SURAT: When Chandra Mouli 'Bob' Nagamallaiah, 50, migrated to the US from Bengaluru in 2020, he dreamed of better opportunities for his family and hoped to run his own hotel, with his son Gaurav, one day, reports Yagnesh Mehta.
His brutal murder - in front of his wife and son - on Sep 10 at a motel he was managing in Dallas shocked the world. Death, though, will not mean an end to his dream of a bright future for his son.
Young men from the Gujarati community, who own a large number of motels in the US, have come forward in support. They began a drive online for donations and over $4,31,000 has been collected so far from all over the world.
The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) Charitable Foundation also came forward to fund the education of Bob's son. Those who knew Bob and his family began to raise funds online through GoFundMe.
"They lost their breadwinner, and his son just got out of high school. The least we can do is start this initiative," Tanmay Patel, who began the drive, said. Downtown Suites Dallas, which Bob managed, is owned by Patel's relatives. "Initially, we planned to raise $50,000 - but the response we got is massive," Neal Patel, Tanmay's cousin, says.
Neal, chairman of AAHOA Charitable Foundation, says: "Our association represents nearly 20,000 hoteliers across the US. Through this network, we are encouraging our members and partners to come together in support of this family during this very difficult time." AAHOA Charitable Foundation will provide a study scholarship for Gaurav, who also wants to get into the hospitality sector.
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