Jagat K. Motwani

Dr. Jagat Motwani, 97, of Long Island, NY, a Fulbright scholar, professor and social worker passed away on Wednesday, December 27.  Dr. Motwani worked for the City of New York Health Services prior to his retirement. Other than his professional contributions, he stood out for his deep dedication to the Indian Diaspora community for four decades.

Dr. Motwani was born in 1926 in Mehar, a town in the outskirts of Karachi, Sindh prior to the partition of India. As a high schooler, he was an active member of the resistance against the British occupation of India.

He subsequently moved to Gujarat, India where he studied and taught at the University of Baroda and attained his Masters in Economics and Masters in Social Work.

He emigrated to the United States in 1970. He attained his PhD from Fordham University in 1986. He wholeheartedly believed in the American Dream. After reaching these shores, he worked tediously to help his entire family emigrate to the United States from India.

In addition to his two daughters Shilpa and Neha, their husbands Emad and Daniel, his grandson Remi and granddaughter Annika, he is survived by his younger brother Lal, Lal’s wife Kavita, nine nieces and nephews and eight grand nieces and nephews.  He is also survived by Jyoti, to whom he was married for 35 years and shared the joy of his daughters and grandchildren. Jyoti remains an integral and beloved part of his extended family.  He was so proud of his wonderful, loving and large family that were all together in the United States. He is pre-deceased by his two sisters, Guni and Sheila.

Dr. Motwani had a deep love and strong bond with America and all it stood for – the opportunity, the diversity and the bounty this country offered. He also remained a proud patriot of India. He enjoyed family gatherings, traveling, great food, writing and politics.   He was devoted to keeping his Indian heritage alive in the U.S. Dr. Motwani worked to unite people of Indian origin around the world. To this end, he was a Founding Member of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) and served as its Secretary General from 1996 to 2004. He was a Co-Convener of the First Global Convention of People of Indian Origin held in 1989 in New York City where GOPIO was formed. He served as official of several community organizations including Heart and Hand for the Handicapped, Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), National Federation of Indian-American Associations (NFIA). Dr. Motwani was one of the initiators of the First India Day Parade in New York City in 1981.  He wrote several books on the Indian Diaspora, including Global Indian Diaspora – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. He traveled to several countries, including in the Far East, to seek global participation and support from people of Indian origin.  Throughout Dr. Motwani’s travels, he sought to find the commonalities between cultures rather than what divided them.

Dr. Motwani lived a full life and believed in making the most of every moment. He was a force of will who lived his life according to his own beliefs. Dad, Nana, Bhau, Jagat Mama, Bade Mama, Jagat Uncle, we will miss you dearly.