Padma Shri recipient Dr. Sudhir Parikh and others recognized by Rutgers Living History Society & Oral History Archives

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At the May 2, 2025, Annual Brunch Meeting of Rutgers Living History Society and Rutgers Oral History Archives, several individuals were recognized, including Padma Shri recipient Dr. Sudhir Parikh, chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media/ITV Gold. The Indian American Club of New Jersey also collaborated in the event and members of that organization were present.

The award presented to Dr. Parikh, said the following on the plaque he received: “Sudhir Parikh is a member of good standing of The Rutgers Living History Society. The Society was established in two thousand and two, to honor those individuals who participate in or loyally support the practice of oral history at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.”

Dr. Parikh was introduced to the gathering as “One of the most supportive community members who’s been involved in the oral history program.”

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During the ceremony, Shaun Illingworth, director of the Rutgers Oral History Archives, and other executives of ROHA gave a history of the organization, which has conducted more than 2,270 oral history interviews since it was established in 1994. All content is available to students, teachers, and scholars free of charge for educational purposes.

Prior to delivering his speech, a short video on Dr. Parikh was played at the event.

Dr. Parikh thanked ROHA and Living History Society of Rutgers and their top executives for recognizing him and inviting him to the event. In his speech, Dr. Parikh called himself “very lucky that I have really achieved in my opinion, a great American Dream.”

He dwelt on his opportunities and achievements – both as a physician and as a publisher as well as the philanthropic work he has been engaged in. A pulmonologist, allergist and immunologist, Dr. Parikh has 22 practices in the tri-state area, 17 in New Jersey, 10 in New York, acquired since 1980.

Dr. Parikh spoke at length about his involvement with the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin which represents 100,000 physicians; about being incoming president of the Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, which represents 1.4 million Indian physicians from around the world and which is engaged in training upcoming young physicians. He also spoke of his work with the Federation of Indian Associations and the annual India Day Parade in New York City, and in building a temple. He also dwelt on his goal of empowering the younger generation and women in both India and the US, through organizations like Life Global and Akshaya Patra which have built schools in poor rural areas and provided millions of school children with hot mid-day meals. By acquiring Parikh Worldwide Media and ITV Gold, he said, he is able to reach out to the next generation and bring news and the culture of India through the 24/7 television network with some 30 million viewers around North America, as well as 3 English weeklies, and 1 Gujarati publication.

Over the years, ROHA/Living History Society have been recording the life narratives of Alumni and/or New Jersey residents who have done extraordinary work. More than 30,000 visitors check the site on an annual basis, the gathering was informed. Students help by conducting the interviews and creating the oral history in digital form.

Dr. Parikh also thanked the Indian American Club of NJ, for being present, including Shatrughan Dawani, president of IAC-NJ, which has been working with Living History Society and ROHA. Dawani noted that many of the oral stories it has recorded are available at the archives of ROHA.

Shashi Airi of the Indian American Club noted how famous people like Albert Einstein rubbed shoulders with others like members of the Indian American community, in the ROHA archives, and he thanked the initiative and Illingworth for holding the event.

Illingworth thanked the Indian American Club “for making history” and cooperating with ROHA in its endeavor initiative for preserving oral histories from New Jersey

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