McHenry County Blog

Niranjan Shah, the former University of Illinois Board Chairman, has a welcome connection to McHenry County.

I’m told that former McHenry County College Trustee David Murphy of Cary initiated a $500,000 pledge from Shah to help purchase the college’s Shah Center in McHenry.

It is dedicated to his wife Patrima.

Those in the photos are identified from the Fall, 2006, MCC newsletter thusly:

Pratima Shah prepares to cut the ribbon as her husband, Niranjan and members of the MCC Board of Trustees look on, including, L-R: Mr. David Murphy, former trustee; Ms. Donna Kurtz, board chair; Ms. Barbara Walters, and Mrs. Carol Larson.

Foundation Board Members with the Shahs: Bob Cormier Jr., Pratima and Niranjan Shah, Joseph Like, executive director; Sandra Pierce, Todd Bessey, and Monica Heydari.

With his wife, Pratima, at his side, Niranjan Shah introduces himself.

MCC President Walt Packard displays a framed open house invitation from Crystal Lake Chamber ambassador Kathi Etten.

By way of the India Post comes news that Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich plans to visit India “early next year.”

The source says,

Blagojevich was a guest speaker at the dinner reception hosted by two prominent Indian Americans – Niranjan Shah and Pralhad Patil- in honor of visiting Chief Minister of Indian state of Maharashtra, Vilasrao Dehmukh, at Gaylord India restaurant in Chicago Downtown.

The Chief Minister reported that his state had grown 7% per year for a decade. He introduced Blagojevich as “the first Indian American governor” because of his good relationship to India and Indian Americans. Blagojevich joined the Indiana Caucus in Congress.

Also attending the meeting of 150 was Congresswoman Melissa Bean.

Maharashtra is in west central India.

By way of the India Post comes news that Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich plans to visit India “early next year.”

The source says,

Blagojevich was a guest speaker at the dinner reception hosted by two prominent Indian Americans – Niranjan Shah and Pralhad Patil- in honor of visiting Chief Minister of Indian state of Maharashtra, Vilasrao Dehmukh, at Gaylord India restaurant in Chicago Downtown.

The Chief Minister reported that his state had grown 7% per year for a decade. He introduced Blagojevich as “the first Indian American governor” because of his good relationship to India and Indian Americans. Blagojevich joined the Indiana Caucus in Congress.

Also attending the meeting of 150 was Congresswoman Melissa Bean.

Maharashtra is in west central India.