ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 18 Y ears ago, at an ASM International meeting in Seattle, I met Pradeep Goyal, ASM International’s President 2023–2024. Since then, I have learned he embraces and applies the fundamental tenets of Hinduism, namely “daana” or giving; “sewa” meaning selfless service; and “dharma” which is an overarching duty towards family, society, and the world. It is fitting that Pradeep’s dharma is an excellent way to introduce Pradeep to ASM International’s members. FATHER OF THE GOYAL FAMILY As a devoted husband for over 40 years to Neeru, the two have raised their fine sons, Abhinav and Raghav. Following in their father’s footsteps of graduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), they too landed in the U.S. Abhinav and his wife, Neha, are raising their children in Houston, while leading Pradeep Metals Ltd. to commercial success. Raghav spends most of his time in Washington, DC, working as a principal consultant for Boston Consulting Group. All the Goyal family members demonstrate daana by giving back to their respective communities. Circling back to wife and mother, Neeru, she is a solid supporter of Pradeep and his endeavors, across India, he serves as the chair of Ekal Abhiyan Trust, a federation of several non-government organizations (NGOs). Since the trust’s launch in Jharkhand in 1988, its accomplishments, many of which are championed by Pradeep, include supporting over 80,000 single-teacher schools in the farflung tribal areas of India and teaching functional literacy to 2.2 million children up to third grade. To date, the trust has taught over six million children and launched Integrated Village Development programs including Health & Hygiene, Organic Farming, Skill Development, Computer Training Centers, and Women Empowerment. For these tremendous contributions and illustrations of daana and dharma, the Ekal Abhiyan Trust was bestowed the prestigious Gandhi Peace Prize, for the Best NGO in India in 2017, by the President of India. Paralleling these community and societal contributions to India, Pradeep has dedicated significant amounts of time, talent, and treasure to ASM International across India, including serving on the India Council, supporting all the India Chapters, and promoting numerous conferences and expositions. Of special note is the MET+HTS Conference and Expo, which is India’s largest exhibition on advances in materials for defense, transportation, energy, and heat treatment. At that event in 2016, 2023-2024 PRESIDENT OF ASM INTERNATIONAL PRADEEP GOYAL Jon D. Tirpak, FASM, 2015-2016 ASM President Raghav, Pradeep, Neeru, Neha, and Abhinav Goyal. including those beyond their family and into the business and community, especially in India. In fact, she runs her own engineering export business. COMMUNITY LEADER IN MUMBAI AND ACROSS INDIA For decades, Pradeep has served the greater Mumbai metropolitan area, primarily through the Rotary Club. As the Centennial President of the Rotary Club of Mumbai South in 20042005, he led a variety of initiatives supporting 100 tribal villages near Mumbai. Impactful projects included constructing the Rotary Welfare Center on an area of two acres of land in the poor Jawahar district; constructing an array of over 200 dams for irrigation and flood control; planting over 5000 trees for shade, sustainability, and environmental beauty; constructing 100 vermicompost pits for managing waste while creating fertile compost for each village; distributing 1000 smokeless stoves to improve air quality in kitchens; supporting dental and medical camps for residents of 100 villages; and participating in PolioPlus campaigns to eradicate polio. Extending beyond Mumbai and Pradeep Goyal’s family, including grandchildren, Aryan and Ria.
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