BY MAHADEV DESAI

Atlanta’s Indian American community and especially its Gujarati community has every reason to be proud that the Vishwa Gujarati Samaj(VGS), which has by now acquired a world-wide recognition as an international organization of Gujaratis settled world over has chosen Atlanta as its USA center to be spearheaded by Jaykumar Patel, a noted businessman and social activist in Atlanta.  As Krishnakant Vakharia, President, VGS, in his speech remarked,” Atlanta is a land of pines, and I wish that the new center under Jaykumar Patel steadily attains the stature of a tall pine tree and just as the gentle breeze of a pine tree gains momentum and blows over a wide area so will this new center gain in popularity and fame over the world.”.

The inauguration ceremony was held at the Impact Conference Center (Global Mall) on the evening of Friday, May 27. Atlanta’s well known social activist, Upendrabhai Patel, acting as  Master of Ceremonies, welcomed all, and briefly introduced guest dignitaries,VGS Office-bearers, Krishnakant Vakharia, Hemraj Shah, Himanshu Vyas and Ms. Meena Ambani, and Amit Shah, President, Gujarati Samaj,Atlanta, as they took their seats on the stage. Jaykumar and Upendrabhai extended a hearty welcome to all the attendees and recognized the  representatives and past and present office-holders , Umesh Patel(Gayatri Parivar);Jayantibhai Chauhan, Govindbhai Patel, Bhupendra Patel (Shakti Mandir); Jayantibhai Patel and Tushar Patel (BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha);U.S.Patel and Ashokbhai Patel (Gujarati Samaj, Atlanta); Kantibhai Patel ( Kadwa Patidar Samaj); Ratilal Patel (Leuva Patidar Samaj) ;noted Attorney Chandler Sharma, Paddy Sharma ( India-American Cultural Association) Mike Patel (AAHOA), Bharat Shah and Radhesh Patel (Governor’s Advisory Board); Varsha Patel (FOGANA);Gordhanbhai Dhanani(Saurashtra Patel Samaj); P. Joy Mukerjee, Sanjay Pandya(‘Desi’), Ravi Ponangi (India Tribune and TV Asia), and Mustafa Ajmeri,(India Tribune) among others. Mr. Ajmeri extended a hearty welcome to all, congratulated Jaykumar Patel and wished the inauguration ceremony a big success. The visiting VGS Officials, and Mike Patel, Bharatbhai Shah, P.Joy Mukerjee, lighted the diyas.

Introducing Jaykumar, Mrs.Tarla Daftari, (IACA) said that Nairobi-born Jaykumar has an enviable track record. He is a successful business magnate and a philanthropist. He is also an accomplished singer and composer. An indefatigable community activist, Jaykumar, in 1994, served as President of Gujarati Samaj, Atlanta. As a trustee of National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA), he played an important role in installation of the Gandhi Statue at the MLK Jr. Historic National Park Site in Atlanta. During 2000, he accompanied former US President Bill Clinton on his historic visit to India. Since then, he has represented Indian-American community at several White House briefings and has hosted the former First Lady Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton in company with the local business community.
Responding Jaykumar said that though he was born in Nairobi, Kenya, he had spent several years in Gujarat and become deeply attached to it.  “I want to do something for Gujarat and Gujaratis, and that is why I have assumed this responsibility. The Gujarat Government is deeply appreciative of the role played by NGOs like the VGS, so I am confident that with support of the organizations like BAPS here, we can join forces and do a lot in the upliftment of thousands of villages in Gujarat. I am proud of Gujarat where renowned world figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, scientist Vikram Sarabhai were born, and where the inventor, technocrat, and visionary Sam Pitroda contributed his expertise in the field of communications.” he said.

Chief Guest Sam Pitroda, apologized for his absence over the phone from Chicago. Speaking of his abiding love for Gujarat, he said,  “There is something in its air, its sights, sounds, smells, colors and warmth that binds one for ever. “VGS has given us a platform, so collectively we need to do something special for Gujarat and Gujarati culture.   He lamented that South is overtaking Gujarat in investment and research in Information technology, bio-tech etc.  He felt that Gujaratis in the US can and should help Gujarat catch up with other leading States in India. Mahatma Gandhi has been a profound influence for Mr. Pitroda. He stressed the need to take Gandhian philosophy and values to the schools and colleges in India. And he appealed the community to help renovate the Gandhi Ashram, help preserve Gandhi legacy, and also to build hotels, motels, gas stations and other tourist amenities along the Dandi Marg which has been recently declared a heritage Marg by the Indian  Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh. He ended by congratulating Jaykumar and wishing the VGS (USA) Inc. a huge success.

Amit Shah introduced Krishnakant Vakharia, a practicing advocate in Ahmedabad, India. He has the distinct honor of serving as President of the VGS for four consecutive terms since 1994. Vakharia is an outstanding leader who has carried out many humanitarian projects in Gujarat. Impressed by his outstanding accomplishments in community welfare projects, he was invited by the Chinese Government to visit China.  Mr. Vakharia has traveled far and wide.

Mr. Vakharia said that he felt happy to be in Atlanta once again because it was on this hallowed land, where Martin Luther King Jr. had spread Mahatma Gandhi’s message of non-violence, proclaiming, “The only alternative to non-violence is non-existence.” He paid homage to both Dr. King and Mahatma Gandhi. (Applause). VGS founded in 1989, is a democratic organization and holds regular elections every five years. It provides platform for interaction amongst the Gujaratis world over and functions as an umbilical cord between the Gujarati Diaspora and the people of Gujarat.  It works for the growth, prosperity and progress of Gujarati Diaspora and inspires them to cultivate the spirit of brotherhood, cooperation and to promote, preserve Gujarati language, culture, heritage and tradition. VGS undertakes projects to further these goals for the betterment of Gujaratis world over. Three apex Gujarati Samaj are affiliated to VGS:

The Federation of Gujarat Association in North America (FOGANA-USA)
National Congress of Gujarati Organization (NCGO-UK)
Akhil Bharatiya Gujarati Samaj (Gujarati Organization in India)
 VGS is working with the Gujarat Government carry out its’ Water management, water harvesting and water conservation ‘schemes. VGS fully supports Narmada River project- lifeline for Gujarat.  VGS has helped the victims of the Gujarat Earthquake in 2001. It has organized Medical Camps. VGS organizes Business Seminars and Vishwa Hindu Gujarati Parishads.  To promote Gujarat, its culture and language, and traditions it undertakes publications of Gujarati literature, including ‘Vishwanidam’ magazine, and maintains a web site. To preserve and promote Gujarati Culture, it organizes annual ‘Gujarat Utsav” festival, ras-garba and Gujarati folk dances competitions and plays. It has instituted several Awards including the prestigious Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Vishwa Pratibha Award. (In 2004, Sam Pitroda was the recipient of this Award from the Hon. President of India, Dr. A. Abdul Kalam)  He exhorted the Gujaratis in the US to not only help in Gujaratis in India but all over the world.  Touching on membership, he said that so far, VGS has enrolled only 120 Patrons and Life Members but this is bound to gain momentum once the VSG (USA) under Jay Kumar’s leadership becomes fully functional.  VGS hopes to enroll 1000 additional members within the next six months. Though the current membership is small, it represents the cream of the Gujarati Who’ who in the US.  (H.R. Shah, Mike Patel, Sudhir Parikh, Naranjibhai Patel, to name a few). Gujarati Samaj, Atlanta and Gujarati Samaj New York are also members.  VGS hopes to further expand its activities in Canada and Latin America. Mr. Vakharia stressed that VGS had no intention to compete with any other Gujarati Organizations but to complement them and assist them in fulfilling their objectives.

Gordhanbhai  Dhanani, (Saurashtra Patel Samaj, S.E. Region), introduced Himanshu Vyas, who is a successful business entrepreneur and a leading social activist in Gujarat, who has been associated with various educational, social, cultural and political activities in Gujarat. As a member of the ‘Action India Movement’, initiated by Sam Pitroda. Himanshubhai has participated in a large number of socially beneficial activities in Gujarat. He is politically attached to the Indian National Congress and is also the spokesman of the Pradesh Congress Committee.  He was one of the organizers of the recent Dandi March in Gujarat. He has led various delegations of students and youth to different countries

In his short speech, Himanshubhai said that VGS was happy that Jaykumar had accepted the challenge of heading the VGS (USA) Inc. and wished him luck. A center is known not by its size but by its activities and accomplishments and he had no doubt that Atlanta Center would live up to everyone’s expectations and grow into a tall tree.

Upendrabhai read out the messages of goodwill received from Yashwant Shah(Rajkot); Bharat Shah(Dubai);C.K.Patel(L.A.) and Naranjibhai (San Francisco) He further announced the donation of $10,000 for  Highway development in Chikodra gam and $5,000 donation from Atlanta’s well known  Pattani family for Water project in it's jilla.

Mrs. Roopa Vyas introduced Ms. Meena Ambani, the current Treasurer of VGS. She is a successful business woman who also inspires and guides other women in their business careers.  She works with many charitable and social institutions promoting women empowerment and is an active member of ‘Saath’ that helps in prevention of suicides. She enjoys reading, music and traveling.

Meenaben echoing Mr. Vakharia said that a lot has been done and yet a lot remains to be done. She was confident VGS (USA) under Jaykumar would succeed.

Jayantibhai Patel (BAPS) introduced Hemrajbhai Shah, a practicing advocate, High Court and Supreme Court, Gujarat and a successful businessman, who is also one of the founder-member of the VGS. A Mumbai resident, he is Founder of Brihad Gujarat Samaj, Mumbai.  He has also served on the Film Censor Board. He is Chairman of the Gujarat Sahitya Academy and President of the Book Manufacturer’s Association, Mumbai. He has written several books in English, Gujarati and Marathi languages and is a popular columnist with Mumbai Samachar and Gujarat Samachar newspapers. His multifarious duties have led him to many countries.
Hemrajbhai stressed the need for interaction between the US Gujaratis and India-based Gujaratis. He said that to help the Gujarati tourists with accommodation, Brihad Gujarati Samaj, Mumbai has started construction of Gujarat Bhavan which would be built by January 2006.The success of the Gujarati community in the US was astounding. He wondered if there was something in the Gujarati genes which resulted in these successes!  He advised the community to reach out to other communities as well and to integrate and live in harmony with the mainstream community.

Commemorative plaques were presented to Krishnakant Vakharia, Hemrajbhai Shah, Himanshu Vyas and Ms. Meena Ambani by Dr. Amit Desai, Kantibhai Patel, Ratilal Patel and Roopaben Vyas respectively.  Krishnakant Vakharia accepted the Plaque from Varsha Patel on behalf of Sam Pitroda, who was unable to attend the ceremony.

Jaykumar thanked the VGS officials who had flown in from India to attend the inauguration ceremony. He also thanked Upendrabhai Patel and Himanshu Vora for their advice and dedicated service in organizing the event. “Let us go forward, let us raise our community to a level where we are visible”, or better still, as Sam Pitroda says, “If you want to get it done, go do it”, he concluded amidst applause.

During sumptuous dinner served by Pannaben Patel of Impact Conference Center, Gujarat’s renowned comedian Jagdish Trivedi regaled the audience with rib-tickling jokes.