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Patel

Patel is a surname and former title of Indian origin, most commonly associated with communities in Gujarat and denoting a village headman, landowner, or chief responsible for local administration and revenue collection.^[1]^[2] The term derives from the Gujarati paṭel, tracing etymologically to Prakrit paṭṭaïl(l)a- meaning "village headman," itself linked to Sanskrit roots for land management or strips of cultivated land (pat or paṭṭa).^[1]^[3] Historically tied to agrarian elites like the Patidar (or Patidar) caste, who rose as landholders under medieval and British colonial systems, the surname reflects a status of rural leadership rather than strict hereditary nobility.^[4]^[2] Prevalent among Hindu and sometimes Muslim Gujaratis, Patel signifies occupational or titular prestige in pre-modern village economies, where holders mediated between rulers and peasants, often collecting taxes and resolving disputes.^[1]^[4] Its adoption spread beyond Gujarat to neighboring states like Maharashtra (as pāṭīl) and through migration, becoming one of the most common surnames globally among Indian diaspora populations, particularly in the UK, US, and East Africa, where it correlates with entrepreneurship in sectors like hospitality and commerce.^[4] No inherent controversies define the surname itself, though associated communities have engaged in modern movements for political representation and economic reform in India.

Meaning and Etymology

Origins as a Title

The title Patel (Gujarati: પટેલ) emerged in medieval Gujarat as an administrative designation for the village headman or chief, tasked with collecting land revenue on behalf of rulers and overseeing local agrarian affairs.^[5] This role involved maintaining land records, mediating disputes among farmers, and ensuring the remittance of taxes to higher authorities, often under Hindu Solanki kings or subsequent Muslim governors who retained local systems.^[6] The term denoted authority over a patta or land grant, reflecting the Patel's function as a liaison between the peasantry and the state in a feudal agrarian economy.^[7] Originally conferred as an appointive office rather than a hereditary one, the title was granted to capable individuals, frequently from land-owning farmer communities, to incentivize efficient revenue extraction and village stability.^[7] Over time, particularly from the 14th to 16th centuries amid political fragmentation following the Delhi Sultanate's influence in Gujarat, many Patels secured hereditary rights through consistent service and alliances with local potentates, transforming the role into a marker of status within rural hierarchies.^[8] This evolution paralleled similar titles like muqaddam in other regions but remained distinctly tied to Gujarat's patrilineal landholding traditions.^[6]

Linguistic Roots

The term "Patel" originates as a Gujarati word, paṭel (પટેલ), denoting a village headman or chief responsible for land administration and revenue collection.^[3] This usage reflects its historical role in agrarian governance within Gujarat, where it functioned as an occupational title rather than a hereditary name initially.^[9] Cognates appear in neighboring languages, such as Marathi pāṭel or pāṭīl, similarly indicating a local landowner or headman, underscoring shared Indo-Aryan linguistic influences across western India.^[3] These forms derive from Prakrit paṭṭaïlla, a middle Indo-Aryan term linked to administrative functions over land grants.^[3]^[10] At its deepest roots, the word traces to Sanskrit paṭṭa, meaning a slab, tablet, or copper plate used for royal land grants, evolving into paṭṭakila to signify a tenant or holder of such royal lands.^[9]^[3] This etymology aligns with epigraphic evidence from ancient Indian inscriptions, where similar terms in Sanskrit and Prakrit denoted officials managing feudal or revenue-based holdings.^[11] The progression from Sanskrit through Prakrit to modern Gujarati illustrates phonetic shifts typical of Indo-Aryan languages, including the simplification of consonant clusters and vowel adaptations.^[10]

Historical Development

Role in Medieval and Colonial India

In medieval Gujarat, under the Solanki dynasty prior to the 13th century, Kanbi cultivators settled in regions like Petlad Taluka and functioned as village headmen known as "pat-likh," responsible for recording land and crop details.^[12] By the Gujarat Sultanate period (1407–1573), Muslim rulers formalized the Patel title for these headmen, appointing them as mukhis to oversee village administration, maintain revenue records, and mediate local affairs.^[12] This role positioned Patels as key intermediaries, ensuring agricultural productivity and tax compliance amid shifting Hindu and Islamic governance structures.^[12] During Mughal rule over Gujarat (16th–18th centuries), Patels retained their status as village headmen, collaborating with imperial revenue collectors such as shiqdars to facilitate land assessments and sometimes securing loans against village revenues, as evidenced in Broach district records from 1776.^[13] They represented peasant interests while aiding in revenue extraction, often drawing from their own cultivator backgrounds to balance state demands with local sustainability.^[14] In British colonial India, particularly within the Bombay Presidency's Ryotwari system implemented from the early 19th century, Patels served as hereditary village officers assisting talatis (accountants) in revenue surveys, collection, and dispute resolution across Gujarat's rural areas.^[15] This continuity from pre-colonial roles enabled Patel-bearing communities, such as Patidars, to consolidate landholdings, adopt irrigation improvements, and shift toward cash crops like indigo by the mid-1800s, fostering economic ascent amid colonial administrative reliance on local elites.^[15]

Transition to Hereditary Surname

The administrative title Patel, referring to village headmen responsible for maintaining crop revenue records (pat-likh), emerged around 1400 AD among Kurmi settlers in Gujarat's Petlad Taluka under the Solanki rulers, initially as a functional designation rather than a family name.^[12] This title transitioned to a hereditary surname during the Gujarat Sultanate period (1412–1573 AD), when Muslim rulers formalized land revenue systems, enabling headmen (mukhis) and their kin to retain the role across generations; adoption spread widely among Kanbi cultivators, who increasingly identified with it as a marker of status in agrarian administration.^[12] By the early 18th century, amid Mughal influence, prosperous Kanbis leveraging land grants under figures like Mohammed Begda further entrenched Patel as a surname synonymous with landholding (Patidar), distinguishing these families from lower-status cultivators and solidifying its hereditary use within endogamous subgroups like Leuva and Kadva.^[12]^[16]

Patidar Caste Identity

The Patidar caste refers to a land-owning agricultural community native to Gujarat, India, historically functioning as village headmen and cultivators responsible for revenue collection and land management. The term "Patidar," meaning holder or manager of land (from "pati" denoting a strip or piece of land), originated in the 17th century when Kanbi peasants petitioned rulers for recognition as lessees of tax-free lands, marking a shift from mere tillers to hereditary proprietors. This evolution solidified their identity as a distinct group by the British colonial era, with formal census recognition as a separate caste occurring in 1931.^[17]^[18] Patidars traditionally adhere to endogamous marriage practices within sub-castes, emphasizing joint family systems where multiple generations co-reside and share resources, fostering values of hard work, frugality, and community solidarity through organizations like Patidar Samajs. These associations promote cultural preservation, mutual aid, and social welfare, reinforcing a collective identity centered on agrarian prosperity and entrepreneurial adaptability. The community claims descent from ancient Kshatriya lineages, such as Lord Rama, though anthropological assessments place them within the Shudra varna as peasant cultivators who achieved upward mobility via land accumulation and trade.^[19]^[20]^[21] In the varna hierarchy, Patidars occupy a forward caste status, excluded from affirmative action quotas despite originating as Kanbi Shudras; they have pursued Sanskritization by emulating higher-caste rituals, such as vegetarianism and Kshatriya-like martial claims, to elevate ritual purity and social prestige since the early 20th century. This process, driven by economic success in farming and migration, underscores their identity as a self-reliant, dominant rural elite in Gujarat, comprising about 12-15% of the state's population and wielding disproportionate political influence. However, perceptions of relative decline amid competition from reserved castes prompted agitations, like the 2015 protests for OBC status, highlighting tensions between their prosperous self-image and access to state benefits.^[22]^[21]^[23]

Internal Divisions and Evolution

The Patidar community, primarily associated with the Patel surname in Gujarat, exhibits internal divisions chiefly between two endogamous subcastes: the Kadva (or Kadava) Patidars and the Leuva (or Leva) Patidars. These subgroups trace their origins to historical Kanbi agrarian communities that adopted the Patidar title in the 17th century upon gaining land management roles under Mughal and local rulers, evolving from tenant farmers (Kanbi) to landowning elites.^[24] The division between Kadva and Leuva is rooted in regional and occupational distinctions, with Kadva Patidars concentrated in northern Gujarat and Leuva Patidars dominant in central Gujarat and Saurashtra; Leuva subgroups slightly outnumber Kadva ones demographically.^[25] ^[26] Religious affiliations further delineate these subcastes, with Kadva Patidars venerating Umiya Mataji as their primary deity and Leuva Patidars primarily worshipping Khodal Mataji, reinforcing social boundaries through distinct temple networks and festivals.^[27] Marriage practices historically emphasized endogamy within these subcastes and smaller village-based circles known as gols, which limited inter-subcaste unions to maintain purity and economic ties among equal-status families; violations could result in social ostracism until the mid-20th century.^[28] Over time, urbanization and migration have increased inter-subcaste marriages, particularly in the diaspora, though traditional preferences persist, as evidenced by community associations like the Leuva Patidar Samaj promoting intra-group alliances.^[29] Peripheral groups such as Anjana Patels and Chaudhary Patels have sought inclusion in the broader Patidar identity, often through claims of shared agrarian heritage, but face resistance from core Kadva and Leuva subgroups due to differing socio-economic statuses and OBC classifications; Anjana Patels, for instance, agitate separately for recognition, highlighting status hierarchies within the umbrella term.^[30] Evolutionarily, the community's structure underwent Sanskritization in the early 20th century, with Patidars petitioning for Kshatriya status to elevate from Shudra origins, fostering unified caste associations (samajs) that bridged subcastes for political mobilization, as seen in the leadership of Vallabhbhai Patel.^[12] Post-independence, economic shifts from agriculture to commerce and politics eroded some rigid divisions, yet faultlines reemerged in events like the 2015 reservation agitation, where Leuva-dominated protests exposed tensions with Kadva subgroups over resource allocation and leadership.^[25] Today, both subcastes maintain parallel welfare organizations, adapting to modern challenges like diaspora integration while preserving core identities through philanthropy and voting blocs in Gujarat elections.^[26]

Geographical Distribution

Prevalence in India

The surname Patel is borne by approximately 4,215,909 individuals in India, representing about 1 in every 182 people and ranking as the 19th most common surname nationwide.^[4]^[31] This prevalence is heavily concentrated in Gujarat, where roughly 75% of all Indian Patels reside, reflecting the surname's deep roots in the Patidar community of land-owning farmers originating from that region.^[4] The Patidar caste, which predominantly uses the Patel surname, constitutes 12-15% of Gujarat's population, estimated at around 1.5 crore (15 million) individuals as of the mid-2010s when the state's total population was approximately 6 crore (60 million).^[30]^[32]^[33] With Gujarat's population growing to about 7 crore (70 million) by 2021, the Patidar share aligns with updated estimates of 11-12% or higher, underscoring their demographic dominance in central and south Gujarat districts such as Anand, Kheda, and Vadodara.^[34] Outside Gujarat, the surname appears in smaller numbers in neighboring states like Maharashtra and Rajasthan, often linked to migration, but remains far less common elsewhere in India.^[4] These distributions stem from historical land tenure patterns under Mughal and British rule, where Patel denoted village headmen, evolving into a hereditary identifier for the Patidar subgroup.^[4]

Global Diaspora Patterns

The Patel surname, predominantly associated with the Patidar community from Gujarat, has spread globally through phased migrations beginning in the late 19th century. Initial outflows occurred during famines in Gujarat, such as those from 1899 to 1902, prompting Patidars to seek opportunities in British East Africa, including Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, where they engaged in trade, construction, and small-scale entrepreneurship, often following established Gujarati networks like the Bhatia and Lohana communities.^[35]^[36] By the mid-20th century, Patels formed a significant portion of the Indian merchant class in these regions, but political upheavals, notably Uganda's 1972 expulsion of Asians under Idi Amin, displaced tens of thousands, redirecting flows to former colonial metropoles.^[37] Post-1960s, secondary migrations accelerated to the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Australia via family reunification, skilled worker visas, and refugee pathways. In the UK, where Patels number approximately 150,000 as of 2015, concentrations arose from East African inflows and direct Gujarati migration, with many settling in urban areas like London and Leicester for commerce and services.^[38] The US hosts around 145,000 to 150,000 Patels, largely post-1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, which enabled chain migration; Gujarati Patels leveraged communal lending networks to dominate the motel industry, owning an estimated 25% of US motels by the 2010s through low-barrier entry and intergenerational transfers.^[39]^[38] Canada and Australia feature smaller but growing Patel populations within broader Gujarati diasporas—over 210,000 Gujaratis in Canada by 2021 and substantial Indian-born communities in Australia—fueled by professional immigration since the 1970s and 1990s, respectively, with Patels prominent in real estate, hospitality, and IT.^[12] These patterns reflect causal drivers like colonial labor demands, post-independence displacements, and economic pragmatism, yielding tight-knit enclaves that sustain remittances to Gujarat (estimated at billions annually) and reverse migration for marriages. Remnants persist in East and South Africa, though diminished, while newer outflows target the Gulf states and Europe for temporary work. Overall, over 500,000 Patels reside outside India, comprising a disproportionate share of Gujarati emigrants due to their historical adaptability and sub-caste solidarity.^[38]^[8]

Socio-Economic Role

Agricultural and Political Influence in India

The Patidar community, primarily concentrated in Gujarat, has exerted substantial influence over the state's agricultural sector since the post-independence land reforms of the 1950s and 1960s, transitioning from tenant cultivators to dominant landowners.^[40] As beneficiaries of tenancy abolition laws, Patidars capitalized on redistributed land, achieving ownership of significant farmland holdings; in surveyed rural areas, they control over 80% of arable land despite comprising less than 20% of the local population.^[41] This dominance facilitated their role in Gujarat's agricultural expansion, including adoption of hybrid seeds and irrigation during the Green Revolution era, contributing to the state's annual agricultural growth rate of 9.6% from 2000 to 2010, far exceeding India's national average of 2.9%.^[42] Patidar-led cooperatives, inspired by early 20th-century movements in regions like Kheda, further enhanced productivity in cash crops such as cotton and groundnut, bolstering rural economies.^[43] Economically, Patidars' agricultural prowess has underpinned Gujarat's status as a leading producer of dairy and horticulture, with community members maintaining remunerative farming operations amid broader rural challenges.^[36] Their focus on commercialized farming, including integration into supply chains, has driven export-oriented output, though this success stems from historical land access rather than state favoritism alone.^[44] Politically, Patidars form a pivotal voting bloc in Gujarat, representing 12-14% of the state's population and wielding influence through concentrated settlement in central districts.^[45] Historically aligned with the Indian National Congress until the 1990s, the community shifted en masse to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), becoming a core support base that propelled the party's dominance in state elections.^[46] In the 2022 assembly polls, BJP fielded 48 Patidar candidates, securing 41 victories, underscoring their electoral leverage.^[32] Temporary fissures emerged in 2017 amid reservation demands, with some Patidar votes fragmenting to opposition parties, yet the community largely realigned with BJP by 2022, reflecting pragmatic alliances over ideological rigidity.^[47] This influence extends to policy advocacy for agricultural subsidies and infrastructure, shaping Gujarat's pro-farmer governance model.^[48]

Entrepreneurial Success in the Diaspora

Members of the Patidar community, commonly bearing the surname Patel, have demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial achievements in the global diaspora, particularly in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, where they have leveraged family networks, frugality, and chain migration to build substantial businesses in hospitality and retail sectors.^[49]^[50] This success stems from early immigrants entering low-barrier industries shunned by locals, such as operating rundown motels or corner stores, and scaling through reinvestment and communal support rather than external financing.^[51] By the 1980s, these patterns had solidified, with Patels forming associations like the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), founded in 1989, to facilitate knowledge-sharing and bulk purchasing.^[52] In the United States, Patels and other Gujarati Indians own approximately 60% of the nation's hotels, totaling over 36,000 properties as of recent estimates, generating billions in revenue and employing hundreds of thousands.^[53]^[50] This dominance began in the 1970s when initial migrants, often arriving via student visas or family sponsorships from Gujarat, purchased affordable motels in rural or highway-adjacent areas, renovated them through family labor, and expanded via intra-community loans amid limited access to traditional banks.^[49]^[51] By 2023, Gujarati Americans controlled about 22,000 of the roughly 53,000 U.S. hotels, with Patels comprising a significant portion due to their caste's historical emphasis on landownership transitioning to commercial real estate abroad.^[49] These enterprises contribute substantially to local economies, including real estate taxes exceeding $700 million annually across the sector.^[54] In the United Kingdom, Patels have similarly excelled in retail, owning a disproportionate share of corner shops, newsagents, and convenience stores, which formed the backbone of immigrant entrepreneurship post-1960s migration waves driven by labor shortages and Uganda's 1972 expulsion of Asians.^[55]^[56] Gujarati families, including Patels, operated these outlets with extended family shifts enabling 24-hour service, leading to chains and larger ventures; by the 2010s, Indian-origin businesses, heavily Patidar-influenced, accounted for notable economic power dubbed the "Brown Pound."^[56]^[57] This model prioritized self-employment over wage labor, fostering intergenerational wealth transfer and diversification into pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and tech startups.^[55] Comparable patterns appear in Canada, where Indian immigrants, including Patels, exhibit high self-employment rates in hospitality and services, though specific Patel data is less granular; broader studies show Indian entrepreneurs there hiring more employees per firm than natives despite modest initial incomes, attributing success to cultural risk tolerance and networks.^[58] Overall, Patidar diaspora entrepreneurship reflects causal factors like endogamous marriage reinforcing business ties, aversion to debt from traditional agrarian roots, and adaptive strategies in host societies, yielding outcomes that outperform general immigrant benchmarks in asset accumulation.^[59]^[57]

Controversies and Challenges

Allegations of Economic Monopolies

The Patel community, predominantly Gujarati Hindus in the diaspora, has faced allegations of establishing de facto economic monopolies in the United States hospitality sector, particularly through dominance in the budget motel and economy hotel markets. By the late 1990s, individuals of Indian origin owned approximately 37% of all U.S. hotels, with Patels comprising about 70% of Indian motel owners, translating to roughly one-third of the national motel market.^[60] This concentration stemmed from chain migration starting in the 1970s, where early immigrants like Kanjibhai Desai purchased modest properties such as the Highland Sands Motel in Texas for $55,000 in 1975, leveraging family labor, informal intra-community lending, and reinvestment to expand holdings.^[61] Critics, including competitors and media outlets, labeled this network the "Patel Motel Cartel," accusing participants of anti-competitive practices such as coordinated price inflation and exclusionary dealings that stifled non-Patel entrants.^[60] Specific claims included predatory tactics like artificially driving up motel acquisition prices during buying frenzies in the 1980s, as reported in industry publications, which allegedly created barriers for outsiders through opaque family-based financing inaccessible to others.^[54] Further allegations encompassed criminal activities purportedly enabling market entrenchment, such as arson for insurance payouts—prompting some insurers to refuse coverage or push self-insurance among Patels—and laundering proceeds from stolen traveler's checks, with conventional insurers citing patterns of suspicious claims.^[54] Immigration circumvention was also charged, involving chains of relatives entering via investor visas or family sponsorships to staff and acquire properties, though these practices aligned with legal pathways for ethnic entrepreneurship rather than proven collusion. No formal antitrust investigations or convictions for cartel formation have been documented against the group as a whole, and such accusations often coincided with overt racism from displaced owners, including protests with "American Owned" signs and complaints about cultural markers like cooking odors.^[62] By the 2010s, the community's holdings expanded to over 20,000 properties representing about 50% of U.S. economy lodging, generating billions in value and employing hundreds of thousands, yet allegations persisted in narratives framing the success as conspiratorial rather than resultant from low-barrier entry, operational efficiencies, and franchising with chains like Econo Lodge.^[54] In Gujarat, India, Patels' economic influence in sectors like agriculture and small manufacturing has drawn indirect critiques of dominance—such as overtaking traditional Bania trading networks by the early 2000s—but lacks explicit monopoly charges, with agitations like the 2015 reservation movement instead highlighting perceived threats to their status from competition and policy shifts.^[63] These diaspora-focused claims, while unsubstantiated in court as systemic monopolism, underscore tensions over ethnic enclaves in fragmented markets where network effects amplify market share without violating competition laws.^[64]

Political Agitations and Reservations

The Patidar community in Gujarat initiated a widespread agitation in July 2015, demanding inclusion in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category to access reservations in education and government jobs, citing economic distress among educated youth despite the community's overall agricultural prosperity and land ownership.^[65] Led by 22-year-old Hardik Patel of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), the movement drew on claims of social and educational backwardness, arguing that Patidars faced unemployment rates comparable to reserved categories amid competition from migrants and other quota beneficiaries.^[66] This demand marked a reversal from the community's historical opposition to caste-based reservations, including their role in the 1985 anti-quota protests that contributed to the fall of the Congress government in Gujarat.^[67] The agitation escalated with large-scale rallies, culminating in the "Kranti Rally" on August 25, 2015, in Ahmedabad, which reportedly attracted over 400,000 participants and highlighted grievances over limited opportunities despite Patidar dominance in rural economies.^[68] Subsequent violence erupted, including arson and clashes with police in cities like Ahmedabad, Surat, and Rajkot, prompting curfews, internet shutdowns, and the deployment of over 10,000 security personnel; at least 11 individuals died, several by self-immolation, during the unrest.^[69] Hardik Patel was arrested on charges including sedition and unlawful assembly, with the state government under Chief Minister Anandiben Patel facing criticism for heavy-handed suppression, which some analysts linked to the eventual resignation of Anandiben in August 2016 amid broader political pressures.^[70] Legally, the demands faced rejection: Gujarat's high-powered committee in 2016 deemed Patidars ineligible for OBC status due to insufficient evidence of backwardness, as the community held disproportionate representation in higher education and landholdings, controlling an estimated 60% of Gujarat's farmland.^[71] In response, the state enacted a 10% quota for "socially and educationally backward" Patidars in 2016, but this was struck down by the Gujarat High Court in 2018 for violating the 50% reservation ceiling set by the Supreme Court. The movement indirectly influenced national policy, contributing to the 2019 constitutional amendment introducing a 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), which applied to forward castes like Patidars without requiring social backwardness certification.^[70] Agitations persisted intermittently through 2017–2022, with PAAS organizing protests and padayatras, but momentum waned as leaders like Hardik Patel shifted political alignments, eventually joining the BJP in 2022 after supporting Congress in the 2017 Gujarat elections.^[66] By 2025, marking a decade since the onset, the Gujarat government withdrew nine sedition-related cases against Hardik Patel and others involved in the 2015 stir, signaling reconciliation amid ongoing youth unemployment concerns, though core reservation demands remain unmet and legally contested.^[72] Critics, including economists, argue the push exemplifies "quota creep" by dominant castes, straining merit-based systems and fiscal resources without addressing root causes like agrarian stagnation and skill mismatches.^[73]

Discrimination and Violence Faced

The Patel community, as a dominant landowning caste in Gujarat, has not historically experienced systemic caste-based discrimination within India, unlike lower castes targeted by traditional hierarchies.^[74] Instead, instances of violence have arisen in contexts of political agitation or diaspora experiences. During the 2015 Patidar reservation protests in Gujarat, led by figures like Hardik Patel demanding inclusion in backward class quotas amid economic pressures on rural youth, demonstrations escalated into clashes with security forces. At least 10 to 14 Patidars were killed in police firing, with over 100 injured, amid arson, vandalism, and curfews in cities like Ahmedabad and Surat.^[75] ^[69] The agitation, involving massive rallies of lakhs of participants, highlighted tensions between the community's forward status and claims of educational and job market disadvantages, resulting in thousands of arrests and subsequent withdrawal of 95% of cases against protesters by 2016.^[76] In the diaspora, particularly East Africa where many Patels settled as traders under British colonial rule, the community faced racial discrimination and targeted expulsions. In Uganda, Idi Amin's 1972 decree expelled approximately 80,000 South Asians, including Gujarati Patels who dominated commerce, leading to property confiscations, beatings, and reports of sexual and physical violence during the chaotic exodus.^[77] ^[78] Amin justified the action as reclaiming the economy from "bloodsuckers," forcing many to flee with minimal assets to the UK, Canada, or India, disrupting established Patel networks in retail and agriculture. Similar discriminatory policies in Kenya, such as post-independence restrictions on Asian business licenses from the 1960s, limited opportunities and fueled resentment, though without the scale of violence seen in Uganda.^[79] In Western countries like the UK and US, where Patels form a significant portion of the Indian diaspora (e.g., owning many motels and shops), individuals have encountered sporadic racist violence as part of broader anti-Asian incidents, such as 1970s skinhead attacks in the UK or post-9/11 harassment in the US. However, no large-scale pogroms or caste-specific targeting against Patels as a group have been documented, with community resilience evidenced by economic adaptation despite initial barriers like insurance discrimination in the US.^[54] These experiences underscore causal factors like minority status in host societies rather than inherent caste vulnerabilities.

Notable Individuals

Political Leaders

Vallabhbhai Patel (1875–1950), known as Sardar Patel, served as India's first Deputy Prime Minister from 1947 to 1950 and played a pivotal role in integrating over 560 princely states into the Indian Union through diplomatic negotiations and, where necessary, military action, thereby preventing potential balkanization post-independence.^[80]^[81] As a senior Indian National Congress leader, he organized the successful Bardoli Satyagraha in 1928, a non-violent resistance by farmers against British tax hikes, which earned him the title "Sardar" and elevated his stature in the independence movement.^[80] Patel also contributed to national security by suppressing communal riots and shaping early democratic institutions as Minister of Home Affairs.^[82] In contemporary Indian politics, Bhupendra Patel has been Chief Minister of Gujarat since September 2021, representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and focusing on infrastructure and economic development in a state with significant Patidar influence.^[40] Hardik Patel emerged as a key figure in the 2015 Patidar reservation agitation in Gujarat, mobilizing the community for quotas in government jobs and education under the Other Backward Classes category, which led to widespread protests and his brief imprisonment before he joined the BJP in 2022 and won a legislative assembly seat.^[66]^[65] Among the global diaspora, Priti Patel, a British Conservative politician of Gujarati descent, has served as Member of Parliament for Witham since 2010 and held cabinet positions including Secretary of State for International Development (2016–2017) and Home Secretary (2019–2022), where she oversaw policies on immigration, policing, and the Rwanda deportation plan.^[83]^[84] In the United States, Kash Patel, appointed FBI Director in February 2025 by President Donald Trump, previously advised on national security matters, including counterterrorism efforts against ISIS and Al-Qaeda during the Trump administration.^[85]^[86]

Business and Professional Figures

Pankaj R. Patel, born on March 16, 1953, chairs Zydus Lifesciences, India's fifth-largest pharmaceutical company by market capitalization, which his father co-founded in 1952 as Cadila Healthcare.^[87] Under his leadership, the firm has expanded into generics, vaccines, and animal health products, generating revenues exceeding $2 billion annually as of 2023.^[88] Patel, a pharmacy graduate, has steered the company through global operations in over 50 countries, emphasizing research-driven innovation.^[89] Karsanbhai Khodidas Patel, born in 1945, established Nirma Group in 1969 by producing low-cost detergent powder in his backyard in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, initially selling it door-to-door via bicycle.^[90] This grassroots approach disrupted India's market dominated by multinational brands like Unilever, capturing over 20% share by the 1980s through affordable, phosphate-free formulations.^[91] Nirma diversified into cement, salt, and plastics, achieving group revenues of approximately $3.3 billion by 2024.^[92] In the United States, Patel entrepreneurs from Gujarat have dominated the budget hospitality sector since the 1970s, leveraging family networks and reinvested profits to acquire properties.^[93] Indian Americans, predominantly Gujarati Patels, own about 60% of U.S. hotels with over 75 rooms, representing roughly 22,000 properties and contributing over $30 billion annually to the economy.^[50] Within this, Patels control nearly 70% of Indian-owned motels, often starting with single properties financed through community loans and scaling via the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), which they helped found in 1989.^[93] This model emphasizes frugality, hands-on management, and intergenerational succession, transforming modest investments into a $40 billion industry stake.^[52] Other notable professionals include Paresh S. Patel, chairman and CEO of HCI Group, Inc., a NYSE-listed insurer with operations in property and casualty lines, reporting $500 million in 2023 premiums.^[94] In technology, Nirav Patel was appointed president and CEO of Mastech Digital in 2024, a firm providing IT staffing and digital services with $200 million in annual revenue.^[95] These achievements reflect the community's emphasis on education, risk-taking, and mutual support, yielding high rates of self-employment among Patel diaspora members.^[96]

References

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Oct 3, 2019 · The Patel surname comes from Gujarat, India, and means 'village chief' or 'headman'. · Patel can also mean 'farmer' from the Gujarati word 'pat', ...
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Patel : Meaning and Origin of First Name - Ancestry.com
Stemming from the Gujarati language, it is derived from the Sanskrit words patil or patel, meaning landowner or village chief.
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PATEL Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of PATEL is the headman of a village.
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Patel Surname Origin, Meaning & Last Name History - Forebears
The Patel surname is most commonly of Indian (Gujarati) origin. The Hindu surname translates originally as "headman" or "village chief." It can also mean " ...
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Jun 10, 2025 · It is derived from the Gujarati word 'patel' (પટેલ), an occupational title historically given to a village headman or chief, responsible for ...Missing: etymology | Show results with:etymology
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Historically, a patel was the headman responsible for revenue collection, land records, and mediation in agrarian villages across Gujarat and parts of western ...
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History Of Patidar - Umiya Mataji Temple Chicago
Patel is the most common surname in Gujarat, India ... Other populace started referring Patidars as Patel caste that is Kadva Patidars as Kadva Patels.<|control11|><|separator|>
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It comes ultimately from Sanskrit paṭṭakila 'tenant of royal land'. It is the most common surname among Indians immigrants to the US.Missing: etymology linguistic roots
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Jun 1, 2025 · The etymology is interesting: “The Gujarati term paṭel, along with its cognate Marathi terms pāṭel and pāṭīl, are derived from the Prakrit word ...
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Patel is not a caste, but a surname adopted by most of the original Kanbis. The surname Patel was first used in Gujarat during the period of the Muslim Sultans.
[13]
AGRARIAN STRUCTURE IN MUGHAL GUJARAT - jstor
shiqqdār (revenue collector) and then handed over to the headman of yet ... For example, Patel of a village in Broach. (in 1776) contracted a loan on the ...
[14]
(A) Agricultural Production in Mughal India: Unit 3 - Scribd
Rating 5.0 (2) Usually, the revenue was deposited in the treasury through the 'amil' or revenue collector. ... he was called patel. He was normally a peasant himself, but ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[15]
History of PATELS. - shutterspunk - WordPress.com
Aug 25, 2015 · The 'Patel' of a village in the mid-1500-1900 state of Gujarat, would be a member of the village committee who would help represent the whole ...
[16]
[PDF] The Patidars : A Golden Page in History
4. Patel surname is the most widely used name today. Originally the. Kurmis of Punjab, after having settled in Gujarat around 1400 A.D. ...
[17]
patidars - Times of India
Oct 11, 2017 · Patidar is a caste found primarily in Gujarat, India. They were formally recognized as a separate identity in the 1931 census of India.
[18]
Seven things to know about Gujarat's Patidar community
Aug 26, 2015 · Since July, youths from Gujarat's economically and politically influential Patidar (Patel) community have been agitating for other-backward-castes (OBC) status.
[19]
Gujarat protests: Who are the Patidars, and why are they angry?
Aug 27, 2015 · Patidars or Patels claim themselves to be descendants of Lord Ram. They are divided into two main sub-castes: Leuva Patels and Kadva Patels.
[20]
Patidar Samaj Culture: An Overview of Traditions, Values, and Beliefs
Dec 29, 2023 · Joint Family System: Traditionally, the Patidar community follows a joint family system where multiple generations live together under one roof.
[21]
Anthropology Optional (Caste System as Social Stratification) by ...
May 2, 2023 · For example, the Patidars of Gujarat, a peasant group of Sudra varna, supported the Maratha descendants of Shivaji, the Gaekwads, who ruled ...<|separator|>
[22]
India's prosperous Patels seek change in caste status. Why?
Aug 28, 2015 · The Patels are a farmer caste that has risen to become synonymous with entrepreneurship and trade. Now they are seeking affirmative action.<|separator|>
[23]
Caste order: the Patel is the new 'shudra' - Mint
Aug 8, 2015 · Patels want to be OBCs because their children cannot get into colleges. They have never been backward or helpless, writes Aakar Patel.
[24]
History of Kadva Patidars - Shree Umiya Mataji Mandir
In 17th Century, the Kanabi community requested to call them Patidars, which means managing leased land (mostly from kings). This changed Kadva Kanabi to Kadva ...
[25]
The unity and the faultlines: Leuva and Kadva Patidars in Gujarat ...
Sep 15, 2021 · Leuva Patels marginally outnumber Kadvas. They dominate Saurashtra and Central Gujarat; the Kadvas are the dominant community in North Gujarat.Missing: internal | Show results with:internal
[26]
Kadva And Leuva Patidars: Who They Are, And What Their Role Is ...
Sep 15, 2021 · Leuva Patidars are reportedly influential in the Saurashtra region, while Kadva Patidars are influential in the north Gujarat region.Missing: internal divisions
[27]
In total, how many types of Patels exist? How are Koli Patels ... - Quora
Dec 16, 2016 · There are only two sub-clans of Patel or Patidar - 'kadva' & 'leuva'. · Kadva are disciples of Umiya Mataji. · Leuva are disciples of Khodal ...How do Patidars differ from Patels in Gujarat?What is the history of Leva Patidar?More results from www.quora.com
[28]
Who Are All Those Patels? - Chicago Reader
Aug 19, 2021 · The word patel crept into the vernacular as a general administrative title that was never meant to be hereditary.
[29]
Who We Are - Leuva Patidar Samaj of USA
The surname Patel is the most widely used name today. Originally the Kurmis of Punjab, after having settled in Gujarat around 1400 A.D. were allocated the ...
[30]
Patels and Patidars of Gujarat: Descendants of Ram ... - India Today
Dec 7, 2017 · Patidar's history is an interesting socio-economic narration of two castes from the medieval times, namely, peasant caste Kanbi and warrior Koli ...Missing: colonial | Show results with:colonial
[31]
Most Common Indian Surnames & Meanings - Forebears
Most Common Last Names In India ; 19, Patel, 4,215,909 ; 20, Prasad, 3,934,526 ; 21, Patil, 3,680,454 ; 22, Ghosh, 3,640,391 ...
[32]
48 candidates, 41 wins: How Patidars played decisive role in BJP's ...
Dec 9, 2022 · In all, Patidars constitute approximately 1.5 crore of Gujarat's total population ... caste candidates, 33 won, the Gujarat BJP leader told ...
[33]
“Patels” will decide the fate of Gujarat Politics in 2022 ?
Jun 11, 2022 · Patidar community aka PATELs makes up around 14-15 percent of the population of Gujarat. It is the largest caste in Gujarat after the Thakurs.
[34]
Lok Sabha polls 2024 | Caste still a major factor in selection of ...
Apr 29, 2024 · Patidars constitute 11-12 per cent of Gujarat's 6.5-crore population and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), scattered across many sub-communities ...
[35]
[PDF] the stories migrants carry with them and their impact on a writer's life
In tracing the history of the Patidars, Pocock attributed the severe famines of 1899-1902 as the leading cause of migration to East Africa (Pocock, 1972, p.71).
[36]
[PDF] Migration, bachelorhood and discontent among the Patidars
In East Africa Patidars followed the route and experience of Gujarati communities such as the Bhatia and the Lohanas, who had been migrating to this region ...
[37]
Gujarati Business Communities in East African Diaspora - jstor
1994, pp 603-20. 6 There had been earlier patidar and Jain migrants to East Africa, but the numbers had been very small ...
[38]
Global Gujaratis: Now in 129 nations - The Economic Times
Jan 4, 2015 · The Patel surname ranked 591 in the list of most common last names, ahead of such notables as Dalton, Roth and Nixon. By the 2000 census, with ...Missing: patterns | Show results with:patterns
[39]
The affluent Patel clan owns a quarter of US motels. In India, it wants ...
Almost every person in central Gujarat, where Patels dominate, has family members in the US and UK. ... Today, the US alone is home to as many as 145,000 Patels, ...
[40]
Who are Patels and how they have become a driving force behind ...
Sep 15, 2021 · ThePrint takes a look at the Patidar Patels of Gujarat and what makes them the significant driving force in the state's power corridors.
[41]
Migration, Bachelorhood and Discontent among the Patidars - jstor
With less than 20% of the village population, Patidars own more than 80% of its land.<|control11|><|separator|>
[42]
How did Gujarat Become a Farming Paradise? - Forbes India
Mar 18, 2010 · Gujarat's agriculture has grown 9.6 percent per year in the last decade or so, surpassing the national growth rate of 2.9 percent and boosting rural incomes.
[43]
The Emergence of a Cooperative Amidst Economic Disruption - MDPI
The events at Kheda unfolded in 1918 following a crop failure, which led to widespread economic hardship among the Patidar farmers (Bates, 1981). The ...
[44]
(PDF) Agricultural cooperatives in Gujarat, India: Agents of equity or ...
Aug 7, 2025 · ... land. ownership and wealth of the Patidar. caste, and with the concurrent. commercialisation. of. agriculture. Under the Patidars,. who occupied ...<|separator|>
[45]
Wealthy, yet 'backward' in Gujarat - Business Standard
Sep 5, 2015 · Patidars, who are said to be the descendants of Ram's twins, Luv and Kush, comprise 12-14 per cent of Gujarat's population of 65 million, say ...
[46]
bjp: Gujarat Elections 2022: 2017 polls saw Patidars drifting away ...
Dec 3, 2022 · Earlier, the Patidars were a vote bank of the Congress. They shifted their allegiance to BJP in the 1990s after the Congress focused on the ...
[47]
Patidars Back BJP In Gujarat After Staying Away From Party In 2017
Dec 9, 2022 · The Patidar community, a section of which had voted against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2017 Assembly polls, returned to the ...
[48]
P for polls, P for Patidars: In no-wave, 3-way contest, community ...
Nov 17, 2022 · If the influential Patidar community played a key role in determining the outcome of the 2017 Gujarat Assembly election, the 2022 Assembly ...
[49]
The Motel Patels Built Empires. For Younger Generations, It's ...
May 24, 2023 · Gujarati Americans own 22,000 out of the 53,000 hotels. Several Patels have also held on to mom-and-pop motels and watched them grow. Further ...
[50]
How Indian Americans Came to Dominate Hotel Ownership
Jun 13, 2025 · The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), a trade group, says that 60% of US hotels are owned by its members.
[51]
Indian Immigrants in the American Hotel Business - Trailblazers
By the 1970s, Patels owned motels across America. It gave rise to the 'Patel ... Today, it is estimated that Patels own over 60% of U.S. hotels and motels.<|separator|>
[52]
The Rise of Gujarati Hotel and Motel Owners in the USA - StartupTalky
Dec 23, 2024 · How many hotels are owned by Patels in USA? ... Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), founded in 1989 represents over 36,000 hotels, ...
[53]
Indian Hoteliers and Their Role in the Hospitality Landscape in the ...
Mar 12, 2025 · According to industry reports, Indian-origin hoteliers own over 36,000 hotels across the U.S., a majority 60% share of all U.S. hotels. This is ...Missing: facts | Show results with:facts
[54]
[PDF] The Patel Motel Cartel
It is estimated that the hotels employ almost 800,000 people and annually pay some $700 million in real estate taxes annually. Incidentally, there may be an.
[55]
Family is key to success of Gujarati businessmen in Britain
May 23, 2012 · "British Gujaratis have been successful in a great variety of fields. Many younger Gujaratis took to professions rather than stay behind the ...
[56]
Rise of the 'Brown Pound': Indian entrepreneurship blossoms in the ...
Indian entrepreneurship in the UK started with small businesses, and now, the 'Brown Pound' refers to their economic power, with 654 businesses having over £ ...
[57]
Why Gujaratis may be the most successful people in business in the ...
Dec 28, 2015 · Everywhere, Gujaratis are to be found running businesses, from corner shops to hotels, from tech start-ups to some of the world's largest ...
[58]
Indian Entrepreneurial Success in the United States, Canada and ...
Dec 23, 2013 · Indian immigrants in the United States and other wealthy countries are successful in entrepreneurship. Using Census data from the three largest ...Missing: Patel Patidar
[59]
[PDF] Indian Entrepreneurial Success in the United States, Canada and ...
Indian entrepreneurs in the US have higher average income, while in Canada and the UK, they have slightly lower income but higher employee hiring rates.Missing: Patel Patidar
[60]
A Patel Motel Cartel? - The New York Times
Jul 4, 1999 · America's motels constitute what could be called a nonlinear ethnic niche: a certain ethnic group becomes entrenched in a clearly identifiable economic sector.
[61]
How Gujarati Patels Took Over America's Motels | Madras Courier
Jan 16, 2025 · Gujaratis own over forty-two per cent of the hotel business in the United States, and Patels own eighty to ninety per cent of the motels in American small ...
[62]
How Indian Americans Came to Run Half of All U.S. Motels
Sep 4, 2018 · About half the country's motels are now owned by Indian Americans. A majority of these owners are from Gujarat state's industrious Patel community.
[63]
Patels edge out banias in Gujarat economy - Times of India
Sep 16, 2002 · Gujarat's Patidar (Patel) community is fast overtaking the economic power of the Banias, who were traditionally strong in both trade and manufacturing, a new ...Missing: monopoly | Show results with:monopoly<|separator|>
[64]
'Patel Motel Story' film: How Indian immigrants found their ... - CNN
Oct 4, 2025 · The film begins with what Shah calls a “mind-blowing” detail about Indian immigrants and their descendants: “We control over 60% of hotels and ...
[65]
10 years of Patidar agitation. Where are the key leaders of the quota ...
Aug 24, 2025 · The biggest gain of the agitation was 10 per cent reservation for the economically weaker sections.” Story continues below this ad. Panara was ...
[66]
From Patidar agitation to BJP: A look at Hardik Patel's political journey
Jun 3, 2022 · Mr. Patel supported the Congress party in the 2017 Gujarat Assembly elections, where they were defeated by the BJP. “Our primary goal is to get ...
[67]
Patidar's Kranti rally: Ghost of anti-reservation stir returns
Aug 25, 2015 · Patidar's Kranti Rally scheduled on Tuesday to push their claims for OBC quota has reminded many of 1985 anti-reservation stir that had ...Missing: history facts
[68]
Well-funded, organized and massive: Who's behind Hardik Patel's ...
Aug 27, 2015 · The stunning success of the Kranti Rally organized here by Patidar bodies to demand OBC quota, and the violence that followed the arrest of ...
[69]
Gujarat Hardlook | Patidar agitation: A fight for reservation and ...
Aug 24, 2025 · Led by Hardik Patel, the movement gained momentum with public rallies and meetings, including a massive gathering at GMDC ground in ...
[70]
Hardik Patel on 10 years of Patidar agitation: 'A new, youth ...
Aug 22, 2025 · The protests catapulted Hardik to fame, and are believed to have led to the resignation of Anandiben Patel as the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
[71]
Decoding the truth behind Gujarat's Patidar agitation | On the Beat
Aug 28, 2015 · Gujarat always played on caste-based vote bank since the 1960's. After Patidars and Kshatriyas were mobilised by Bhailal Patel in 1967, the ...Missing: history | Show results with:history
[72]
Gujarat government withdraws nine cases against Hardik Patel ...
Feb 7, 2025 · The cases including two that accused Hardik Patel of sedition were registered when he was fronting the Patidar reservation stir | Latest ...Missing: control | Show results with:control
[73]
Patels and the Neo-Middle Class Syndrome
Aug 27, 2015 · In 2004-05, according to the NSS, only 4.2 per cent of those living in rural Gujarat and 7 per cent of urban dwellers were in this category, of ...<|separator|>
[74]
Caste Conflict - Why India's Patels Are Protesting - Foreign Affairs
Sep 29, 2015 · Patel protesters demand reservations in Gujarat. Members of the Patel community attend a protest rally in Ahmedabad, India, August, 2015.
[75]
Gujarat remains tense after Patel caste violence - BBC News
Aug 27, 2015 · Tension prevails in India's Gujarat state where two days of caste-related violence has left eight people dead. Fresh clashes were reported overnight.
[76]
Gujarat Govt withdraws 95 per cent Cases registered during Patidar ...
Oct 24, 2016 · According to police sources, the cases of violence, arson and assaults on police were registered against the Patidars during their agitation ...<|separator|>
[77]
Idi Amin: The Expulsion of South Asians from Uganda
Jun 6, 2017 · ... violence if Amin went back on his word and expelled them from Uganda too. Amin defended the expulsion by arguing that he was giving Uganda ...
[78]
The Despor's Debtors: Why Uganda's Indian-origin businessmen aid ...
Apr 1, 2016 · During their expulsion, many of them endured sexual and physical violence. Most of the refugees went to the United Kingdom, while around 6,000 ...
[79]
From the Archive: The Indian Diaspora in British Colonial Africa
Jun 22, 2023 · In Kenya between 1915 and 1920, discriminatory laws were passed to prevent the Indian community from enjoying the same privilege and power as ...
[80]
Vallabhbhai Patel | Indian Politician, Independence Movement ...
Patel, like Gandhi, saw advantages in the future participation of a free India in a British Commonwealth, provided that India was admitted as an equal member.
[81]
Legacy of Unity: Sardar Patel's Contribution to India's Integration
Nov 3, 2023 · With his strong determination and political skills, he united the princely states into the Indian dominion without removing their rulers.
[82]
[PDF] Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's Contributions to National Security and ...
Jul 10, 2025 · Patel played a key role in shaping India's democratic institutions and promoting national unity. He worked tirelessly to suppress communal ...
[83]
The Rt Hon Priti Patel MP - GOV.UK
Priti Patel was Secretary of State for the Home Department between 24 July 2019 and 6 September 2022. Priti was elected Conservative MP for Witham in May 2010.
[84]
Profile: Priti Patel - BBC News
Nov 20, 2020 · Career: Elected Witham MP in 2010. Became Treasury minister in 2014 and minister for employment in 2015. Appointed secretary of state for ...
[85]
Who is Kash Patel, Trump's new FBI director? - BBC
Feb 20, 2025 · Kash Patel, a one-time aide to President Donald Trump, has been confirmed by the US Senate to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). ...
[86]
Kashyap P. Patel > U.S. Department of War > Biography
Patel oversaw the execution of several of President Donald J. Trump's top priorities, including eliminating ISIS and Al-Qa'ida leadership such as al ...
[87]
Pankaj Patel - Forbes
Indian pharma magnate Pankaj Patel controls listed company Zydus Lifesciences (formerly Cadila Healthcare), which was cofounded by his late father in 1952 ...
[88]
Pankaj Patel: A Visionary Leader Transforming Healthcare
Jan 21, 2025 · Pankaj Ramanbhai Patel is an Indian billionaire businessman and the chairman of Zydus Lifesciences, the fifth-largest pharmaceutical company in ...
[89]
Shri Pankaj Ramanbhai Patel - BRIC
Mr. Pankaj Patel is the Chairman of Zydus Lifesciences Ltd., a discovery-driven, global Lifesciences company with operations in 55 countries worldwide.
[90]
Karsanbhai Patel - Forbes
Low-profile founder of Nirma, Karsanbhai Patel, started out mixing detergents in his backyard and selling them door-to-door on his bicycle.
[91]
Karsanbhai Patel nirma: This owner of a Rs 23,000-crore company ...
Oct 25, 2024 · Karsanbhai Patel is the founder of Nirma detergent, a household name. From selling detergent from door-to-door on bicycle to heading a multi- ...
[92]
The Inspiring Journey of Karsanbhai Patel: From Door-to-Door Sales ...
The detergent brand washing powder Nirma has been part of Indian households for the past 40-50 years. Karsanbhai Patel, the visionary entrepreneur behind Nirma.
[93]
The Untold Story of Patels Who Built America's Motel Empire
Jun 23, 2025 · According to the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), nearly 70% of all Indian-American owned motels in the US are owned by Patels.
[94]
Paresh S. Patel | Cambridge in America
Mr. Paresh S. Patel is chairman and CEO of HCI Group, Inc., a multi-national, NYSE listed company, engaged in various business activities.
[95]
Indian-Origin In US, Nirav Patel, Named CEO of Top US Company
Dec 27, 2024 · Indian-American Nirav Patel has been appointed as the new President and CEO of Mastech Digital, a Pittsburgh-based company specializing in ...Missing: notable | Show results with:notable
[96]
Gujarati American Businessmen and Why They are Thriving - Stilt
Apr 10, 2024 · Notable individuals like Romesh T. Wadhwani and Bharat Desai have become some of the richest people in America, and Gujarati-run companies like ...