Suparjya swain 
FEATURE: Some lives are not built—they are carved, slowly and relentlessly, with purpose, passion, and service at the core. Shri Umesh Khandelwal’s journey is one such powerful reflection of how determination and compassion can shape an extraordinary life. A man who came to Odisha three decades ago with nothing but dreams in his eyes and devotion in his heart, he has today become a name synonymous with service, selflessness, and deep-rooted patriotism. Whether through business, politics, or humanitarian work, every chapter of his life is anchored in a single principle—nation first, people always.
Born in 1972 in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, Umesh Khandelwal comes from a family deeply rooted in patriotic ideals and cultural traditions. His grandfather, a committed swayamsevak of the Jan Sangh, served as the Commissioner of Mathura Municipality in 1957, exemplifying a life of public service. His father, Shri Jitendra Khandelwal, was a humble agriculturist whose values of integrity and simplicity profoundly shaped Umesh’s character. Raised in such an environment, service to the nation wasn’t merely an aspiration—it was ingrained in his very being.
He arrived in Odisha in 1991, young and determined to build something of his own. Though he initially thought of working under his uncle, an entrepreneurial fire within pushed him to step out and take risks. He began with a modest sanitary fittings business, and by the late 1990s, had established his own showroom. But his defining moment came not in a boardroom, but in the aftermath of destruction—when the 1999 Super Cyclone devastated Odisha. It was then that Umesh Khandelwal’s true mission in life revealed itself. He immersed himself in relief work, helping communities rebuild, feeding the hungry, and serving the distressed with tireless commitment.
His efforts soon extended beyond immediate relief. As State Convener of Rashtriya Swabhiman, a social organization founded by Late Shri Sahib Singh Verma, Umesh led the construction of 109 permanent housing units, a school, and a community centre for cyclone-affected families in Chandikhol, Jajpur. The project, inaugurated in 2003 by then President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, marked a historic moment not just for Odisha but for Khandelwal’s emerging identity as a true sevak of the people.
In 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic paralyzed the country, Khandelwal once again rose to the call of duty. Through his Umesh Khandelwal Foundation Trust, he organized the distribution of cooked and dry food to over 1.2 lakh distressed individuals during the lockdown—a reflection of his unwavering commitment to serve during the most trying times.
For over 25 years, he has been a central pillar of the All India Marwari Yuva Manch (AIMYM), contributing across India through long-term social projects including free artificial limb distribution, corrective polio surgeries, cancer awareness drives, cold drinking water facilities, ambulance services, and last rites support vans. His leadership as National Convener of Permanent Projects between 2012 and 2014 helped elevate AIMYM’s work to new heights.
But beyond social service, Umesh Khandelwal’s contribution to public life extends deep into politics. A devoted swayamsevak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for over 30 years, he has been associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party in Odisha since 1995-96. From District Treasurer in 2005 to State Convener of BJP’s Traders’ Cell, National Executive Member of the BJYM under the leadership of Shri Anurag Thakur, and eventually National In-Charge of Finance and Sah-Pravari for multiple states—his journey has been one of constant evolution and rising responsibility. He has also served as Protocol and Hospitality Head during the 2009, 2014, and 2019 General Elections, earning accolades for his meticulous coordination and devotion.
In 2022, he was nominated as a member of the Bhubaneswar Airport Advisory Committee, further solidifying his stature as a respected figure in both governance and public engagement. He has also held key roles across numerous cultural, business, and sporting organizations including CREDAI Odisha, Utkal Prantiya Marwari Sammelan, Bharat Tibet Sahayog Manch, Bhubaneswar Sepak Takraw Association, Kalinga Kabaddi Academy, and many more—each a reflection of his belief that true service cuts across sectors and communities.
Today, his business has grown into Khandelwal Grih Nirman, a name respected in the Odisha real estate space. But for Umesh Khandelwal, business and politics are not ends in themselves—they are instruments that empower him to serve better, deeper, and wider. As he often says, “Social service is my true calling. Politics and business are merely the hands that allow me to serve.”
Rooted in the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, his guiding mantra is simple yet profound: “Ya to Hari ka naam lo, ya logo ki seva karo.” For him, nationalism is not a slogan—it’s an identity. “I am a Bhartiya before anything else,” he says with pride, “and for me, Bharat Mata is everything.” He believes politics, when done right, is the highest form of social service, echoing the ideals of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who calls himself the Pradhan Sevak of the nation.
Looking ahead, Umesh Khandelwal envisions building a space that embodies his lifelong commitment to service—a shared campus housing an anathashram (orphanage), a vridhashram (old age home), and a goshala (cow shelter). For him, this is not just a charitable project, but a spiritual mission—one that brings together the most vulnerable and the most revered in a common space of dignity, care, and compassion.
A firm advocate of Vedic education, youth discipline, and entrepreneurship, he urges the next generation to rise early, pray, care for their bodies, and respect their parents—because, as he puts it, “Your body is your first wealth. If you take care of it, everything else will fall into place.” He believes India’s youth must reject dependency and build a self-reliant Bharat that manufactures, innovates, and leads the world.
His commitment to public service goes beyond the present. Guided by compassion and responsibility, he envisions creating a unique space that brings together an anathashram (orphanage), vridhashram (old age home), and goshala (cow shelter) within the same periphery—a sanctuary of care that nurtures the young, supports the elderly, and protects the sacred.
Through every chapter of his life—whether as a cyclone relief worker, an RSS karyakarta, a BJP leader, or the founder of a trust that fed thousands during a global pandemic—Shri Umesh Khandelwal has shown that true leadership is measured not in positions held, but in lives uplifted. Odisha gave him a home, and he has given Odisha his heart. His story is not just one of ambition fulfilled, but of purpose realized—and it continues to inspire a generation to serve with sincerity, act with courage, and lead with compassion.
