New York: An Indian American neurosurgeon of Michigan has given $1 million to a local college towards improving facilities and supporting needy students.

Harish Rawal, 59, who practises in Jackson, announced the donation in December for the Jackson Community College (JCC) to help pay for its newly renovated allied health and nursing classrooms and an endowed scholarship for supporting financially backward students.

The donation, one of the largest in the college's history, will rename the new facility the Rawal Centre for Health Professions.

"I hope it stimulates people to understand the importance of education and stimulates those with the ability to donate to do so," Rawal told Jackson Citizen Patriot recently. The local paper has named him a Distinguished Citizen for 2008.

A graduate from the B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad, Rawal studied surgery in Chicago before moving to Jackson 28 years ago. He founded the Great Lakes Brain & Spine Institute soon after.

Rawal, whose father died when he was only nine, said he might have been born into poverty but his family in India was rich with the spirit of giving, grace and charity. "Sharing what you have should be a priority when you're blessed," he said.

JCC president Daniel Phelan said of Rawal's gift, "It honours the belief in the future of young people, and I thank you for that."

In September last, Rawal and his wife, Sudha, had donated $50,000 to Jackson High School for a scholarship in memory of his mother. There is also a high school in his mother's name and a college in his father's name in India, Rawal said.

He is currently travelling in India. IANS