The Perfect Match
Institute of Technology & Management, Gorakhpur

It is indeed a pleasure seeing a friendship grow into business bonds and then prosper in the real sense of the word. Also their diverse professions, Neeraj Matanhelia being a businessman and Shyam Behari Agarwal an advocate, make them a strong entity. With their Institute of Technology and Management (ITM), Vikas Bharti School and Purvanchal Institute of Dental Sciences, all in Gorakhpur, the duo have succeeded in carving a niche for themselves in the field of education in the state. So much so that any discussion on education in Eastern UP is incomplete without allotting a major share of laurels for these two entrepreneurs. Spread out on sprawling campuses, whether it is the school with co-educational residential facilities or the two institutes with its colleges assigned under different disciplines, all together they make for a grand academic as well as a visual delight.

Equipped with an elaborate computer lab and well laid out hostel at the school, all required paraphernalia at ITM which churns out professionals in different disciplines every year and all possible facilities to acquire a specialized vocational degree at the institute on dentistry, Neeraj and Shyam together have put together an industry that has helped the city of Gorakhpur take substantially big strides in the field of education.

"I had seen brilliant schools in other cities and I wanted to create one here, which would become the landmark of the city," says Shyam Bihari Agarwal, who just cannot hide his sentiments for the city he loves, adding, "I honestly felt the city deserved much more than it already had. It was a gift for Gorakhpur and people gave it all their love and trust." Till date he is amazed with the kind of response he got from all and sundry, something that alone is responsible for catapulting the establishments to its present height. When he says, "Once we planned it, it only grew bigger and bigger and became synonymous with a movement of sorts," the hint of pride is unmistakably evident in his voice.

Neeraj, taking upon himself to narrate their story says, "My father, picking up the threads from where my grandfather left off, transformed a small setup with his visionary traits. Today based totally on his ideologies that we have ventured into this business proposition. His success was due to a judicious mix of hard work, good planning and also luck in good measure," he admits with a smile. "With every generation things are getting better, more advanced and suited to modern times," he happily affirms. "It’s the basic approach that makes an institution thrive." Having said this he drifts into talking about the partnership. "Shyam and I have worked really hard to give ITM to the city. Our families have had a long association. We understand each other and have stood together in the face of all odds."

Letting us in on a totally different facet of his personality, his wife Karuna, who runs a VLCC unit, tells us how he enjoys with his friends. "You should see him on Holi when the child in him takes over as he dances and plays with colours, having a blast with his friends, for whom he even doesn’t stop at cooking up some delicacies." While son Nikunj tells us Neeraj loves to read and play badminton, Neeraj chooses to talk about his latest pastime, golf. Incidentally, his most enjoyable moments during the day are those he spends in the company of his granddaughter Kopal. "There can be no greater pleasure," he says with satisfaction.

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