KHUDABADI SONARA SINDHWORK SOCIETY (REG.) JAIPUR
Author: Rtn. Gangaram S. Purswani (P.H.F.)
Around 1869, youngsters of the Khudabadi Sonara community started venturing overseas from Sindh (now in Pakistan) and by 1930s, at least one person from 50% families of our community was earning their daily bread in various countries of the world spread across five continents. After partition, most of the families of the community settled Jaipur, and those who ventured overseas earlier, almost retired and those who went later, all started gathering in Jaipur. All fresh from World War II, groomed with western culture & elite lifestyle, made their presence known in our community. Although those overseas returned persons (Sindhworkis) were totally committed to Khudabadi Sonara Community and Sindhi/Indian Culture, yet, they also inclined to celebrate Christmas, New Year, and other Western Festivals resulting in the formation of the “Sindhwork Sonara Union” with late Shri Manghanmal Lalchand Hotwani as the president in the year 1953. Later, its name was changed to “Sindhwork Sonara Sabha” in 1957 and to “Khudabadi Sindhwork Sonara Association “in 1968. Finally, the Society with present name viz. “Khudabadi Sonara Sindhwork Society (Reg.), Jaipur” was registered with the office of Registrar of Societies Rajasthan vide Reg. No. 723/84-85 on March 14, 1985. The Khudabadi Sonara Association Trust had earlier allotted one room with a donation from late Shri Nenumal Pahilajrai Hingorani at Khudabadi Sonara Community Centre, Plot No. 39, Sindhi Colony, Bani Park, Jaipur, which became its registered office. Earlier, it was based in Aachar Walon Ki Gali, off Gopalji Ka Rasta, Jaipur.
Aims & Objectives
- To promote love, unity and brotherhood amongst members in particular and with other communities, in general, without any discrimination of cast, creed & religion.
- To promote new developments, social reforms and family values amongst the members.
- To maintain high ethical standards in business and professions. To organize the worthiness of all useful occupations to dignify each member’s occupation, as on opportunity to bring glory and respect to our community and to serve it whole heartedly.
- To help and to promote education by means of scholarship or payment of fees and/or providing books etc. to poor and needy students.
- To provide free health checkup and medical aid to poor and needy persons.
- To grant aid to homes for the aged, orphanages, destitute, widows, physically handicapped and mentally retarded persons and to the poor and needy persons, for their livelihood.
- To give monetary help or other assistance for relief from natural calamities like floods, cyclones, tempests, fire and earthquakes etc.
- To promote growth and upliftment of Sindhi Art, Culture, Literature and Language.
- To organize and celebrate Religious, Social, National Festivals and Days.
- To organize functions, picnics and other sources of entertainments for the retired Sindhwarkies and for those Sindhwarkies who have come to visit their families and relations, in Jaipur.
- To acquaint its members with the new developments in the field of their business interest in India. Try to assist in solving the immigration and other problems while living and working abroad or when finally returning to India.
- To do all that is necessary to achieve the aforesaid objectives and other goals, for the benefit of the members and of the community as a whole.
Late Shri Vensimal Shewakram, Late Shri Teckchand and Late Shri Nihalchand Metharamani belonging to Halkai Family, Late Shri Menghomal Narumal Purswani and Late Shri Khemchand Lalchand Purswani belonging to Bambrai Family and Late Shri Menghomal Khemchand Vasnani were among the first who left their homes in Sindh and travelled to overseas.
Late Shri Jeumal Purswani was the first in Khudabadi Sonara Community who started his own business in Manila, Philippines, in the year 1911.The founder president Late Shri Manghanmal Lalchand Hotwani was working in Japan when World War II broke out and he had an opportunity of meeting closely with Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, who visited Japan frequently. Many a times, the confidential meetings in connection with Azad Hind Fouj, used to take place in his residence, in Tokyo, Japan. The Society is also proud of Amar Shaheed Shri Jhamatmal Sukhramdas Hasrajani and Amar Shaheed Vasumal Pohumal Hasrajani (both teenaged) who joined Azad Hind Fauj, while working in Manila and sacrificed their lives in Imphal, in fighting for the liberation of our Mother India from the clutches of British Empire.
In the past, our society has contributed to “Kargil War Hero’s Fund”, “Gujarat Earth Quake Victims Relief Fund” and Chief Minister’s Akal Fund” in the year 2003. The Society is governed by a managing committee comprising of five elected officers and six members nominated by the president.
The Society celebrated its Silver Jubilee under the presidentship of Late Shri Naraindas T. Hingorani in the year 1978 and Golden Jubilee lavishly celebrated with fanfare under the presidentship of Shri Gangaram Shamdas Purswani on February 8, 2003. The Chief Guest of the occasion was Shri Janardhan Singh Gehlot, Hon’ble Minister of Food & Civil Supplies Govt. of Rajasthan and the Presiding Guest was Hon’ble Justice I.S. Israni, the Retired Judge of Raj. High Court. A souvenir was released and dignitaries of Khudabadi Sonara Community and Sindhi Community, in Jaipur, were honoured to mark the occasion.
Apart from the celebrations, the following were main objectives of the Golden Jubilee occasion:
- To promote dialogue and foster closer co-operation and partnership among the Sindhi business community.
- Provide a forum for Sindhi entrepreneurs to meet and have joint business ventures in emerging markets around the world.
- Make Sindhi’s aware of business opportunities and their achievements in other parts of the world.