Narendra Sheth Biography
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Biography (June 2018)
Ever since Mr. Sheth immigrated to Detroit from Gujarat, India, in August 1961, he has provided selfless community service to the people of Michigan and globally in the areas of humanity, ethnicity, education, music and cultural activities. He developed and utilized his 41 years old radio show “Geetmala” which started in 1974 with the sole purpose to accelerate the cultural exchange activities. Through his radio program, he has interviewed several local, state and national political leaders. He also presented on the air a number of celebrities and legendary figures from India in the areas of music, dance, religion, education, and humanity/social services. He has organized and promoted a number of light and popular music shows of such legends as Amitabh Bachchan, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle to Bhimsen Joshi and Ravi Shankar in the classical area.
“Narendra Sheth’s Geetmala”, a household name in Michigan, completed forty four years of continued and dedicated community service on March 3, 2018. “Geetmala” is heard all over the world thru internet WWW.WPON.COM. It is the only Indian music radio program in the State of Michigan running for the longest period of time, directed and hosted by one individual, and is probably one of the few such programs in the entire Country. It has received the highest level of popularity because of its interactive nature, consistency, dedication, and commitment to the quality of broadcasting. Because of these qualities, Mr. Sheth is popularly known as the “Voice of Michigan.”
Mr. Sheth received special recognition letters and Tributes from the past Michigan Governor Honorable Ms. Jennifer Granholm, Governor Rick Snyder, U.S.Senator Debbie Stabenow and The State of Michigan Congressman Mr. Hansen Clarke as well as from the current Governor Honorable Mr. Rick Snyder appreciating his contributions to Michigan and to various ethnic communities in the area of Culture of India, Humanity, Music and Religion. The Michigan Governor Ms Granholm wrote, “ I thank Mr. Narendra Sheth for his years of dedicated service and for his commitment to his community and to this State. Our State is a mosaic of many rich cultures and traditions, to which Mr. Sheth has added the beautiful colors of India. Our State and local Indian-American Community are fortunate to have Mr. Sheth’s voice gracing our airwaves.” In 2014, Mr.Sheth also received a special recognition from the U.S Congress for his 50 years of community services in promoting cultural exchange in various areas.
In April of 2004 he founded a non-profit humanitarian foundation called Geetmala Foundation. Under the sponsorship of this Foundation he organized and directed many music programs of very high caliber. He also developed a strong collaboration with Nationally known 70 years old Michigan Philharmonic. This helped bring the Music of India in the forefront of the main stream. Through this activities he raised funds for humanitarian causes, and donated over $100,000 to charitable medical clinics in the Metro-Detroit area run by the Foundation of Michigan Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (FOMAPI). The Foundation has also donated to various other charitable Organizations like MAI Family Services helping to reduce domestic violence, Eye Care Institute, and more. Mr. Sheth was the first one in th entire USA who introduced American Symphony Orchestra (Michigan Philharmonic) to accompany our high caliber musical talents in presenting non-commercial programs of Music of India to support cultural and humanitarian causes. The last such music programs presented live were on May 8, 2010 sponsored by MAPI, on July 6, 2013 sponsored by Jain Associations in North America (JAINA) consisted of over 60 performers on stage and on April 25, 2015 with over 30 volunteers supporting the administrative tasks. .
As of February 2010 Geetmala Foundation has been renamed as Geetmala Foundation of Michigan and it has received 501(C)(3) Non-profit Tax Exempt Status, ID No. 27-1922963.
In years 2008/2009, he raised over $31,000 for the Bharatiya Temple Expansion Project in Troy, Mich. From 2004 thru 2008 he served as a Trustee on the Bharatiya Temple Board of Trustee, a Chairperson of the Temple’s Fund Raising Committee and a Chairperson of the Cultural Committee from 2004 thru 2010. He is very actively involved in raising funds for the Temple expansion project promoting the Religion and Culture of India. Currently he is serving the 2nd term on the Board of Directors of Michigan Philharmonic (Formerly Plymouth-Canton Symphony Orchestras) & Plymouth Community Arts Council. In 2014 he was unanimously elected by the Board on the position of Executive Vice President of Michigan Philharmonic. He is also serving on the Advisory Board of MAI Family Services helping the victims of the domestic violence.
Mr. Sheth has actively participated and served in numerous non-profit organizations. In his 41 years of broadcasting services, he has promoted social activities and cultural events of over 30 professional, cultural and religious local and National Organizations throughout the State of Michigan and USA. Through “Geetmala”, Mr. Sheth has assisted in raising funds for numerous national and international charitable causes including a devastating earthquake that occurred in the State of Gujarat, India on January 26, 2001 and devastating Tsunami that occurred in the South East area on December 26, 2004. There after he raised funds for the “911” victims and various other calamities.
After graduating from the University of Bombay (B.Sc.-Jai Hind College) and then from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (B.S.E. & M.S.E.), Mr. Sheth started his professional career at the University as an Engineering Research Fellow from 1965 to 1968. The Ford Motor Company then recruited him. He worked at Ford for 35 years in various Management and Executive positions until his retirement as a Chief Engineering Statistician in January 2002. Mr. Sheth is well acclaimed as an author of an internationally recognized textbook in the field of Quality, Statistics and Engineering and is a recipient of many technical awards.
Mr. Sheth is a well-respected member of the community and has received awards and accolades from various Organizations (Government, Cultural & Charitable) in the areas of Music, Culture, Humanity, Education and Religion. He is also a recipient of a coveted “Paul Harris Fellow Award” from the International Rotary Club for his services to the national and international communities and a Special Tribute Award from The State of Michigan.
Mr. Sheth is happily married to Mrs. Suhas Sheth, and they have a daughter, Dr. Neha Sheth (a graduate of the University of Michigan), and a son, Dr. Neel Sheth (a graduate of the Medical College of Ohio). Mr. Sheth has three grandchildren Alexandra (alsoa Graduate of the U of M), Alyssa (High School Graduate - Physically challenged) and Hannah who is a 2nd year student at the Grand Valley State University.
