Bhuj, 7 April 2012

Gujarat’s Kutch university is holding a function of setting up a Kutchi chair. On this occasion 8 institutions and two personalities are to be honored with Kutch Ratna Award. Those getting awards are:

Tolani Vidyamandir

Late Kaka Prabhudas Tolani was founder of this educational institution. Kaka Tolani had lost everything during partition of India in 1947. Kaka Aadipur in Kutch in 1962 on call of his friends Handaraj Dukhayal and Hari Dariani and established a Collegiate board to et up a Civil engineering institute and Gandhidham Arts college in same year under Gandhidham Maitri Mandal. At present as many as 7,000 students get education in Aadipur based Tolani campus.

Bidada Sarvoday Trust

Bidada Sarvoday Trust was established in 1974 with a mission to provide healthcare facility to local rural people.In last 38 years, more than 4.2 million villagers are served by Bidada Sarvoday Trust. In 60-bed hospital at Bidada, daily 300 patients receive treatment in OPD, while around 5-10 patients are admitted for surgery. The Trust also run Mumbai based Maru hospital. During the earthquake in 2001, Bidada Sarvoday Trust operated almost 30,000 victims and offered shelter to over 2 lakh people affected by earthquake.

Shrujan

Philanthrofist Shri Kantisen Shrof and his wife Chandabahen established this institution. During Kutch famine in 1968, Ramakrishna Mission started relief work in Kutch. Mumbai based Kutchi industrialist Kantisenbhai and his wife came to Kutch to offer their service. They felt to need something for women in Kutch and set up Shrujan. Thanks to Shrujan, many women in Kutch are now self-employed through their skill of embroidery.

Vivekananda Research and Training Institute

Thanks to Kantisen Shroff Kaka’s vision, this institute was established in 1975, first under the title of Excel Gram Vikas.Motive was to develop animal husbandry and increase yield to counter famine. Ths institute ws later renamed as Vivekananda Research and Training Institute under the guidance of Shri Vyomanandaji, then President of Ramakrishna Mission, Rajkot. Vivekananda Research and Training Institute is active in rural development, water, land and agricultural research. Various experimental projects have taken place in Naliya and Mandvi areas of Kutch.

Bharatiya Sanskruti Founation, Kutch Darshan Museum

This museum in Bhuj gives introduction of Kutch. Late Shri Ramsinhjibhai Rathod had established tis museum to showcase Kutch’s rural lifestyle, art and culture. Any person who wants to know about Kutch visiting just one place chooses to visit the museum at Bhuj run by Bharatiya Sanskruti Foundation.

Euro Industries

This world-class tiles manufacturing company export tiles to 24 countries. It was established in Bhachau in year 2003. Company is involved in social responsibility activities through blood donation, medicines, camping, education etc. Shri Talakshibhai Nandu is head of the foundation involved in such activities.

GIDE

Gujarat Ecology Commission set up Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology (GIDE) in 1995 after 1993 MoU with Israel’s Jackob Blow Stain Institute of Desert Research. GIDE is active in finding the solutions for people who live in dry areas through environmental principals with the help of scientific approach. The institute has completed 49 projects successfully so far in Kutch.

Sarvoday Sports Center

Sarvoday Mitra Mandal was established in 1957. In 1981 it was registered as Sarvoday Sports Center. Presently the campus of Sarvoday Sports Center hosts taluka, district level spots activities including summer cricket coaching, table tennis etc.

Tejpal Dharshi Nagda ‘Poet Tej’

Kavi Tej is originally from Nalia, but presently settled in Gandhidham. He is one of the topmost poets of Kutch. In 1971 he penned ‘Tej jo awaj’ and completed five parts of this title. Later he wrote ‘Katiyu’ and ‘Titodi Tahuko Kare’. He is avid bird lower and has published his research on birds. He has been honored with Kutchi Gaurav Puraskar in past.

Suleman Juma family

In 1985, then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s pet project Festival of India kicked off in Paris with Shehnai and Nobat sound of Kutchi artist Suleman Juma of Mundra, Kutch. For last three generations, Suleman bapa belonging to Langha community of Shehnai players is settled in Mundra. Bapa had played Nobat at late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s house too. He had played Shehnai with famous Shehnai player Ustad Bismillakhan in Jugalbandi.

Watch live video webcast streaming on this link