A Tribute to Chandu Shah

Chandu Shah (1956 -2023) a successful businessperson in the Information Technology (IT) consulting arena and a renowned artist, poet, playwright, journalist, actor, director, and producer breathed his last in a Nursing Home in India on 03November, 2023. He had been sick for a while and passed away suddenly due to infection at a young age 67. It seems unreal to believe that he is no more on this earth. Mr. Shah is survived by his wife Eshani Shah, daughter Shailee Shah and son Kushan Shah.

Mr. Shah received his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Commerce from the University of Bombay. He came to the United States in 1984 and got his Master’s degree in Computer Science from the Northeastern University. He worked with Putnam Investments in 1987 and joined a local IT consulting firm as a Manager of Defense Contracts in 1990. With his rich experience and background, coupled with enthusiasm and a strong work ethic, he started his own company, S4 Inc. with its headquarters in Burlington, MA in 1999 and today its presence stretches across the United States, including Dayton, OH, Colorado Springs, CO and Huntsville, AL.

Chandu Shah, president and CEO of the S4 Inc. a professional services and consulting firm catering to US Government, Homeland Security and DoD customers was very successful. His company earned such honors as being ranked among the prestigious Inc. 500/5000, the fastest growing private companies in America, for seven consecutive years. His goal was to support our nation’s defense by providing innovative and effective solutions to the challenges facing our warfighters and recognized as the state of Massachusetts Minority Business Person of the Year in 2007.

In addition to his successful business in the IT consulting arena, Mr. Shah was also a renowned creative artist. His most creative works in the form of books, films, theaters, and music strive to both entertain and influence audiences around the world. He always introduced new dimensions in his thinking and presented the issues, stresses of traditional Indian village entering the new world of technology. He was able to converse, write, and get his message across in seven languages, toured internationally by special invitations, won the National Award (OSCAR of India) for the Best Experimental Film in 1982, and has been recognized by a premier Gujarati literary institution in India for his thought-provoking poetry.

Chandu Shah had staged a solo play on the Gujarati freedom poet Narmadashankar Lalshankar Dave, who was popularly known as Narmad and performed it in many towns in the US.  He also gained a reputation as a popular Gujarati poet in literary circles. Besides performing, he helped arrange tours of artist groups from India.  His able wife Ishani, who also came from a playwright family, assisted him.  In 2005, he was nominated as a fourth member in the Committee that organized the India Outreach Lectures at Harvard University on behalf of the Department of Sanskrit and Indian Studies.(along with Mr. Thomas Burke and Prof C. Gopinath). He also helped form the SAPNE (South Asian Poets of New England) as a multilingual poets group in 2008 and nurtured it with much care without missing any of its events. He supported SAPNE and IDC in subsidizing the graphics and printing activities through his Company.  He also volunteered passionately for Akshaya Patra. Through his wonderful careers in different areas, Mr. Shah was able to create, disseminate, and portray new ideas and information, using all media forms for both Government customers and the public. His technical and artistic backgrounds help him to formulate both creative and capable strategies to serve his customers more efficiently and effectively.

Bijoy Misra, the convener of  SAPNE decided to  dedicate the poetry meet of November 19, 2023, with the  title “चंदु स्मरण /Remembering Chandu” as a tribute to Chandu Shah’s memory. The aim is to respect his enthusiasm, services, and contribution to the creative arts arena through our homage in the form of short poems in different languages and create a beautiful live portrait of Mr. Shah through our poetry.

A Tribute To A Best Soul

When a vibrant soul departs

There is no battle to fight but

It numbs several hearts around

And tears roll down in silence

But special people stay alive

In many hearts there after

With their special actions

And selfless services and

Wonderful creative arts

Their special memories always

Bring on a blooming smile

For a while on every face

People remember vividly

The kind words and great works

With much pride and love

Then they genuinely think of

Again and again and cherish

Those special pure moments

Since they live in the hearts

That love them most dearly

As very precious memories and

Not possible to forget them at all

Just wonder why good one

Leave this earth so soon

There is no clear answer so far

We as your SAPNE friends

Share in your life’s moments

And never ever say farewell

To all your fondest thoughts

Amazing poems, acting, playwriting

Directing and producing plus

Building successful business and

Reporting for community education

Your good deeds and noble karmas

Within our hearts they dwell in forever

And always inspire and cheer us up

May Lord let your spirit reside in peace

Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti hi

                            --Geethanjali

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