Book Same Boat Brother

A book to be published by Ankur Bora

Author introduction

Ankur Bora was born and raised in a small town in India. He grew up in a pluralistic family. His father was a professor of English, while his mother was a professor of Education. His parents always encouraged diverse, multi-faith, and multicultural perspectives. During his youth, his state experienced anti-immigration protests, which influenced his early thinking. He earned his Bachelor of Engineering in computer science. His dream of working for Bill Gates became a reality when he moved to the United States in 2000 and was offered a position at Microsoft. As a software professional, he had the chance to work in various cities, including Alabama, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. A dedicated observer of American history, literature, and culture, each of these experiences enriched his life and expanded his worldview.

He settled down with his family in Dallas. During the early years, he came into contact with Asha for Education and the Association of India’s Development, two organizations that volunteer at the grassroots level in India. He regularly attended weekly volunteer meetings and saw firsthand the stark inequalities between the wealthy and the poor. In 2007, he participated in the AT&T Austin Marathon to raise money for an underprivileged school in his home state of India. 

In 2007, he joined the Assam Foundation of North America. The organization provides financial support to institutions that promote schools, healthcare, women's empowerment, and assistance for people with disabilities in marginalized communities. As a volunteer, he helped develop the organization's website, organize fundraising events, and secure corporate backing, including from Microsoft. This experience opened new avenues for him to promote the selfless efforts of others. Between 2011 and 2018, as an executive member of the Assam Foundation of North America, he successfully nominated four individuals from Canada and India for the Tech Awards and Women’s World Summit Foundation Annual Prize. A rickshaw is a vehicle often used in India to transport thousands of commuters in cities and towns. Sadly, the rickshaw pullers live a very modest life. Pradip Sarmah, an entrepreneur, organized loans and improved vehicle design so these pullers could have better lives. Ankur Bora nominated him for the Tech Awards, hosted by Applied Materials. It is an annual event that honors 15 international winners who use technology to help humanity. Mr. Sarmah received the Flextronics Economic Development Award. Suchismita Majumdar is the founder of Swabalambi, an organization that rehabilitates people with disabilities. In 2013, he nominated Ms. Majumdar for the Women’s World Summit Foundation (WWSF) annual Prize for Women’s Creativity in Rural Life. She was one of 10 winners of the award, which includes a $1,000 prize. Peggy Carswell from Canada trained hundreds of farmers and tea growers in Northeast India in basic organic farming. Ankur again nominated her, and she received the 2016 Women’s Creativity in Rural Life award. Birubala Rabha was an Indian activist who campaigned against witch-hunting in India. He nominated her, and in 2018, she was awarded a cash prize and the award by the Women's World Summit Foundation in recognition of her work.

Ankur always looked for ways to share his stories in public forums. His dreams came true when he joined Toastmasters. Toastmasters is a nonprofit organization that provides techniques and supports its members in public speaking. Ankur is a member of a few Toastmasters clubs. He has established himself as a public speaker and has also become a storyteller. The Storytellers Project, hosted by the USA TODAY Network, produces shows in 20 cities across the United States and features a diverse lineup of people sharing true stories that inspire hope, perseverance, love, and compassion. USA Today accepted his speech “Same Boat Brother” for its 2022 Storytellers Project. In April 2022, he shared and delivered his story to a lively, sold-out audience in Austin. The event was covered by USA Today, the Austin American-Statesman newspaper, and Toastmasters International magazine.