. His non-profit organization, Sahyog Village embodies his life motto, "Saving Life, Changing Lives."

Early Life

Dr. Pardesi was born on August 28, 1966, in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand (formerly part of Bihar), India. At the age of two, his family relocated to a nearby town in Sundergarh district, Odisha, following his father Mr. Gurbachan Pardesi's voluntary retirement from the Indian Army.

Dr. Pardesi's early childhood was marked by a combination of studies and helping his parents support their family of seven. His mother, a social worker and later a Congress party member, significantly influenced him and shared some of his personality traits.

He completed his 10th grade at Government School Bansjore (now in Jharkhand). An avid hockey player, he represented his school and college at the state level. However, his studies were interrupted for two years when he was diagnosed with bone tuberculosis.

Despite aspiring to become a doctor, health issues and the ten year hiatus forced him to pursue a different path. Remarkably, he passed his 12th grade in commerce with the first division in 1982 after just four months of studying.

He enrolled at Sambalpur University in 1982 for a B.Com (Hons) and M.Com degree. Though his dream of becoming a doctor was dashed, he remained committed to serving the public. He attempted the prestigious Civil Services Exam in 1985, but due to a paper leak, he migrated to Calcutta for work to support his family.

He then moved to Delhi to pursue the Chartered Accountancy qualification, which he achieved in 2000 while working full-time. In 2002, he earned a PhD for his thesis, "Role of Nationalized Banks in Upliftment of Poor under Differential Rate of Interest Scheme (DRI)." Subsequently, he established his own firm, MSTS & Co LLP, headquartered in Ranchi with branches across India.

Academic Qualification

Dr. Pardesi completed his B.Com (Hons) from Sambalpur University, Odisha in the year 1984. He then completed Masters in Commerce with first division from Sambalpur University, Odisha. He completed the Chartered Accountancy examination in the year 2000. In 2002, he earned a PhD for his thesis, "Role of Nationalized Banks in Upliftment of Poor under Differential Rate of Interest Scheme (DRI)" from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, UP. In 2014 he attained Masters of Social Work from Annamalai University.

Personal Life

Dr. Pardesi is married to Paramjeet Kaur who is also a social worker. They have two daughters and one son. He believes in the ideology of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth guru of Sikh religion.

Dr. Pardesi is a vegetarian. He likes to read books, exercise, play football and hockey and writes poetry. He enjoys playing Harmonium.

He writes:

“When I die, don’t think you have ‘lost’ me, nor have I ‘passed’ nor cover me in any ‘cast’. Don’t

use any adjectives and adverbs for me and my memory to ever-never last. Instead, Remember

me, for anything good I did for the children, anything good I did for the run. Don’t tell them that

I had gone to Heaven. Don’t tell them that I am twinkling seven. For I loved to and prefer to be

with them. Don’t tell them that I had gone with God. Don’t always make them believe and Nod.

But, Please Tell Them that I am also among them all. One born and dies as nature calls.

Few die very early, few die when burly, few die very late, few die elderly. Simply say, that I lived and I died.”

Sahyog Village

Inspired by his mother Tej Kaur, his academic achievements, and a desire to give back to the community, he entered the social work field in 2004. He named his organization Sahyog Village. Initially focused on Odisha with a children's home, the non-profit has since expanded to five districts in Jharkhand and one in Odisha, encompassing multiple projects.

Sahyog Village, Dr. Pardesi's non-profit organization, has rehabilitated thousands of women and children. As of 2024, over 500 children receive institutional care across its five children's homes in Jharkhand. Sahyog Village operates a diverse range of programs, including five children home, three specialized adoption agencies, two homes for destitute women, two old age homes, and community engagement initiatives

These initiatives include daily free food service for attendants of patients at district hospitals in Khunti and Simdega, solar lamp distribution in villages, skill development programs, a drug de-addiction center, and institutional care for disabled children.

Recognition & Awards

Dr. Pardesi's work and exemplary service has received recognition from various organizations, including the Government of Jharkhand, Hon’ble High Court of Jharkhand, Dashmesh Charitable Hospital Society (Lakhimpur Kheri), Gurudwara Sikh Sangat Dhanbad, Jharkhand Citizen Samman Award recipient, Ghadar Memorial Foundation (Astoria), Jharkhand Legal Services Authority, Doordarshan Jharkhand, and ETV Bihar and Jharkhand.