There is hardly any country in the world where Gujarati people do not reside. Gujarati diaspora across the globe has beautifully preserved and celebrated the essence of Gujarat in their respective communities. On the occasion of Gujarat Day, which is celebrated on May 1st every year, the Gujarati community across the globe celebrated the state's 64th Foundation Day vibrantly. On this day the Zoom event, hosted by Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, brought together prominent individuals from various fields who addressed the audience, highlighting the glorious journey of the state's development and emphasizing areas that require further attention for progress.
CB Patel, the Publisher and Editor-in-chief of ABPL Group has been residing in Britain for almost 6 decades, yet Gujarat resides in his heart, pulsating with its culture and heritage. Even today, he can proudly say that Gujarat, its culture, and its legacy resonate within him. On the occasion of Gujarat Day, during the online event organized to commemorate the foundation day, CB Patel played a pivotal role and united the prominent personalities associated with Gujarat or Gujaratis’.
Renowned singer Mayaben Deepak, with her melodious voice, inaugurated the program with a Gujarati poem.
Lord Navnit Dholakia
Speaking on the occasion of Gujarat Foundation Day, Lord Navnit Dholakia said, “First of all, I am a proud Indian and a Gujarati. But I’m also a proud British Gujarati and Indian. Whenever I talk about Gujarat, I remember two things; the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
These two magnificent individuals emerged from Gujarat's soil with their regal appearance. When I went to Porbandar to see his home, I was moved by Mahatma Gandhi's simplicity in the way he lived there. Then look at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, he reunited all states of Gujarat. I was living in Bhavnagar at that time and I’m delighted to say that king of Bhavnagar was the first one to offer the unification of Gujarat with India. That is a very proud moment for me.
“You know there is no place in the world where you won’t find a Gujarati. My son-in-law was on a trip to the North Pole. He was invited by the Mayor of the town to come and visit him. Eventually, he found out that the town Mayor was Mr. Patel and I’m very much proud indeed that even in the snowcast world we have Gujarati central over there. They are settled in South Africa, Burma, Sri Lanka and many parts of the world. Important countries like Africa and Mauritius are literally controlled by Indian communities living over there. In the latest form of migration, people are now settled in places like America, Canada etc. I usually say that no matter where you travel in the world, you will never get lost because Gujaratis will be there to lead you in the right direction,” he said.
Speaking about Gujarati communities in UK, he said, “In past, there were 1400 different Indian organisations in this country mainly Gujaratis. But suffice to say that a national or Gujarat organisation set up in this country such as the Gujarati forum, Indo forum, Hindu council and a number of other prominent bodies to undertake the work on the behalf of Gujarati community and I’m really grateful about this.”
He added “I was privileged to be part of a delegation which was led by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons to visit Gujarat some two years ago and I was delighted to meet a lot of people there. I had the opportunity to look at the projects and enterprises conducted by Ahmedabad women who were striving for market growth. I can see that women are now well-represented in Gujarati legislation. As we now lack female representation in our parliaments, I sincerely hope that women in this country will make the necessary efforts to fill that gap. Gujarat has a strong emphasis on women, not only in politics but even in terms of promoting Gujarati women's equality. In principle, I firmly believe that Gujarat's contribution to the advancement of our nation may be attributed to the Gujarat Samachar, which has assumed responsibility for reporting on all events that have been organised to unite the Gujarati people.
I'll sum up by saying that Gujarati communities are featured in all of these initiatives that were done in our nation. But I would like to see more Gujaratis in parliament.
I would like to see more presence of Gujarati women in parliament but more importantly, I would like to see Gujarat to be the focal point of our development in this country, our culture, our values etc.”
PK. Laheri, Former Chief Secretary of Gujarat
P.K. Laheri, who served as the Chief Secretary of Gujarat for the longest tenure in history, said that “today, on May 1st, the establishment of Gujarat completes 63 years, and Gujarat is entering its 64th year.
The founder and pioneer of Gujarat Samachar UK, C.B. Patel, has appropriately organised this event, but it takes great courage to successfully run a Gujarati newspaper in London and establish a Gujarati imprint throughout the UK and other countries. I had the opportunity to stay in the UK for a year 40 years ago, and during that time, I witnessed the struggles of his family. Today, as a remarkable Gujarati, he has achieved a reputation and has played a significant role in the politics there, and not only that, he has also elevated Gujarati intellectuals in the field of politics. Today, I extend my congratulations on the establishment day of Gujarat.
Speaking ahead he said, “Gujarat, when it seceded from Maharashtra, there was a demand for a united Maharashtra and when the bilingual Mumbai state was bifurcated, Mumbai was geographically in Maharashtra. During that time, Gujarat suffered except for the textile industry. There was a lack of education, educational institutions, and industries. Today, both Gujarat and Maharashtra are seen as engines of development on the foundation day of both states. Last year, the total GST collection was Rs. 18 lakh crore, out of which Maharashtra and Gujarat contributed Rs. 3.50 lakh crore. Gujarat contributed Rs. 1.21 lakh crore, while Maharashtra contributed Rs. 2.15 lakh crore, which means Gujarat and Maharashtra together contributed more than 20% of the total amount, which is a matter of pride.”
“In the last 15 years, Gujarat has achieved many successes. the Statue of Unity, which is almost twice the height of the Statue of Liberty, has been established. Today, the Kevadia region, which exhibits the highest footfall in the world, has been developed, and Sardar Patel has been given such a tribute to his stature. Earlier, Gujarat excelled in wind power, which is now also excelling in solar power, and within a short time, it will also excel in green hydrogen. The Narmada project, which C.B. Patel talked about, allows us to consume water in 18 lakh hectares, but along with that in 20 lakh hectares, we use water through deep irrigation and sprinklers. The diamond industry, textile industry, pharmaceutical industry, petrochemical industry, refinery, and car manufacturing, all excel in the industrial sector of Gujarat. It has 230 industrial estates, more than 100 universities, more than 20,000 foreign students, and 30,000 students from other states coming here. Surat and Ahmedabad are rapidly developing cities that make a mark globally. Global unemployment is a big issue in India as well, but for the past 15 years, we have been in the number one position, which means unemployment is not a big issue for those who want to work in Gujarat. Surat and Bharuch, Mundra, Kandala, Pipavavas, Dahej, Hajira make a significant difference in the country's exports, almost 84 country’s business is associated with these ports in India.”
Lastly, he added, “We need to pay attention to the needs of the deprived and the poor, we need to compete with Kerala in education and prioritize the upliftment of women in terms of safety. Post the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of accidents and road mishaps has increased. Today, on the Gujarat Foundation Day, we pray to dedicate ourselves to addressing the current issues with dedication and sincerity."
Lord Prof. Bhikhu Parekh
He said “Gujarati people do not participate significantly in politics. Gujarati people residing outside India also excel in business and commerce. The only exception is South Africa, where Gandhiji took over the people and Gujarati's dominance remained there. Today, there is a strong craze among Gujarati people to go abroad. It is common for students in schools and universities to aspire to go abroad.
Once they go abroad, their love for the country does not diminish. There is a strong desire among them to contribute to the country and provide financial assistance.”
He added. “When I went to Gujarat in 1981, Madhavsinh Solanki as the Vice Chancellor asked me to come, when I asked the reason for it, he told me to run an organisation, to which I agreed. I was once a lecturer so I am willing to come to Vadodara. I went there in 1981 and stayed for three years, during which C.B. Patel also came there. We were sitting at the airport, and at that time, I told C.B. Patel that I would have to bring money from abroad to run the university. At that time, he told me that he would give me one lakh rupees, and he told me to start two scholarships from Gujarat Samachar in my university, to which I agreed. I told the professor of the management faculty to start two scholarships.I appreciate the contribution he made and I respect it.
“Today, there are many universities in England like Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial College, where I can comfortably send my children although I send them too and they can thrive. Fortunately, my three sons were intelligent enough, and three of them got admission to Oxford. We cannot say anything bad about any university. Is there any university in India where I can send my talented children and confidently say that they are on par with the international level? Maybe one or two...not more than that. Undoubtedly you are increasing a number of universities with the same quality, which is its limitation. It needs to be taken care of. Education is the most important thing, it is the driving force behind a modern economy. If you don't work on something new, if there is no research and development, you cannot be self-reliant in your industry, and your progress will be hindered while other countries move forward. Considering this, I feel that any government in Gujarat, their primary agenda should be to improve the education system, not only at the university level but also at the primary and secondary education levels.”
“Lastly, I want to mention that there is a lot of poverty in Gujarat, especially in tribal areas. A lot of work needs to be done in that area too and deserves significant attention by the government. I hope that in this context, a voice emerges from here to the government's ears through Mr. C. B. Patel. Your two priorities should be education and poverty. Unless we address these two issues, we won't make significant progress. Because without proper education and economic advancement, no country's progress can move forward.”
Kapil Dudakia – Renowned Columnist
Kapil Dudakia said, “There are so many factions in the early days and they had to bring the Gujarati community together. They were all coming from different places. I think that was the time when the genius idea of the National Council of Gujaratis organisation (NCGO) came through in 1985.
And I think by bringing everyone together people who stood and started to learn that we actually have a common aim and agenda, which actually unites us. It's not just our language that unites us; it’s about our culture, our ancestry, our history. Even, I was affected by the day-to-day racism and I came across many others facing the same situation. I think a huge contribution has been made by NCGO and the founders and all the others who actually have come through all the years because they've actually kept that torch burning so nicely. Somewhere around 35 to 37 Gujarati organisations are actually part of NCGO. “
“I think we Gujarati are net contributors in the UK, especially in the last 10 years. We had jobs at mills and other places. Then we started running stores, and after that, we developed into a medium-sized company. And now, in addition to operating on a vast scale and handling businesses, we have also entered politics though on a little scale, but at least we succeeded,” he added.
Speaking about the community, he said, “As I mentioned previously, I'm not sure how to describe myself, but I'm a Gujarati with Indian ancestry who has lived outside of India for four or five generations. I'm also British. All of those identities are very important. They make me who I am and I am proud of it.”
Sudhir Raval, Veteran Journalist and General Secretary Vishwa Gujarati Samaj
He expressed his gratitude to everyone for giving him an opportunity to share his thoughts on this platform. “I can see the enthusiasm of CB Patel has increased nowadays as compared to those days when I prepared your book ‘Love Gujarat’.
Currently, eminent Gujarati people from various parts of the world are present on this platform. They know how much influence Gujarati people spread around the world. Achievements of Gujarati people in each and every sector brings immense pride and inspiration.”
“This was a time when the prime focus was on uniting Gujarati people worldwide, and they accomplished this by establishing many social organisations. Krushnakantji is no more now. I have had significant experience with him. He held the top position of the VGS leadership for 30 years. Even at that age, he was enthusiastic about promoting and advancing the organisation and its people. We must continue to move forward with steady progress and strive for the unity and progress of the Gujarati community globally. Today Gujarati organisations have increased in many countries with the passage of time. We are working to consolidate the data of these organisations, which requires a lot of effort and patience to update. It is very important for all organisations to come on the same page as a token of solidarity, as and when Gujarati people do something everyone in the world can know it. We keep engaging in social activities, such as the efforts made during the pandemic to bring back stranded youth in foreign countries, and continue such routine activities.”
“To briefly speak now, the way you all have created and nurtured VGS from a small seed to a giant banyan tree, I will put my best efforts to make sure that its branches grow more and our all Gujarati people get its fruits, and that responsibility that you have entrusted on me, I will do as much as possible to help raise Gujarat's profile in the world, with C.K. Patel and the entire team.”
“The last point is that 24 people were martyred in the Mahagujarat movement, we should pay our respects to them on this day. It is not because Gujarat was created due to regionalism, but because after 1920, Mahatma Gandhi suggested the formation of state committees and there was still a need to create Gujarat as a state based on language. Let us also remember holy people such as Indulal Yagnik and Ravishankar Maharaj who led Gujarat in this movement. In addition, let us pay homage to everyone who has contributed to the political, cultural, and religious fields in Gujarat and who has helped in the development of Gujarat. Jai Jai Garvi Gujarat to all Gujarati people who have contributed to Gujarat's progress.”
Dhirubhai Gadhvi, Gujarat Culture Society-Brighton
Dhirubhai Gadvi expressed his heartfelt greetings on the foundation day of Gujarat and thanked to Mr C.B. Patel for organizing this program. Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice have been serving without any bias for the welfare and rights of our community at large.
I am here as a representative of the GCS (Gujarat Culture Society) in Britain and also active in NCGO. Our Vice Presidents Jitubhai and Kantibhai Nagda are also present here. When I talk about CB Sir's service, for the past two years during COVID, we consistently organized various remarkable programs, which I have been continuously documenting. On Gujarat Establishment Day, I and you should not only remember Gujarat but also work towards global recognition for Gujarat and appreciate the poets and statesmen who have preserved our culture, values, and heritage through their hard work.
Jyotsnaben Shah, Consulting Editor - Gujarat Samachar
Jyotsnaben Shah said “It is natural for me, you, and us to feel proud of being Gujarati. My heart is filled with joy on the foundation day of Gujarat. Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice are not just newspapers that spread the news abroad, but it is the most beloved weekly for Gujarati people, which represent the difference in pride, language, literature, honour, culture, and religion of Gujarati people.
Shri CB Patel, leads the creation of the mirror image of his vast vision and dynamism in making Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice a daily necessity for readers. Gujarati people living in India and abroad express their solidarity in large numbers. I am honoured to have witnessed it for nearly 40 years as a companion in its 50 years of journey. I would like to congratulate the amazing efforts of ABPL's team to conduct such events online.”
“Although I have been living in Britain for about 40 years, this is the first time I have spent such a long time in Gujarat. As a result, I have come to see Gujarat from a different perspective and I can see that the youth in Gujarat is full of self-confidence. These people take pleasure in working hard and earning money in life. Meanwhile, I have noticed a transformation in Gujarat's roads and markets, which indicates its progress. PM Modi has truly awakened a sense of patriotism among the citizens of our country. We are grinding in the pandemic and inflation, we are anxious about inflation, while I have seen in Gujarat that not everyone is bothered by it. Everyone is living life happily in their own way. Fear is not visible to anyone. The meaning of the saying is that Gujarati people have learned to live happily in any condition for a long. In some areas, we are lagging behind, it is a false pride on this issue. Ignoring progress is not possible.”
Dr. Vallabhbhai Kathiriya, Former MP
Dr. Valllabhbhai Kathiriya former MP from Rajkot, conveyed that “on the occasion of Gujarat's foundation day, I congratulate everyone for this event. I congratulate you for presenting the true essence of Gujarat's pride. In real terms, Gujarat has become a laboratory of development today and is being presented as an example in the country. Many envy our economic progress, but because of the hard work of the Gujarati people and their vision, the Gujarati people are moving ahead. You are our ambassadors helping Gujarat and India in every possible way.”
“You are showcasing our culture, our pride, traditions, and heritage in a unique way across the world. As the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has come and brought glory to the country worldwide. Today, the entire world is looking at India in a different way. PM Modi is making efforts to make India a great India, and a distinct India. We have just celebrated the 75th anniversary of independence. In the 100 years of independence, the time of Amrutkal will become the best time for the country. Under the G-20, the idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is being watched by the world. “
Kokilaben Patel, Managing Editor of Gujarat Samachar
Kokilaben Patel, the managing editor of Gujarat Samachar, announced on the occasion of Gujarat Foundation Day that after the upheaval of the Indulal Yagnik movement, Gujarat separated from Maharashtra and came into existence.
While Gujarat gave us patriots like Sardar Patel and Gandhi, it also gave us devotees like Narasaiya. So on this Gujarat Foundation Day, congratulations to everyone.
Kanti Nagda MBE, CEO-Sangat Centre
The programme ended with a vote of thanks from Sangat Centre's CEO and Special Advisor of ABPL Group, Mr. Kanti Nagda MBE who expressed his gratitude to all the dignitaries, supporters and well-wishers who attended this event and shared their thoughts, opinions and suggestions on Gujarat and its pride in the occasion.
Mahesh Liloriya, Global Group Editor, ABPL Group
Mahesh Liloriya said, “Gujarat has been a symbol of growth, prosperity, and development for years. Since the establishment of the state, Gujarat has achieved new dimensions of development, and Gujarati people have achieved great success outside the state. Congratulations to everyone on Gujarat Day.
Today, with the invaluable contribution of Gujarat and Gujarati people, India is moving forward with unprecedented and historic progress. Mr CB Patel has taken the initiative to guide society in the right direction, and we too should join hands and take pride in this social service, which is contributing towards the welfare of all communities and the Hindu community, and also in promoting Gujarat Samachar, which serves Gujarati people.
