My name is Sandeep Kantadevi Hansraj Agrawal, and this autobiography is not just a recollection of events, but a heartfelt narration of my journey through trials, triumphs, values, and visions. Born into a humble household in Dhule, Maharashtra, I was raised in an environment that valued integrity, hard work, and service above all. From a young age, I was deeply influenced by the towering presence of my father, Hansraj Onkar Agrawal, whose discipline, compassion, and entrepreneurial spirit shaped the very foundation of my life.
My father’s legacy wasn’t just in the businesses he built—but in the values he instilled in me. He started as a commission agent in a small shop in 1976 and later laid the foundation of Sri Gajanan Oil Mill. I worked alongside him and watched as he turned sweat and sincerity into success. His belief that ‘quality is our identity’ became the cornerstone of our family’s journey.
While others chased convenience, I chose the road of service. For the past thirty-five years, I have devoted myself to social work. It wasn’t always easy. There were days of rejection, criticism, and neglect. I had to make hard choices—between my own comfort and the needs of the community. I often sacrificed time with my children and family, but the fire within me never dulled. What kept me going was the unwavering support of my wife, Rakhi Sandeep Agrawal. She became not only my partner in life but also in service.
Our journey as a family was never ordinary. My daughter Dr. Anoli Sandeep Agrawal pursued dentistry with excellence, earning her BDS and MDS, and proudly securing a gold medal in Forensic Odontology. My son Aniket Agrawal ventured abroad and completed his MBBS and MS from the prestigious New York University. Their achievements bring me pride, not only because of their titles but because of the humility and values they carry with them—values nurtured by their mother and grandparents.
Over the years, I have received numerous awards and recognitions, but each of them represents more than just a moment of fame. They are milestones of trust that the society placed in me. From the Builders Association of India award to the FDCWC Achievers Award, each honour strengthened my resolve to do more, serve better, and uplift farther. One of the most unforgettable events in my journey was organizing the Divine Ram Katha of Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Swami Rambhadracharya in Dhule, where over 25,000 people gathered daily for ten days, and free food was served to over 10,000 people every single day. The energy, devotion, and unity I witnessed during that time still lives within me.
The mission of serving society isn’t confined to religious or charitable events alone. I have actively engaged with tribal communities from Melghat to Palghar, helping educate and empower them in ways that can lead to lasting change. These are the places where resources are scarce, but potential is abundant. My aim has always been to plant seeds of growth where others see only drought.
The foundations of my life, shaped by service, were not laid in grand moments but in the quiet influence of my family, sacrifice, and a moral compass that never wavered. My journey began in the deeply rooted values of my family in Dhule, Maharashtra—in a household where integrity was not just preached, but practiced with humility and strength.
Born to Shree Hansraj Onkar Agrawal and Smt. Kantadevi Hansraj Agrawal, I was raised in a joint family environment, where unity, hard work, and community mattered above all. My father, a beacon of resilience and honesty, began his journey as a commission agent in 1976. His steady hands laid the first bricks of what would eventually become a wide-reaching business legacy. Yet, beyond entrepreneurial success, what stood out most was his unwavering commitment to ethical practices. He never compromised on quality or on the truth — a lesson that I would carry with me for life.
My mother, equally devoted, fostered spiritual and moral values in our home. She was not just a support to my father, but a silent architect of the values that molded us. Together, they were not only role models but guides, whose every action spoke louder than any instruction.
Even in my childhood, I absorbed these teachings — not passively, but with intent. I watched my father manage business affairs with integrity while remaining closely connected to social causes, and I began to understand that success without service was incomplete. Early exposure to struggle and sacrifice, paired with my innate desire to help, created a foundation that would later drive my unwavering commitment to social service.
But life was never about privilege alone. It came with its share of sacrifices. I often found myself choosing the path of service over comfort. In doing so, I had to make difficult decisions — decisions that sometimes kept me away from my own family. There were years when I couldn’t give time to my children, and many moments when I chose the needs of my community over personal rest or recognition. In retrospect, these choices shaped both my character and the path I would follow.
The strength that allowed me to make those difficult choices came from the pillars around me. My wife, Mrs. Rakhi Sandeep Agrawal, stood by me in moments of despair and determination alike. Not only did she support my vision of community upliftment, but she also became the gentle force that sustained our family when my social obligations required my presence elsewhere. It was through her strength and guidance that our children, Dr. Anoli Sandeep Agrawal and Dr. Aniket Sandeep Agrawal, flourished.
Life, as I’ve come to understand it, rarely follows a predictable path. Mine certainly didn’t. After building the initial roots of my values from my parents, I was faced with the true test of those beliefs in the real world — not in ideal conditions, but amidst chaos, misunderstandings, and heartbreaking sacrifices.
My journey in social work began thirty-five years ago, though the inspiration was seeded much earlier. It was my father, the late Hansraj Onkar Agrawal, who first opened my eyes to the importance of doing good without expecting anything in return. He believed that real strength lies not in power, but in righteousness — and more importantly, in action.
I can still recall the early days of stepping into the world outside our home, trying to extend a helping hand to those in need. At first, my efforts were small — helping with food distribution, organizing community prayers, supporting local events. But slowly, the scope grew. As I started to interact more deeply with people from different walks of life, I realized how many were living unheard, unseen, and unaided.
However, the more involved I became with social causes, the more I found myself pulled away from my own family. This wasn’t an intentional neglect — but it was, undeniably, a cost. My time with my children became limited. I missed milestones. I missed meals. There were evenings when I would return home long after they had gone to sleep and mornings when I would leave before they woke. My wife, Rakhi, never once made me feel guilty for this. Instead, she stood by me like a pillar, taking care of everything at home while I immersed myself in the community’s needs.
Even then, the road was not smooth. I faced opposition — sometimes from political circles, sometimes from social groups, and at times even from within the system I was trying to improve. Not everyone welcomed change. Not everyone trusted a man who spoke about service without seeking personal gain. There were moments when I questioned myself: Was I doing the right thing? Was this sacrifice worth it?
One of the most painful challenges I faced was watching my children grow up with very little of my presence. I wasn’t the father who could help with homework or attend every school event. Yet, my heart swells with pride when I see what they’ve become — not just for their academic achievements, but for the people they are.
Recognition, when it finally arrives, rarely tells the full story. People see the awards, the applause, and the bright stage lights. What they don’t see are the silent battles — the nights of self-doubt, the sacrifices behind the scenes, and the years of work that were never acknowledged. In my life, every honour I’ve received has come not just as a badge of success, but as a mirror to the journey that brought me there.
After years of grassroots involvement — building relationships with tribal communities, expanding access to food and education, and supporting young entrepreneurs through local channels — I started noticing something shift. People began to trust me not just as a businessman or a political worker, but as someone who genuinely represented them. That trust, to me, is more valuable than any title.
Recognition came in many forms. I was humbled when I received an award from the Food & Drugs Consumer Welfare Committee, a testament to my years of work in health and consumer safety awareness. It reminded me how even small actions, like organizing free medical camps or advocating for clean food products, create ripples that reach farther than expected.
Then came April 26, 2022, a day etched in my memory. I was honoured by the Builders Association of India as a Patron Member. This wasn’t just about bricks and mortar — it was about building communities, creating safer spaces, and standing up for ethical standards in infrastructure development. I accepted the award on behalf of everyone I had worked with — the workers, the volunteers, the local leaders who had trusted my intent.
One recognition that truly touched me came from PRATHA, on January 24, 2024. They presented me with the ‘Abhivadan Patra’ in Dhule — the city where my heart has always belonged. To be embraced by your own city, to be acknowledged by those who’ve seen your journey from the very beginning, carries a deep emotional weight.
That same year, I was deeply honoured to receive the ‘Atal Samman’ from the Atal Foundation in New Delhi, on October 8, 2022. This award, named after a statesman I deeply admire, was given to me with a certificate for great service. As I stood on that stage, I remembered the days I had doubted whether anyone noticed the work we were doing. That moment told me — they did. Quietly. Genuinely.