Indian-American entrepreneur Frank Islam receives UP Ratna award

WASHINGTON: Azamgarh-born Indian-American entrepreneur and philanthropist Frank Islam has been awarded the inaugural UP Ratna award for his contribution as a son of Uttar Pradesh. An Indian American friend, Dr Fazal Khan, received the award on Islam’s behalf from UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on the opening day of the inaugural UP Pravasi Diwas in Agra on Monday.

Islam, who came to the US in the early 1970s to study at University of Colorado, said the “award means much to me and I am most pleased to accept it with the humility that I have learned as a son of Uttar Pradesh.” Islam praised the Uttar Pradesh government for engaging the diaspora through the Pravasi Diwas and instituting a mechanism to engage the diaspora in a serious and meaningful way for the development of the state.

Offering to help the state especially in the field of education, an area that is close to his heart, Islam said: “I’m convinced that the best way for Uttar Pradesh to realize its vast potential is to empower people by education and economic mobility.”

The entrepreneur last year announced a $2 million contribution to Aligarh Muslim University, for building a new school of management with an emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation.

Islam, who has also pledged to provide considerable financial support to develop a technical training school for women in Azamgarh, said he intends to support more such educational initiatives in UP.

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