Service Before Self:

About the Book

This memoir by Vinod Prakash is a compelling immigrant story about the courage to face life’s challenges and the conviction, even in the face of the most devastating illness, to continue leading a life of service to society. Vinod reveals his source of strength – his family values, with a belief in ‘duty’ rather than ‘rights’, and his dedication to seva (service) and the welfare of all Indians.

About the Author

Vinod Prakash was born into a family of freedom fighters in Meerut, India in 1933. His commitment to social justice was so strong that even at age 16, he participated in the satyagraha (peaceful protest) movement inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and was imprisoned for two months. He was the first in his family to fly, traveling to Boston to attend MIT. He taught at the University of Rhode Island and then worked for the World Bank for 20 years before taking early retirement to pursue his life’s calling in seva (service to society). He established IDRF as a public charity to serve the marginalized in India. In 2010, he went totally blind yet has still taken IDRF to even greater heights, where it has become one of the largest and highest-rated non-profits focused on India, having raised nearly $40 million, an enduring and inspirational legacy.