Doctor Patel was a Human scientist during the 23rd century. In an alternate timeline, Patel was the representative of the Indian subcontinent to a meeting of the Federation Council in which they discussed the recovery of Earth after its devastation by the Cetacean Probe. He questioned Carol Marcus as to the affects the Genesis Device might have on Earth's population if used to recover the atmosphere. (Star Trek: Myriad Universes novel: The Chimes at Midnight)