More than five hundred members of the Palanpuri Jain community and other well-wishers from various cities across India and the world came to Palanpur on January 6th and 7th 2018 to attend the 70th anniversary celebrations of Vidyamandir Trust, which also saw the launch of a number of new projects.
Actor and humanitarian Padma Bhushan Aamir Khan won the hearts of the audience with his deep, but easy-to-grasp insights into education and life. At the same time, the exceptional work done by the trust over the last seven decades won applause from him and other dignitaries including Padma Bhushan Deepak Parekh, chairman, HDFC, and Haribhai Chaudhary, distinguished alumni and union minister of state for coal & mines, who had gathered in the city for this special occasion.
Addressing an audience of well-wishers, staff and students of various educational institutions run by the trust in the city, Khan in discussion with trust chairman Russell Mehta and responding to questions raised by the students, said that while M Palanpur-based Vidyamandir Trust Celebrates 70th Anniversary formal education may come to an end, “gaining knowledge and learning is a continuous process”. Congratulating the institution on its philosophy and approach, he particularly appreciated how it was encouraging children to question and thirst for knowledge, to grow by studying and playing on the sports field and to learn not only from books, but through doing.
Congratulating the institution on its philosophy and approach, Aamir Khan particularly appreciated how it was encouraging children to question and thirst for knowledge, to grow by studying and playing on the sports field and to learn not only from books, but through doing.
Advising those gathered not to view success only as “earning a name or lots of money”, but also by the ability to “bring a smile to someone’s face” and to “understand someone’s sorrows and help them”, he said, success often comes “when you are passionate and enjoy what you are doing and put in your best effort to do it well”.
Khan suggested that teachers and parents should not encourage unhealthy competition merely for marks, but also assess individuals by what they have done for others, adding that the world will be a better place when “we also have IQ tests to judge caring and sharing”.
the guests.
Russell Mehta emphasised that the attachment to their original hometown has continued to inspire the second, third and even fourth generations to give back to the city, even though their forefathers had moved out from there in pursuit of trade and business many decades ago.
Russell Mehta emphasised that the attachment to their original hometown has continued to inspire the second, third and even fourth generations to give back to the city, even though their forefathers had moved out from there in pursuit of trade and business many decades ago.
Presiding over the function, Deepak Parekh thanked the trustees for inviting him, saying that it was a Sunday well spent as he had a chance to see the “amazing work” being carried out by Vidyamandir Trust with the support of the community. He described it as “one of the finest examples of commitment” and said that education was one of the most important tools for progress of the community and the nation. He said that though government should be the main provider of education and health care, in the context of India, the private sector too would have to take on some responsibility in these fields.
Congratulating those who “earn and return”, particularly the “quiet, understated donors” who contributed to the upliftment of the underprivileged, bringing development to what were formerly backward areas, Parekh said they had helped Palanpur emerge as an important educational centre and the “medical capital of North Gujarat”. He concluded, “India needs many more centres of excellence modelled on Vidyamandir.”
Guest of honour Haribhai Choudhary said his years in Vidyamandir, particularly the values and qualities instilled in him, had provided the foundation for him to reach where he has. He congratulated all those who had contributed in terms of time, effort and money, saying that though the Palanpuri Jain community is now spread all over the world, “the city has never been far from your hearts”.
Earlier, Russell Mehta, in his welcome address emphasised that the attachment to their original hometown has continued to inspire the second, third and even fourth generations to give back to the city, even though their forefathers had moved out from there in pursuit of trade and business many decades ago. He said that the community has a shared sense of involvement and commitment, and that for many, “Palanpur is as much a sentiment as it is a place… an embodiment of a spirit… a shared sense of working for the common good.”
Tracing the history and growth of Vidyamandir Trust over the past seven decades, managing trustee Ashish Mehta particularly recalled the sterling role played by two visionaries – late Kantilal “Kanubhai” Chhotalal and late Surykantbhai Parikh. He also remembered the three initial donors, late Kesarben Amrutlal Raichand Jhaveri, late Leelaben Gaffurchand Mehta, and late Leelaben Surajmal Mehta, as well as the donation of a 56-acre plot of land by Capt A.D. Lohani whose generosity had made this possible. He said that Vidyamandir has strived to give a liberal, secular and gender-neutral education to its students, always emphasising the importance of extra-curricular activities and sports at all times. The latest thrust is to move towards integrating the tools of the digital age into teaching and to develop skill education centres where students are equipped for careers and jobs of the future.
In between the speeches and presentations, students from the various institutions on the Vidyamandir campus put up some scintillating cultural performances that were highly appreciated by all those present.
A number of new institutions and projects of the trust were inaugurated and blessed during the celebrations.
Each inaugural ceremony was presided over by different dignitaries including Charles Bonas, director, Bonas & Co., London; Rohan Shah, senior advocate, Supreme Court and Bombay High Court; Jalaj Dani, chairman, board of governors, IIM Trichy; Praveenshankar Pandya, chairman, board of governors, IIM Ranchi and ex-chairman, GJEPC; Bharat Sheth, deputy chairman and managing director, Great Eastern Shipping Co. Ltd.; and Dr. Satyavatiben Surajmal Jhaveri, a pillar of strength of Vidyamandir for the past several years.
The complete list of new projects that were blessed/opened: Sarhad Gandhi Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan Bhawan Donor: K.C. Kothari (Hong Kong) & Family
Shri Navinchandra Dahyalal Mody Bhavan
Donor: Anila N. Mody
Kashish Kumar Mehta Bhavan
Donor: Nita & Kumar Mehta (M/s. Shairu Gems Diamonds
Pvt. Ltd.)
Shri Manubhai Surajmal Jhaveri – Surekhaben (Crown – TV)
Prangan
Donor: Family Surekhaben & Manubhai Surajmal Jhaveri
A number of new institutions and projects of the trust were inaugurated and blessed during the celebrations.
Savitaben Pannalal Kothari B. Ed. College
Donor: Ashwin Pannalal Kothari
Shri Sanjay Nanalal Kothari Divyang Vihar- Donation
towards upgradation
Donor: Family Sanjay N. Kothari (M/s. Lotus Gem)
Blessings at Sarhad Gandhi Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
Bhavan
• Interactive Classrooms EMS Std. 3-4-5 by Nishit P. Kothari
• Smt. Shashiben Kanubhai Mehta Canteen
• Smt. Vasuben Sureshbhai Bhansali Yoga Centre
• Shri Shantilal Nanchand Kothari Paryavaran Kendra & Ceramics Pottery Workshop
• Interactive Classrooms GMS Std. 6-7-8 by Madhuben and Rajnikantbhai Mehta
• Shri Rajnikant Chhotalal Mehta Kalayatan
• Shri Shantilal Surajmal Mehta Teachers’ Training Programme
Blessings at Kashish Kumar Mehta Bhavan
• Shri B. L. Parikh Institute of English Language
Blessings at Manubhai Surajmal Jhaveri – Surekhaben
(Crown TV) Campus
• Ayush Chetan Mehta & Esha Chetan Mehta Scholarship Fund
• Shri Amrish Dalal Scholarship Fund
• Smt. Ami and Shri Sunil Kothari contribution toward educational activity
• Shri S. G. Jhaveri & M/s. Mohanlal Raichand & Sons Scholarship Fund by Shri Piyush S. Kothari
• Shri Jormalbhai Mangaljibhai Mehta Scholarship Fund
• Mrs. Taraben Motilal Kothari & Mrs. Chandanben Surajmal Kothari Scholarship Fund
Blessings at Sarvajanik Chhatralaya
• Smt. Maltiben Arunbhai K. Munsif Grameen Mahila Utkarsh Kendra
• Shri K.D. Parikh Yoga Centre for the Differently-able Girls of Mamtamandir
• Smt. Vasuben Arvindbhai Parikh Yoga Centre for the Differently-able Boys of Mamtamandir
• Audiometry room with Multipurpose Acoustic Room by Pandurang Shastri Athavale Education Foundation
• Smt. Miraben Rameshbhai Mehta Lalitkala Prashikshan Kendra
• Smt. Lilaben Bagmalbhai Chunilalbhai Jhaveri Centre of Home Science at Mamtamandir
• Smt. Bhagwatiben Bagmalbhai Kothari Hobby Centre at Mamtamandir
• Smt. Chanchiben Dalpatbhai Mehta Kalakendra at Mamtamandir