The Mission Continues

Gujarat’s chief minister,Narendra Modi,recently visited the Samaj to mark the beginning of the centenary celebrations. Modi performed the digital inauguration and published the souvenir for the year round celebrations which will conclude on March 17,2013. He was also awarded the Gujarati Ratna Award on the occasion.

There has been a change in the membership,says Shah. “With the coming of a new management in 1999,many Gujarati youngsters have enrolled with the Samaj. We have over 5000 members in the community which is twice as much as the members in 1999. More than 60 per cent are Gujarati youth who want to carry forward the legacy of culture and good work,” he says. Last week,as the celebrations began,many youngsters organised cultural programmes and attended to the guests. “It is pleasantly surprising to see how they are coming forward to shoulder responsibilities,” he adds.

The year-long celebrations include educational,cultural,social and business-related events. The foundation stone for the city’s first Gujarat Sankul was also laid. It will be a complex with residential colleges,guest houses,health clubs,community halls,libraries and reading rooms with e-learning facilities. “Thousands of parents come to the city every year for school admissions for their children. We are planning to build accommodation facilities for these parents,” informs Shah. On a six acre land in Kondhwa,the Sankul is expected to be completed in four years.

“This city is a humble witness to the growth and interest of our group which came to the city 100 years ago. The locals were extremely cooperative and helped us achieve our goal. We plan to be here and serve the society for the rest of our lives,” Shah says with a smile.