Ishari K. Ganesh

Dr Ishari K Ganesh, an educationist, philanthropist and a business magnate is popularly known for his innovative business ventures around the world. With a modest beginning as a humble educationist, he started the Vaels Educational Trust in the year 1992 with 36 students. In 2017, Vels University celebrates 25 years of commitment to excellence in education with more than 25,000 students and 3000 staffs. 

List of Current Positions

Dr Ishari K Ganesh holds high responsibility and ornamental positions in many prestigious organizations. 

List of Positions held

Academic Profile

B.Com            Pachaiyappa’s College, Chennai (1985-1988)

M.Com           Pachaiyappa’s College, Chennai (1989-1991)

B.L                  Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai (1990-1993)

MBA              University of Madras, Chennai

Ph.D               Department of Politics & Public Administration, University of Madras (2001)

M.L                 Dr. Ambedkar Law University, Tamil Nadu

Background

Dr Ishari K Ganesh is a distinctive self-made personality, who believes in deeds and not mere words, was born on 07.10.1966.

Born in a middle class family, he had to taste the bitterness of life in his attempts to secure admission in high profile educational institutions.  

Dr Ishari K Ganesh, studied in Bharat Senior Secondary School till 10th standard (1981-1982), and pursued Higher Secondary Education in Hindu Senior Secondary School (1982-1984). Even in his school days he exhibited leadership qualities and naturally became popular among his school mates. After completion of B.Com and M.Com between 1985 and 1990 in Pachaiyappa’s College, Chennai, he once again proved his leadership qualities and became a popular student’s union secretary of Pachaiyappa’s College, a fertile ground for political leaders in the making. In 1988, he was the only individual who had the boldness to invite Dr. J. Jayalalitha, to Pachaiyappa’s College as a chief guest for college day celebrations in the year 1988. She soon became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Though he started an institution in 1992, he continued his studies and completed his B.L at Madurai Kamaraj University. His research on “Public Administration, Policy Making and Development in Tamil Nadu” between 1991 and 1996 was recognized by the University of Madras, which conferred the Ph.D on him in the year 2001. The moment, a small status is achieved many stop their personal quest for formal education.  Dr Ishari K Ganesh is quite a different kettle of fish.  He can be an administrator of a University and still be an ardent learner in any School of learning.

He continued his tryst with education as a student and obtained various other degrees under distance education from the University of Madras. He completed his M.L. Degree from Dr. Ambedkar Law University, Chennai.

He draws inspiration and motivation by taking consultations and opinion from industry champions, political leaders and visionaries. The attitude to learn from the legends is a trait that he developed within himself over a period of time. It started at young age, when he used to meet the Then Chief Minister Dr. M. G. R for career guidance. Knowing Dr Ganesh’s qualification as a B.Com graduate, Dr M. G. R offered a secretary position in his office, which Dr Ganesh respectfully refused, took his blessings and went on to build a bigger legacy. Dr Ishari K Ganesh has offered immeasurable dedication to grow the values and international popularity of Tamil language and its culture. He draws motivation from Kalaignar Dr M. Karunanidhi, former chief minister of Tamil Nadu, and frequently seeks advice from him and his associates to create opportunities for the development of Tamil language. Dr Ishari K Ganesh promotes Tamil literature, art, music, dance and drama in many ways. He funds and organizes several Tamil cultural programmes in India and abroad. He provides pension to retired and struggling drama artists and offers free education to their children and grandchildren in his institutions. 

He made the vision of the Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam as the mission of his university; “to make India, a knowledge power by 2020”. He has invited Dr Abdul Kalam to felicitate his graduates and grace university occasions more than once.  Dr Ishari K Ganesh actively represents the collective opinion of educationalist in Tamil Nadu to the central and the state government. He enjoys meeting the representatives of Ministry of Higher Education, NAAC committees, AICTE and UGC to understand their proposals to all deemed universities. He is popularly termed as “the man you can trust” for professional support in resolving disputes between educational institutions and regulatory bodies. 

Educationist

Dr Ishari K Ganesh is the youngest, first generation, self made educationist with no family background in running a university.

“All of us have the same 24 hours in a day; I cannot give you the 25^th hour. No one can. But I can give you education.

Education will steer you to use your time to the fullest, stretch your days and nights to your comfort.

Education is the key to any future”.

-         Dr Ishari K Ganesh, during the inaugural speech of “Vels Group of Institutions” under Vaels Educational Charitable Trust in 1992

Dr Ishari K Ganesh holds prominent positions and memberships in many leading Associations, Institutions, Charitable Trusts and companies. As his interest in education increased, he started a number of trusts in his capacity as Chairman or Member. He guided these trusts to provide education, medical facilities in rural areas, assistance to orphanages and to old people in need. The Trusts and Organizations under his care are:

1. Shri Isari Velan Mission Hospital
2. Sri Venkateswara Dental College & Hospital
3. Venkateswara Nursing College & Hospital
4. Vels School of Nursing
5. Vels Vidyashram
6. Vels Teacher’s Training Institute
7. Vinayaga Teacher Training Institute
8. Vinayaga College of Education
9. Vaels Billabong High (International School)-Neelankarai
10. Vaels International School –Injambakkam
11. Vaels Educational Trust
12. Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies (VISTAS)
13. Vinayaka Educational Trust
14. Vetri Educational Trust
15. Vel Ganesh Educational Trust
16. Amarar Isari Velan Charitable Trust
17. Vels Education Society
18. Mahavir Institute of Medical Sciences

His vision is to provide quality education to the under privileged and the weaker sections of the society; to provide equal opportunities to all and to establish a University with world class facilities and infrastructure. This ambition of his got materialized in the year 2008 when he was successful in integrating various educational institutions into Vels University and becoming the youngest Founder - Chancellor of this University. Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies (VISTAS) is a registered Trust and is being managed by Dr Ishari K Ganesh as Managing Trustee, for the following educational institutions:

1. Vels University, Pallavaram & Thalambur, Chennai
2. Sri Venkateswara Dental College & Hospital, Thalambur, Chennai
3. Sri Venkateswara Nursing College, Thalambur, Chennai

Vels University, Pallavaram, Chennai - A Deemed University established u/s 3 of the UGC Act, 1956 is a multi-disciplinary educational centre offering varied and innovative courses in emerging areas of education. It offers 42 UG, 50 PG and 23 Diploma / Certificate programmes of contemporary relevance and various other twinning courses involving several international universities through memorandum of understandings.

The university offers various courses under different schools, listed below,

• Basic Sciences
• Computing Sciences
• Engineering and Technology
• Hotel and Catering Management
• Languages
• Life Sciences
• Management and Commerce
• Mass Communication
• Pharmacy
• Physiotherapy
• Maritime Studies
• Law
• Ocean Engineering
• Aviation
• Music and Fine Arts
• Research and Development

The overwhelming response from the public in admitting their wards is a clear indication that the institutions under him are popular and that the parents are very satisfied with the quality of education offered by the Institutions in a highly competitive world. 

His institutions provide high quality education to every student in its fold and prepare them for any challenges to be faced today and in the future. A brief note on various educational bodies managed by Dr Ishari K Ganesh

Dr Ishari K Ganesh has signed more than 112 memorandum of understanding (MoU) with several universities around the world with 19 of them developed into working relationships and knowledge transfer programmes.  

Dr Ishari K Ganesh is ever ready to equip the institutions with quality education. The academic infrastructure available with various departments has registered an astounding growth over the years.  A “Full Mission Bridge Simulator” simulating real sea faring experience has been installed as first of its kind in India in the University to facilitate hands-on training for Nautical Science students.  They can virtually access every ocean and harbour in the world.  The Thalambur Campus has a SHIP-IN-CAMPUS for students of Marine Engineering that provides a unique facility for training them. The facility is also equipped with bridge simulator.  The school of maritime studies offers diploma programmes in association with University of Glasgow, United Kingdom. In 2016, Dr Ishari K Ganesh facilitated 35 engineering students from the university to visit industries and Universities in Texas, United States of America. 31 management students from the university were on a visit to industries in Singapore. The University is also working closely with different ministries in India on several projects in the field if science and technology. Its contribution to fish immunology has received international recognition and has been recognised and closely followed up by prospective investors from abroad. 

Dr Ishari K Ganesh, in his personal capacity has partnered with Management Development Institute of Singapore, which is Singapore’s oldest and the most established not-for-profit professional institute for lifelong learning. The partnership “MDIS VELS” brings educational pathways for students to study international degree programmes at a very affordable fee, exposing students to horizons beyond India. A partnership that is first of its kind in India. Dr Ishari K Ganesh’s international contacts are always open for business discussions and transfers of technology know how. He was the prime mover in organizing 415 Seminars and 615 conferences in Vels group of institutions. Some of the connections that have been built with continuous interaction are listed below:

Philanthropy and Green Initiatives

Dr. Ganesh has also been instrumental in establishing, a one of its kind Palliative Care Hospital, in memory of his late father, Shri Isari Velan Mission hospital. The hospital is equipped with 150 Beds, in Thalambur, off Old Mahabalipuram Road in Chennai and was opened by Dr Shantha, a popular oncologist in India. The hospital strives to relieve the suffering and improve the quality of life for patients with advanced illness and offers support to their families & provides treatment, medicine and food free of cost.

Dr Ishari K Ganesh, as a keen Philanthropist, always takes part in relief operations, through financial and material assistance. Donations are given every month to the poor cine artists through Nadigar Sangam from  Amarar Isari  Velan  Charitable Trust  Fund Contributions started from the year 2008. Rs.1 lakh per month has been distributed totalling to Rs. 84 lakhs as on date. Every year, on his father’s Memorial Day he distributes free clothes to the poor.

Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh chose education as the line of his career because it enabled him to touch lives by offering them all that creates a positive difference in their lives. Apart from the financial contributions provided, around 560 students from various states and provinces in India are entirely funded by him to pursue education in the field of their choice at Vels University every year. Annual fund of Rs 1.5 crores is spent providing education to this segment of students. Every year the number of subsidised education service for carefully selected students below the poverty line keeps increasing. 

The ultimate aim of his Vales charitable trusts is to promote education and light the life of an individual by supporting various educational institutions which are in need of assistance. The following institutions get support and help in selected areas. A few listed below:

• Mahatma Gandhi Vidhyalaya, Chennai 
• Vallalur Nursery & Primary School, Chennai
• Kamaraj Matric School, Chennai
• Fruit Matric School, Chennai
• Ramakrishna Mission Matric School, Chennai
• David Sons Matric School, Chennai
• ALM Matric School, Chennai
• Hindustan Engineering College, Chennai
• Stanley medical College, Chennai
• Sri Ram Dhayal Khemka, Chennai

Sustainable development and ecological balance are possible only when environmental stability is maintained.  Dr. Ishari K Ganesh used to take meticulous care in maintaining a Green Environment and also by using Green Energy. He is keen to participate in “Swachh Bharath” programs. He always used to plant trees in all his celebrations and is interested in maintaining all his campus green. He plants 365 saplings every year by involving NSS volunteers, a count that means one for each day. He has also installed three windmills with generation capacity of 250 KW each with an average annual wind power generation of 8, 93, 934 units for securing alternative energy and has tried solar power in a limited way. He has instructed all institutions under his control not to generate any non-degradable waste.  He has also established and maintained a Herbal Garden in Dental college, Thalambur Campus. He regularly arranges for students to engage in full swing cleaning of railway stations, contributing their labour as responsible citizens towards seeing a clean India. 

Dr. Ishari K.Ganesh has contributed to develop the social capital by rendering education accessible to the marginalized and underprivileged people and by providing social services such as medical relief, blood donations, and relief at the time of natural calamities and initiating the movement for creating a good society.  He has organized more than 30 Blood donation camps under his leadership with 3500 Blood donors. He has also been the backbone of Youth Health Mela dedicated to general and oral health. He has pioneered Swine flu awareness programs in Tamil Nadu. Special camps have been conducted for screening of Ortho patients in collaboration with Department of Orthodontics of Sri Venkateswara Dental College & Hospital. He has established 224 camps in Primary Health Centres in rural areas benefitting 42578 patients and also organizes free eye testing camps in collaboration with Lions Club and Vasan Eye Care. He has conducted more than 24 free computer literacy programs for rural youth and 41 National level empowerment programmes.

He has organized Traffic regulation work by the NSS students and regularly arranges participation of NSS Volunteers in social activities. He continuously drives free dental camps and facilitates Aids Awareness Camps, Cancer Awareness Camps via Short films and Mimes. The Rotaract Club of the University conducted Blood Donation camps, visits to orphanages and old age homes to fulfil the motto of “Service to Humanity is Service to God” under his direct guidance. Under the direct guidance of Dr.Ishari K Ganesh, his university executed exclusive computer training program for Personnel of Police Recruit School, Chennai for 267 police constables on “Basics of Computers”. 

Involvement in Sports and Games

Dr Ishari K Ganesh has participated in many Kabaddi tournaments and interested in playing Volley ball and lawn tennis. His interest in sports widened his perspective on developing sports talents. As a result, he ceases and also made new opportunities to contribute to this field. He provides full fee concessions and free boarding and lodging for Sports students admitted under the sports quota.

Dr Ganesh currently chairs

• Tamil Nadu Taekwondo Association, India as the President
• Taekwondo Federation of India, India as the Vice President
• Tamil Nadu Olympic Association, India as the Vice President

Dr Ishari K Ganesh was the Organising Secretary for

• State level and Inter – Collegiate Athletic meets, 1995
• India Vs Sri Lanka – Kabaddi Championship for Women, July 1999
• All India Chess Championship for Children below 7 years, 2003

Dr Ishari K Ganesh was the Organising Chairman for

• Commonwealth Championships in Taekwondo, Chennai, 2011
• State Level Inter-School Volley Ball Tournament, 2002
• Vels Sports Academy Summer Camps in various sports disciplines

Dr Ishari K Ganesh patronised

• Inter School Athletic meet, 2002
• South Zone (South India) Kho-Kho Tournament, 2003
• Federation Cup Hand Ball tournament, 2004
• All India Inter-university Athletic Meet, Chennai, 2011
• South Zone Inter-university Kabaddi Tournament sponsored by Association of Indian Universities, 2016.

He launched the prestigious “VELS CUP” in the year 2008 for which more than 121 institutions in India compete every year playing 8 games including Kabaddi, Volley ball and Throw ball.

Dr Ishari K Ganesh also co - owns a tennis team named “V Chennai Warriors” partnered with the dancing legend of India, Mr Prabhudeva. The team participates in international tennis leagues starting with the Champions Tennis League organized by Vijay Amritraj. 

He identified the potential Ms. P.V. Sindhu, Indian Badminton Player and awarded her with Honorary Doctorate even before her Olympic triumph. 

Devi (2016 film)

Film Productions

The group has a production house “Vels Film International” producing Films for the Tamil Film Industry. This production house has to its credit several successful films. Dr. Ganesh’s late father Shri. Isari Velan was a renowned comedian in Tamil Cinema of yesteryears and that inspired him to act in several films as well. Dr Ishari K Ganesh has acted in 15 films and television several serials during his college days. He is constantly approached by his friends in the Industry to star in guest roles. He is also being featured in Super Star Rajinikanth’s upcoming movie, “Robo 2.0” . In partnership with his close friend Mr Prabhudeva, he has produced 5 movies and has released 2 movies successfully making a good hit in the theatres. 

• Sila Samayangalil
• Devi
• Bogan
• Karuppu Raja Vella Raja

Dr Ishari K Ganesh is a life time member and one of the few Trustees of South Indian Film. His contributions in the field of arts and culture are an ongoing activity and passionate activity.

Awards

Dr. Ishari K Ganesh has received number of appreciations and awards from many organisations. A few of them are listed below,

• Award of excellence received from South India Culinary Association (SICA) for the year 2002 and 2010.
• Award of excellence received from IFCA (Indian Federation of Culinary Association) and W.A.C.S board (World Association of Chefs' Societies) in 2015.
• Honoured by District Taekwondo Association for conducting Taekwondo Championship 2012, Pudukkottai.
• Received Educationist award in 2012 for his noble service in Education
• World Consulting & Research Corporation (WCRC) presented Leaders Asia Excellence Award for fastest Growing Private Educational Institute 2012-2013
• Award given by the TamilNadu State Volley Ball Association for conducting the Coaching Camp for TamilNadu Junior State Volleyball Teams (Boys & Girls) to take part in the Junior National Volleyball Championship 2014-2015 held at Chandigarh
• Lotus Chess Academy and Little Raju Academy presented an appreciation award for conducting Chess Tournament 2015
• Appreciation Award was presented by Mauritius Tamil Cultural Centre Trust “Best Educationist Award”
• Dubai Tamil Sangam, Member of ICWC under the patronage of Consulate General of India, Dubai presented appreciation for his gracious presence and Valuable support

Personal Life

Dr Aarthi Ganesh (wife of Dr Ishari. K. Ganesh) is one of the popular educationists in India and her innovative methods in creating new academic delivery models in school education are followed by several new entrants and teachers. She possesses strong connections with senior educationist and women activists in India and organizes women empowerment activities every year. As the vice-president of academic affairs, she manages all the schools under the Vels consolidation.

Dr Ishari K Ganesh is blessed with two daughters and a son. Ms Preetha Ganesh, first daughter of Dr Ganesh is a national topper during schooling and is currently pursuing engineering programme in the field of computer science in SSN College of Engineering. Ms Kushmitha Ganesh, second daughter of Dr Ganesh is pursuing her A levels and Master Saarvesh is pursuing junior schooling.