Aditya Jha
Encyclopedia
Aditya Jha, LL.D is a celebrated Indo-Canadian entrepreneur
, philanthropist
and social activist with active involvement in Canadian public affairs. His business portfolio consists of several start-ups and turn-arounds. He also runs several philanthropic initiatives through his Private Charitable Foundation (POA Educational Foundation), promoting education and nurturing entrepreneurship to equalize the access to opportunity for those not so fortunate. Jha takes special interest in nurturing prosperity and financial independence amongst Canadian First Nations
(aboriginal) communities and individuals through education scholarships at top Canadian universities and a project (Project Beyshick) that nurtures entrepreneurship. He is the co-founder and outgoing National Convenor of the Canada India Foundation
-- a public policy organization. He is winner of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants Award (2010)
, inductee to the '30 most influential Indo-Canadians Power List (2009)', and recipient of Honorary Doctorate of Laws
from Ryerson University
- the highest honour conferred by the University.
, India
. He was brought-up in a landed upper middle class family of three brothers and two sisters. His father was lawyer by profession and practiced law in district court (Sitamarhi, India). Upon completion of his secondary education in a village near Nepal India border, Aditya went on to pursue post-secondary education in Delhi
, India. After receiving a bachelors degree in sciences from Hans Raj College
Delhi University, he went on to do M.Sc. Mathematical Statistics at Kurukshetra University and PG Diploma in Computer Science from Kurukshetra University
. He further invested four and a half years from 1979 to 1984 as a Research Scholar at the School of Computer and Systems Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University
before visiting Paris
, France for Mainframe computer training with CIT Alcatel for six months. He was recipient of University Grants Commission's Junior and Senior scholarship and Research Associateship from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. He was very active in student politics and student union activities and worked underground with those who were working against when Emergency measures suspending democratic rights in India were promulgated. He played leadership role with the largest student organization in India as General Secretary for Delhi and Haryana state and was on the National Executive of the national student organization when he was just 22 years old.
His Mother tongue is Maithili
and he belongs to Mithilanchal, India.
, later becoming a General Manager. After a career at Bell, he co-founded a software company, Isopia Inc. Isopia was a Canadian success story acquired by Sun Microsystems
for over $100 million. After his work at Isopia, Aditya started Osellus Inc, another software firm with offices in Toronto and Bangkok, and diversified his portfolio through acquisition of several businesses including a business from Allan Candy/ Cadbury Adams Canada. He renamed the confectionery manufacturing business, to Karma Candy owing to his belief in the concept of Karma
. After this acquisition, Aditya helped save more than 150 jobs who were to be laid-off owing to the imminent closure of one of the oldest confectionery factories in Canada.
, Trent University
, George Brown College
and York University
. The endowments at these universities grant in total thirteen (13) scholarship awards in perpetuity to students (large focus on students from the aboriginal community of Canada). Additionally he has supported a research project on Economic Value of Indo-Canadians (Ryerson University), Pathways Education Program for the inner-city kids of Regent Park community in Toronto and funded York University for Canada-India research initiative.
(NAN) Grand Chief Stan Beardy, Prashant Pathak
and nephew Ashutosh Jha. The project has had numerous life changing positive impacts on participants, putting them on an accelerated path towards success and personal growth. Asked by a media house about his motivation for this initiative, he replied
He has also supported award for the Top 20 under 20 program (Entrepreneurship category) and the yearly $15,000 Business Plan & $5,000 Career Plan Contest award for the First Nation individual participating in Project Beyshick.
Since Fall of 2008, Aditya has been involved with the One Laptop Per Child project. He has since then distributed more than 100 laptops to rural village schools in Nepal
, including Nuns' Welfare Foundations Arya Tara School. This project is an addition to the hundreds of computers and printers he donated to dozens of schools in Kathmandu valley in Nepal
In 2001, Aditya proposed to develop and fund a world class Institute of Information Technology Nepal (IIT-N) modelled after India's IIT. The institute was to be established within a government sponsored IT Park in the Greater Kathmandu area (Banepa IT Park). Just before the parliament of Nepal was set to approve the proposal, the government fell and proposal was delayed, and later withdrawn by Aditya.
where he is currently the National Convener. Prior to this he chaired the 'Educational & Institutional' committee. Most recently, he was instrumental in designing the University of Waterloo
and the Canada India Foundation
's (CIF) first-of-its-kind joint initiative for the advancement of Canada's research capacity in studying the politics, economy and social conditions of contemporary India and bi-lateral relationship of both countries through a planned establishment of a $10-million endowment.
Aditya moderated Canada session during Pravasi Bhartiya Divas event (Delhi, January 2007) organized by Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. He also moderated India Business Roundtable (Toronto, October 2006), jointly organized by Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce and Department of Foreign Affairs of Canada as well as the roundtable entitled Engaging India: tapping Roots- Seizing Opportunities (Delhi, January 2007) jointly organized with CII, India and ICCC, Canada. Aditya was an official blogger for the Toronto Star
's "Your City, My City" series with focus on Toronto's Mayoral race.
Aditya facilitated and helped fund a workshop on 'Opportunities and Challenges For Nepali Political Parties' co-organized by National Democratic Institute (NDI, Washington D.C.) and Nepal Study Center (NSC) of the University of New Mexico (UNM). The workshop provided a forum for thoughtful exchanges on the issues of development and democracy between Napalese policy/political leaders and their U.S. counterparts.
Group is a charitable, not-for-profit, cultural organization whose mission is to transform the way people see the world. Its vision is to lead the world in creative and cultural discovery through the moving image. Jha also supports the Canadian Museum for Human Rights
.
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
and social activist with active involvement in Canadian public affairs. His business portfolio consists of several start-ups and turn-arounds. He also runs several philanthropic initiatives through his Private Charitable Foundation (POA Educational Foundation), promoting education and nurturing entrepreneurship to equalize the access to opportunity for those not so fortunate. Jha takes special interest in nurturing prosperity and financial independence amongst Canadian First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
(aboriginal) communities and individuals through education scholarships at top Canadian universities and a project (Project Beyshick) that nurtures entrepreneurship. He is the co-founder and outgoing National Convenor of the Canada India Foundation
Canada India Foundation
The Canada India Foundation also referred to as CIF, is a Canadian non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organization established in 2007...
-- a public policy organization. He is winner of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants Award (2010)
Top 25 Canadian Immigrants Award
Top 25 Canadian Immigrants Award is an annual campaign that recognizes outstanding immigrants who "have come to Canada and have made a positive difference living in the country". First launched by Canadian Immigrant in 2009, the program takes place online, and nominations are open to all Canadians...
, inductee to the '30 most influential Indo-Canadians Power List (2009)', and recipient of Honorary Doctorate of Laws
Legum Doctor
Legum Doctor is a doctorate-level academic degree in law, or an honorary doctorate, depending on the jurisdiction. The double L in the abbreviation refers to the early practice in the University of Cambridge to teach both Canon Law and Civil Law, the double L indicating the plural, Doctor of both...
from Ryerson University
Ryerson University
Ryerson University is a public research university located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus is adjacent to Yonge-Dundas Square located at the busiest intersection in Downtown Toronto. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the square in Toronto's Garden...
- the highest honour conferred by the University.
Early life
Aditya Jha was born in BiharBihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He was brought-up in a landed upper middle class family of three brothers and two sisters. His father was lawyer by profession and practiced law in district court (Sitamarhi, India). Upon completion of his secondary education in a village near Nepal India border, Aditya went on to pursue post-secondary education in Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, India. After receiving a bachelors degree in sciences from Hans Raj College
Hans Raj College
Hans Raj College is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Delhi. This co- educational Institute offers education in all the three streams- arts, science and commerce, and is located on the Mahatma Hans Raj College Road, Kamla Nagar, in the Delhi University’s North campus, and...
Delhi University, he went on to do M.Sc. Mathematical Statistics at Kurukshetra University and PG Diploma in Computer Science from Kurukshetra University
Kurukshetra University
Kurukshetra University was established in 1956 in Kurukshetra in Haryana, India, situated 160 km from Delhi, and member of Association of Commonwealth Universities The Kurukshetra University was the dream of the then Punjab Governor, Sir Chandeshwar Prasad Narayan Singh, a great Sanskrit...
. He further invested four and a half years from 1979 to 1984 as a Research Scholar at the School of Computer and Systems Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University, also known as JNU, is located in New Delhi, the capital of India. It is mainly a research oriented postgraduate University with approximately 5,500 students and a faculty strength of around 550.-History:...
before visiting Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France for Mainframe computer training with CIT Alcatel for six months. He was recipient of University Grants Commission's Junior and Senior scholarship and Research Associateship from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. He was very active in student politics and student union activities and worked underground with those who were working against when Emergency measures suspending democratic rights in India were promulgated. He played leadership role with the largest student organization in India as General Secretary for Delhi and Haryana state and was on the National Executive of the national student organization when he was just 22 years old.
His Mother tongue is Maithili
Maithili language
Maithili language is spoken in the eastern region of India and South-eastern region of Nepal. The native speakers of Maithili reside in Bihar, Jharkhand,parts of West Bengal and South-east Nepal...
and he belongs to Mithilanchal, India.
Career and business interests
He started his career in India and then subsequently worked in France, Singapore, Australia and South East Asian countries. He migrated to Canada in late 1994 and joined Bell CanadaBell Canada
Bell Canada is a major Canadian telecommunications company. Including its subsidiaries such as Bell Aliant, Northwestel, Télébec, and NorthernTel, it is the incumbent local exchange carrier for telephone and DSL Internet services in most of Canada east of Manitoba and in the northern territories,...
, later becoming a General Manager. After a career at Bell, he co-founded a software company, Isopia Inc. Isopia was a Canadian success story acquired by Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems, Inc. was a company that sold :computers, computer components, :computer software, and :information technology services. Sun was founded on February 24, 1982...
for over $100 million. After his work at Isopia, Aditya started Osellus Inc, another software firm with offices in Toronto and Bangkok, and diversified his portfolio through acquisition of several businesses including a business from Allan Candy/ Cadbury Adams Canada. He renamed the confectionery manufacturing business, to Karma Candy owing to his belief in the concept of Karma
Karma
Karma in Indian religions is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh philosophies....
. After this acquisition, Aditya helped save more than 150 jobs who were to be laid-off owing to the imminent closure of one of the oldest confectionery factories in Canada.
Philanthropic interests
Jha established a private Canadian charitable foundation, the POA Educational Foundation, in 2001, to promote education and entrepreneurship amongst the individuals and groups not so fortunate.Educational projects in Canada
Aditya has several scholarships at Canadian post secondary institutions such as Ryerson UniversityRyerson University
Ryerson University is a public research university located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus is adjacent to Yonge-Dundas Square located at the busiest intersection in Downtown Toronto. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the square in Toronto's Garden...
, Trent University
Trent University
Trent University is a liberal arts and science-oriented institution located along the Otonabee River in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.The enabling legislation is the Trent University Act, 1962-63. The University was founded through the efforts of a citizens' committee interested in creating a...
, George Brown College
George Brown College
George Brown College is a public, fully accredited college of applied arts and technology with three full campuses in downtown Toronto, Ontario...
and York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
. The endowments at these universities grant in total thirteen (13) scholarship awards in perpetuity to students (large focus on students from the aboriginal community of Canada). Additionally he has supported a research project on Economic Value of Indo-Canadians (Ryerson University), Pathways Education Program for the inner-city kids of Regent Park community in Toronto and funded York University for Canada-India research initiative.
Projects promoting entrepreneurship in Canada
Jha's Project Beyshick initiative nurtures prosperity and financial independence amongst First Nations individuals by encouraging and mentoring entrepreneurial efforts. The project was launched with the support of Nishnawbe Aski NationNishnawbe Aski Nation
Nishnawbe Aski Nation is a political organization representing 49 First Nation communities across Treaty 9 and Treaty 5 areas of northern Ontario, Canada...
(NAN) Grand Chief Stan Beardy, Prashant Pathak
Prashant Pathak
Prashant Pathak is an Indo-Canadian investor, businessman and philanthropist based in Toronto. He is Managing Partner of ReichmannHauer Capital Partners, a business building oriented principal investing and private equity firm based in Toronto. He along with Philip Reichmann and Frank Hauer...
and nephew Ashutosh Jha. The project has had numerous life changing positive impacts on participants, putting them on an accelerated path towards success and personal growth. Asked by a media house about his motivation for this initiative, he replied
"I wanted to give the Canadian aboriginal communities a vision for the future - and a sense of possibility. It is the entrepreneurial spirit and success, which gives the rightful recognition to communities in the mainstream world. It also allows the successful entrepreneurs to become role models for their community,".
He has also supported award for the Top 20 under 20 program (Entrepreneurship category) and the yearly $15,000 Business Plan & $5,000 Career Plan Contest award for the First Nation individual participating in Project Beyshick.
Canadian Fallen Soldiers Foundation
Aditya is one of the founding directors of the Canadian Fallen Soldiers Foundation dedicated to assisting families of Canadian fallen soldiers’ through education and entrepreneurship.Philanthropic work in Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, including Nuns' Welfare Foundations Arya Tara School. This project is an addition to the hundreds of computers and printers he donated to dozens of schools in Kathmandu valley in Nepal
In 2001, Aditya proposed to develop and fund a world class Institute of Information Technology Nepal (IIT-N) modelled after India's IIT. The institute was to be established within a government sponsored IT Park in the Greater Kathmandu area (Banepa IT Park). Just before the parliament of Nepal was set to approve the proposal, the government fell and proposal was delayed, and later withdrawn by Aditya.
Philanthropic work in India
Jha chairs the India AIDS Campaign within UNICEF Canada's Unite For Children, Unite Against Aids campaign. "As part of the larger Canadian Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign, a special India HIV and AIDS Campaign has been established to support AIDS prevention, awareness and treatment projects for children and youth in India.". Working with Canadian organization 'Aim for Seva', Aditya has donated a 50 student residence for kids from landless families in Bihar,India.Public affairs interests
Jha is active with Canadian, Indian and Nepalese public affairs. From November 16–18, 2009 he accompanied Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to India as one of the seven members of his Canadian delegation. He is one of the founding directors of the Canada India FoundationCanada India Foundation
The Canada India Foundation also referred to as CIF, is a Canadian non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organization established in 2007...
where he is currently the National Convener. Prior to this he chaired the 'Educational & Institutional' committee. Most recently, he was instrumental in designing the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
and the Canada India Foundation
Canada India Foundation
The Canada India Foundation also referred to as CIF, is a Canadian non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organization established in 2007...
's (CIF) first-of-its-kind joint initiative for the advancement of Canada's research capacity in studying the politics, economy and social conditions of contemporary India and bi-lateral relationship of both countries through a planned establishment of a $10-million endowment.
Aditya moderated Canada session during Pravasi Bhartiya Divas event (Delhi, January 2007) organized by Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. He also moderated India Business Roundtable (Toronto, October 2006), jointly organized by Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce and Department of Foreign Affairs of Canada as well as the roundtable entitled Engaging India: tapping Roots- Seizing Opportunities (Delhi, January 2007) jointly organized with CII, India and ICCC, Canada. Aditya was an official blogger for the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
's "Your City, My City" series with focus on Toronto's Mayoral race.
Aditya facilitated and helped fund a workshop on 'Opportunities and Challenges For Nepali Political Parties' co-organized by National Democratic Institute (NDI, Washington D.C.) and Nepal Study Center (NSC) of the University of New Mexico (UNM). The workshop provided a forum for thoughtful exchanges on the issues of development and democracy between Napalese policy/political leaders and their U.S. counterparts.
Arts and culture
Jha supports the Canadian Youth Ballet Ensemble to promote dance education and training for young Canadians, and the "Share the Music" program of Roy Thomson Hall to give Canadian aboriginal youth access to best musical performances. He also supports Toronto International Film Festival group as Gold Patron. The Toronto International Film FestivalToronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2010, 339 films from 59 countries were screened at 32 screens in downtown Toronto venues...
Group is a charitable, not-for-profit, cultural organization whose mission is to transform the way people see the world. Its vision is to lead the world in creative and cultural discovery through the moving image. Jha also supports the Canadian Museum for Human Rights
Canadian Museum for Human Rights
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is a national museum currently under construction in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada at the historic Forks where the Assiniboine and Red Rivers meet...
.
Awards & Honours
- Honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D.), Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada
- Global Indian Award 2011, Global Indian Origin
- Winner, Top 25 Canadian Immigrants 2010Top 25 Canadian Immigrants AwardTop 25 Canadian Immigrants Award is an annual campaign that recognizes outstanding immigrants who "have come to Canada and have made a positive difference living in the country". First launched by Canadian Immigrant in 2009, the program takes place online, and nominations are open to all Canadians...
- South Asian Philanthropist of the Year 2011, Mid-Week
- 30 most Influential Indo Canadians, Rediff India Abroad magazine's Power List (published September 2009)
- Desi News Grant's Community Achievers Awards (2008)
- Technology Achievement Award (2004), Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC)
- CEO award (1998), BCE Inc.
- President's Club (1998), Bell Canada
Appointments
- Board Member, First Nations Financial Management Board (FNFMB), Government of Canada
- Board Member, Ontario Investment & Trade Advisory Council (OITAC), Government of Ontario
- Advisory Council of Dean, Faculty of Community Services, Ryerson University
- Chair, India HIV/AIDS Campaign, UNICEF Canada
- National Convener, Canada India Foundation
- Board Member (Former), PharmEng International Inc. (TSX: PII)
- Board member (Former), Brainhunter Inc. (TSX: BH)
Quotes & Philosophy
- "In Life, you always get more than what you deserve or less than what you deserve - You never quite get just the right amount. If you get less you must work harder & smarter, and if you get more then you must give back"
- "Empathy starts with actions"
- "Before I became active with ‘giving’ to charitable causes, I looked at giving as charity to others. Now, I see giving as charity to myself. You are giving to your expanded self, your passion, your talent to make your desired changes and to your obligation to payback to the favorite social circumstances as only those favourable social circumstances allow people like yourself, your kids and for all, that you care about to prosper"
- "Nobel laureate, Herbert Simon estimated that the "social capital" is responsible for at least 90% of what people earn in wealthy societies. I am trying to make a case here that all of us have obligation to give and pay back to that 'Social Capital' and ALL of us can 'SPARE to Give'." [Keynote speech titled 'Giving - A charity to self or others?' at a charity gala]
- "I urge you to seriously think of giving back to the mainstream causes that you are passionate about and try to be active with the causes you give for. It will benefit us tremendously, benefit Canada deservingly and feed our soul well. May I urge you to consider giving every year 10% of what you earn after tax? It is highly doable. We never have enough to spare to give but we can always spare to give. Giving is permanent but accumulation is not. Giving is the right thing to do- it is an obligation." --
- "I would urge all of you to think of philanthropy in a totally different way. It should be integral and well thought part of your entrepreneurial life. Philanthropy Is Not About Doing Good But rather it is "good for you"; "good for others" is just the byproduct." [Speaking to MBA students of various Canadian institutions at a conference titled 'Starting & Managing Successful Venture: A new Canadian's Perspective' in Toronto]
- "Just because you have more or less money, it does not mean you will give more or less. Giving has a state of mind and when you have understood that part, you will give irrespective of how much money you have." [Quoted in the Economist Intelligence UnitEconomist Intelligence UnitThe Economist Intelligence Unit is part of the Economist Group.It is a research and advisory company providing country, industry and management analysis worldwide and incorporates the former Business International Corporation, a U.S. company acquired by the parent organization in 1986...
April 2010 report titled 'The New World of Wealth-Seven key trends for investing, giving & spending among the very rich' of The Economist magazine ]
- 'What Got Us Here, Won't Take Us there', higlighted that for Canada to stay on the curve of high quality of life and growth, we must focus on the concept of 'demographic dividendDemographic dividendThe demographic dividend is a rise in the rate of economic growth due to a rising share of working age people in a population. This usually occurs late in the demographic transition when the fertility rate falls and the youth dependency rate declines. During this demographic window of opportunity,...
' and how effectively Canada engages immigrants and its aboriginal population. Ryerson University Doctorate/convocation speech (read here)