Known and revered for his contributions to community service through the Lions Club and other organizations, MJF Lion Sanjay Bhandari had made his mark in social service. With a successful career in trading and hospitality, he continues to inspire others with his commitment to serving society, embodying the motto "Service With a Smile." Despite personal challenges, he remains focused on giving back, planning to dedicate his future entirely to social service.

MJF (Melvin Jones Fellow) Lion Sanjay Bhandari is a Businessman and a Social Worker in Udaipur.

Originally hailing from Nandeshma Village in Gogunda, Udaipur, his primary occupation includes trading in oilseeds and other forest-related items in Udaipur’s Krishi Upaj Mandi. He also owns a hotel named Jai Mangarh Palace in Udaipur, which has been leased out to the Pandora Grand group. Soon, he will be opening another property called Angelbarge Resorts Private Ltd. which will have a banquet hall and 40 rooms in the Balicha area of Udaipur.

Sanjay Bhandari has been associated with the Lions Club for the past 25 years. He shares that as a member of the club, he learnt the art of social service and how to serve other people. Due to his social service activities, he has received a lot of love, affection, and blessings from people. In the Lions organization, he has worked on several designations, like Club Secretary, Club President, Region Chairperson (RC), Zonal Chairperson (ZC), District Governor, and is currently working as Multi-District Chairman for Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chattisgarh regions.

While working with the Lions Club, he realized that the clubs work with the utmost determination to serve the people of the nation. He believes that every person should serve people with a smile on their face and give some kind of service on a daily basis, and donate wholeheartedly, as no donation is big or small, be it merely Re. 1 or giving one roti to a deprived person. He says even your broken toy can be a reason for happiness for an unprivileged kid. MJF Lion Sanjay has had the opportunity to do social work in some form or another for the past 20-22 years through the Lions Club, the Jain International Trade Organisation (JITO), Shree Mahavir Yuwa Manch Sansthan, Bharat Vikas Parishad, or many other similar organizations.

While working as the Chairman of the ‘Krishi Upaj Mandi’ in Udaipur, he got multiple opportunities to help people during the difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic. He witnessed multiple instances of social work among the people, which further inspired him to give more to mankind. He believes that service can be done anytime, anywhere, and in any form.

In 1997, he was felicitated by the government at the district level for his social work, and from there itself, he started bagging multiple achievements in his life. He has been felicitated multiple times at various levels. He has served as President of several organizations like the Shree Mahavir Yuwa Manch Sansthan, the Bharat Vikas Parishad, the Jain International Trade Organisation (JITO), Krishi Mandi Vyapar Mandal, Udaipur, and the Rajasthan Jain Conference Yuva Shakha. He has also served as Secretary of the Jain Conference in Delhi and many other similar organizations.

He has also served various roles in the political arena. Thus, at the age of 54, he has scored heights right from social service to political avenues to business in various capacities. He also has some responsibilities in the Udaipur Chamber of Commerce and shares that he has worked in almost all fields and achieved success in them. As a businessman, he has been able to achieve good success in the hotel line and has excelled in the real estate sector as well.

Bhandari shares that his father inspired him to do social work in life. His father also did social work, be it related to friends, family, fellow citizens, villagers, or members of society. Whenever Bhandari worked towards moving ahead in life, those people always helped and supported him in the same way.

He shares that the Lions Club is particularly known for its organizational work, various programs for children enrolled in schools, and health related programs. They also run a successful eye operations program, and people recognise them by the name of “people from the eye bank.” Their social service also extends to the betterment of our environment. Some members of the Lions Club run their own hospitals and eye banks in Kota, Bhilwara, and many other cities. Some of them even give away the medicines for free. They have their own Mediclaim facilities at the Maharana Bhupal Chikitsalaya, where they supply free medicines to the needy. Lions Club also contributes to the blood bank in Udaipur, and he underlines that the blood bank in Udaipur was established with the help of Lions Club itself.

Social worker Sanjay Bhandari was born and raised in Udaipur itself. From the beginning, he was always curious about cultural programs and social service initiatives. He did his schooling at Vidya Niketan School and Nav Bharat School, and later enrolled himself in Bhupal Nobles College for his graduation.

When he established a business in Surat at the age of sixteen, his attachment to the city of lakes brought him back to the city. For the past several years, after he got involved in the social service sector, he has spent almost 10 to 12 hours daily in the same. But according to him, all this was only possible with the immense support he received from his family. His wife, Lata Bhandari, has served as a Councillor in the Municipal Corporation of Udaipur, Chairperson of the Finance Committee, and General Secretary of Bharatiya Janata Mahila Morcha. With his son Manav already married and settled, and daughter Apurva, who is about to be married in November 2024, MJF Lion Sanjay plans to retire from business in November after his daughter’s marriage and dedicate all his time to social service after that.

He shares that all the people who are contributing to social service motivate him as role models. He feels inspired by how everyone is always ready on their toes to serve everyone, but when it comes to Lionism, he shares that the club has many such great people who are devoted to social service and doing good deeds. Further, he shares that Shri Gulab Chand Kataria, ex-MLA of Udaipur, has always been his role model. Kataria’s good deeds and social work have always motivated MJF Lion Bhandari and guided him to move forward in life.

While serving as a Lions District Governor for two years and as a Multi- District Council Chairman for a year, he always abided by the words “मुस्कुराहट के साथ सेवा” to bring a smile on everyone’s face by serving them selflessly.

MJF Lion Sanjay Bhandari shares that they were three brothers, but unfortunately, two of them passed away unexpectedly early. His parents also passed away 10 years ago, so now he has to shoulder the responsibility of the entire family alone. But serving people helped him pass through these difficult situations in his life. Alongside, his friends and other people always supported him in getting over such difficult times. Be it challenges related to personal life or about his business, everyone always supported him to reach where he is today.

MJF Lion Bhandari insists that everybody must join a social service organization. The Lions Club has more than 14 lakh members worldwide, and they always focus on developing fellowship and leadership. He shares that no matter what part of the world he is in, he can get things done with just one phone call because of the immense support of the club and its members. He urges people to join the Lions Club and serve the needy while bonding with them.

He underlines that if there is a tragedy in any part of the world, the Lion's Club is always there to help with all the resources they have. Bhandari claims that in India, social work exceeding the value of Rs. 1000 crore has been done by the Lions Club through various mediums.