The New world? Yes! Since the early 1950's the United States of America, the new
world, has become an attraction of aspiring young Indians as a center of r achieving
a higher education in the science, engineering, management, economics
etc,. Those
Indian student came to U.S. In the late 1950's and thereafter witnessed opportunities
ot utilize their education and better themselves by accepting employment with different
companies.
In spite of the self satisfaction experienced from work and the adopted life style,
a sense of emptiness was experienced on occasion by those new settlers and their
families. They were earning for an occasional social gathering with individuals
who could relate to one another about the social life and the traditional social
celebrations which they knew. Merely gathering together with individuals of similar
backgrounds brought joy to all involved for several days.
While reminiscing of such feelings of emptiness, a thought came to Mr. Vinubhai
Patel about forming a group of people speaking the Gujarati language. Vinubhai,
put the thought before his wife Taruben and three other families namely, Raoji and
Lila Patel, Sudhanshu and Rekha Patel and Sarvabhaum and Jyotsna Parikh. They gladly
concurred with the suggestion and thus was born, in Columbus in 1967, the GUJARATI
MANDAL organization which today has expanded to more than five hundred member families.
Anybody who could say "Kem Chho?" (How are you?) gladly joined the organization.
As the membership increased, the place of getting together moved from private homes
to public places like parks and community centers. At the present time the number
of community members attending the Navratri celebration swells to as high as 700
to 900 persons.
All the activities of the organization are administered and organized by energetic
and enthusiastic volunteers from the community. In order to bring a formal objective
order into the working of the organization, a constitution was presented to the
general body and was passed in December 1982. Committee members are elected each
year for a one year term.
Since 1983, Gurjari, an annual publication is published by volunteer editors. Over
the years the Gujarati Mandal has attracted outstanding scholars, writers, teachers
and educators to speak before interested community members. The organization has
participated several time in "Raas and Garba" competitions held every year in different
cities and has won prizes. In 1989, the Gujarati Mandal hosted the regional "Rass
and Garba" competition at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Columbus. This competition
is organized yearly by the FOGANA (Federation of Gujarati Associations of North
America).
It is satisfying to see the progress made by the organization in the last twenty
five years (from a modest and simple beginning). While enjoying this celebration,
the community must reaffirm to work towards achieving fully the objectives laid
out in the constitution. They are:
- To promote the welfare and assimilation of Gujaratis in the main stream of American
life.
- To foster friendship and understanding among its members and to develop common loyalties
and mutual interest through literacy, social, educational and cultural activities.
-
To cooperate and participate with other organization in program of common interest.
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To sustain and perpetuate the cultural heritage of Gujarati.
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To promote and assist activities and projects in furtherance of any or all the above.
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