Shital Omprakash Agrawal
Chairperson, Silver Oak University
Managing Director, Pratt Muller Distributors Ltd | Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Janam Bhumi:
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Dharma Bhumi:
Sultana, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan
Karma Bhumi:
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Living by His Word, Serving Tomorrow
The ‘Shital’ Factor: “Whatever you commit to, you must honour, no matter the circumstances.”
THE MAN
Seeing his father fail and rise over and over again, only to build a successful legacy to be carried forward, instilled in him the conviction of never giving up. Shital Omprakash Agrawal, who proudly carries his father’s name as his middle name, is a man of high character who embodies determination, commitment, and integrity.
“I have seen my father build his business from scratch without ever compromising on his ethics. He taught me that in business, there’s no place for dishonesty or false promises.”
Agrawal recalls an incident when his father promised to sell steel to a trader at a fixed price. However, the cost of the metal shot up by 50 percent. “My father knew it would be a loss for him if he still sold it, but he did not back out of the deal. He sold the product at the pre-decided rates.”
He adds, “My father always told me that business was more than just about money; it was about building your reputation, which brings you returning customers. Keeping commitments has no substitute in business.” That conversation became the young boy’s lesson that every word he spoke held his honour, and he would never compromise on that.
THE JOURNEY
Agrawal is currently the Chairman of Silver Oak University, which he founded in 2009 as part of the Silver Oak Group of Institutes. The university is now a state private university under the Gujarat Private Universities Act, 2009. It operates on the principle of ‘Gyanam Param Bhushanam’, which translates to knowledge is the highest virtue. During his stay abroad (Houston, Texas), Shital witnessed how the youth of different countries study and work simultaneously, learning to balance both. His experience with the international education system inspired Agrawal to offer a similar one to students in India.
“We launched stipend-based paid internship programmes and on-the-job training right from the first year,” he says, sharing how he has implemented the same in his university. “If Indian-origin students can study and work part-time abroad, then why can’t the same model be replicated in India too for both domestic and foreign students?”
Besides being the chairperson of the university, he is also the managing director of Pratt Muller Distributors Ltd., formerly known as Visina Group of Industries, which marked the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey in 1991.
His degree in engineering from Birla Vishvakarma Mahavidyalaya not only helped him take the aluminium die-casting factory, his father’s legacy, to new heights, but also gave him the courage to begin the Silver Oak College of Engineering and Technology in 2009 and Aditya Silver Oak Institute of Technology (ASOIT) in 2014 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Today, they have 14 more institutes under Silver Oak University.
Agrawal has also worked as a civilian contractor with the Indian Army. As part of Operation Parakram, launched by the Indian Army in response to the 2001 Parliament terrorist attack, he was hired as a Mining Specialist Engineer by the 68th Engineer Regiment to construct steel bunkers for soldiers deployed on the India-Pakistan border.
This led him to a collaboration with India’s Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). “I entered into a Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement for the production of India’s first indigenously made Radar Scattering Camouflage Net.”
THE SPIRIT WITHIN
Agrawal realises how privileged he was to have his father’s wisdom to guide him, even as he paved his own path to success. His desire to empower people, coupled with his moral values of integrity, commitment, and resilience, is the driving force behind his community service.
He says, “Achievements mean more when shared with the community, and that’s what I have done and will continue doing.”
In 2006, Agrawal established the Silver Oak Shops & Offices Co. Op Housing Society (SOSOCHS), which manages a National Skill Development Centre under the Skill India Campaign of the Indian Government, aimed at tackling unemployment in the country. He says, “Unemployment in India is because people do not have the required skills for a job. Our centre equips people with skills to improve their employment opportunities.”
He is also the Trustee of Rajasthan Hospital and the Chancellor of Bharat Scouts and Guides. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he distributed food kits, sponsored vaccines for university staff and supported frontline workers. As part of Gujarat earthquake relief, he not only participated actively in relief efforts but also established a pre-fabricated housing segment to help in rebuilding efforts. Apart from all these initiatives, Agrawal has created a welfare fund for his team members facing emergencies. At Silver Oak University, they provide free outpatient department and physiotherapy services. They have adopted five villages, running initiatives like blood donation drives, tree-planting, maternal health programmes, and hygiene awareness campaigns. The family legacy of philanthropic activities is safe in his hands.
THE LEGACY
He is a businessman, a philanthropist, a community crusader, and an involved patriot. Agrawal wears many hats with aplomb. His wife, Poonam, helps him balance these hats and more. Professionally and personally, Poonam is his steadfast companion. She is the Executive President at Silver Oak University, and the nucleus of their home. “Our children have inherited our cultural and spiritual values because of the way she has nurtured them,” admits Agrawal.
Not just his children, but so many students have benefited from his educational institutions and Agrawal has been constantly recognised for his achievements, having been felicitated with the Ratna Award from Agrawal Samaj and the Young Businessman Award.
But Agrawal does not want to be remembered for awards. “I want to be remembered not just for what I built, but for how I built it with honesty and foresight, and for the positive change it made.”
MAPPING THE INDIA WITHIN
Bharat: Then and Now
“Bharat to me has always been about resilience, unity, and values—then it shaped my roots, and now it guides my vision. What has changed is the scale of opportunity, but what remains constant is the Indian way of living with integrity and purpose.”
Bharatiya Values that Travelled
“I may have lived abroad for a few years, but my heart never left India. Wherever I am, I walk the Indian way—grounded, respectful, and rooted in values.”
Generations Abroad: A New Bharatiya Identity
“As a family, we strive to be cultural ambassadors—supporting each other’s ambitions while staying rooted in tradition. Together, we embody the hope of a rising Bharat. Optimism and togetherness define my Bharatiya identity. Whether through language, customs, or food, I carry India with me wherever I go.”
Pride, Progress, and the Spirit Of Bharat
“Every milestone I’ve achieved reflects Bharat’s spirit—resilience to rise after setbacks, unity in building together, and growth through constant innovation. I believe in elephant philosophy. Like the elephant, I move with focus and steadiness. Distractions fade, but values remain constant—that is my way of living Bharat’s spirit.”
Dreams for the Youth and Future of Bharat
“The future of Bharat rests in education that blends vision with experience. My dream is for every young mind to gain both knowledge and financial independence. “To the youth, my advice is: Stay true to yourself, root ambition in values, and build your dreams with empathy and courage.”
BACK TO THE FUTURE – IN FIVE MOMENTS
Food Cravings
THEN
I craved simple Gujarati and Marwari flavours, and ‘Khaman’ has always been my favourite.
NOW
Traditional dishes are still comforting, no matter where I am.
Sport Spirit
THEN
I loved playing cricket.
NOW
Cricket forever. But now I cheer more than I play.
Music Tastes
THEN
Kishore Kumar’s timeless songs were my favourites.
NOW
Even now, I find myself returning to those classics—they remind me of life’s simple joys.
Holiday Life
THEN
I cherished moments of family, simplicity, and togetherness.
NOW
I love travelling to Europe, but family remains the essence of every journey.
Leisure Habits
THEN
As a boy, leisure meant outdoor play and carefree hours for me.
NOW
I enjoy reading because acquiring knowledge is my greatest pastime.
AKA
Shital Omprakash Agrawal Chairperson | Chairperson Silver Oak University | Shital Agrawal Managing Director | Managing Director Pratt Muller Distributors Ltd
