First of all our heartiest congratulations to CB Patel on getting an award at the 1st Global Gujarati Award Gala 2018 held in Toronto, Canada on Friday 25th May 2018 along side many well known and prominent Gujaraties from around the world to recognize their immense contribution by them in their respective field of expertise namely social, medias, business, medicines, writings, acting, and many more. There is saying “When there is a will, there is a way”.
As an avid letter writer myself since many years in Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar in letters to the editor column on different topic of interest. I got an email from Kamal Rao that they would like to meet us whilst in Canada as they would be coming for very short period of time. So putting aside our other plans I thought I must see them so I got ticket of Award event at the last moment, drove one hour from my place and was very happy to meet both of them in our beloved adopted country of Canada.
I, in fact met C B seven years ago when I came to England in ABPL office as we went there on sad occasion to discuss about death notice in Gujarat Samachar of my nephew’s wife Mili and two days old baby died due to last moment of pregnancy complications. As soon as we entered the ABPL office the first thing CB did was take us in staff office and called other staff and paid homage by asking everyone to chant “Mantrs” which little bit eased our sorrows and that gesture imprinted on my mind which I will remember forever so no wonder he well deserved this award.
The next day I took them to Shri Vishnu Temple of Richmond Hills, Ontario which had been built by Hindus from Guyana and supported by Gujaraties, located on Yonge street a longest street in the world more than 1000 kilometres and appeared in the Guinness Book of World Records. In the peace garden of this temple there is statue of Mahatma Gandhi opening ceremony performed by Premier of Ontario Hon David Peterson in 1986?and also there is tallest idols( 60 feet) in North America of Lord Hanumanji unveiled by Shri Moraribapu two years ago. From there I took them to Sanatan Mandir of Markham mainly built by Gujaraties by holy inspirations of Late Krishnashankar Shastriji.In front entrance they were pleased to see Indian, Canadian and Ohm flags fly high 24/7 375 days a year. After that I showed them The Cathedral Transfiguration an architectural marvel of not only of Markham city but also of Canada located at the end of the street where we live and then stopped by at our house for masala tea and Indian tasty Gujarati style snacks. And finally dropped them at BAPS Swaminarayan temple where we all had holy “ Abhisekh of Nilkanthvarniya” .
We are happy that in short time we all had sweet memories to cherish which became possible by the grace of God and strong will to meet them. Last but not least as Father’s day is around the corner so we wish everyone Happy and Holy Father’s day which should be celebrated everyday in to our day to day lives.
Suresh and Bhavna Patel
Markham, Canada
