Akhil Bharat Gujarati Samaj
Gujarat and the Gujaratis
Gujarat, situated on the western part of India’s vast landmass, is known throughout the world for its unique geographical conditions, its prosperous and wealthy trading community, and its art, culture, and values. This proud region, which has served as a bridge of culture throughout history, has seen many groups arrive from various places and depart as well. Just as the peoples who came here left behind their own cultural imprints, those who left also carried Gujarati values with them and spread them across the country and beyond.
The people of this region, connected to the rest of the country and the world through trade and commerce along its vast coastline, have contributed to the development of every village, region, and country they settled in — both within India and beyond — carrying with them the noble spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and Vedic culture, with the aspiration that their neighbours too may become cultured and prosperous. They have always kept their homeland Gujarat and their brethren in mind, ever ready to step forward and help in times of difficulty. Wherever Gujaratis have settled across the country and abroad, they have built a Gujarat of their own.
Wherever Gujaratis have gone and settled across this country and abroad, they have built a Gujarat of their own right there.
In the other states and cities of India where Gujaratis have settled, they have, with a spirit of one large family, also formed Gujarati Samajs in various places — with the intent that Gujarati families remain united, and that families living far from their homeland may share in each other’s joys and sorrows. And today, according to the latest available figures, close to four hundred Gujarati Samajs exist across the country — and the various caste-based communities present in each state are additional to these.
The idea that all the Gujarati Samajs spread across the country should be bound together under one thread — and that there should be one umbrella organisation for all these Samajs — had been under consideration for a long time… The need for an organisation that could coordinate among the various Samajs had been felt for a long time. And at one point, this dream too became a reality.
Formation of the Akhil Bharat Gujarati Samaj
The idea that all the Gujarati Samajs spread across the country should be bound together under one thread — and that there should be one umbrella organisation for all these Samajs — had been under consideration for a long time. If such an organisation existed, all the Samajs could come closer to one another, the problems they faced could be resolved, and the Gujaratis spread across the country could unite and contribute together to the development of their mother state, Gujarat. The need for an organisation capable of coordinating among the various Samajs had been felt for a long time. And at one point, this dream too became a reality. That occasion came about in 1968, and the instrument for it was Shri Delhi Gujarati Samaj. Shri Delhi Gujarati Samaj celebrated its 75th Diamond Jubilee with great splendour on Sunday, the 11th of February, 1968, and on this very day, representatives of various Gujarati Samajs from across the country, who had come specially invited for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Delhi Gujarati Samaj, gave shape to a dream that had long been under consideration and established Shri Akhil Bharat Gujarati Samaj.
By a fortunate coincidence, on the auspicious occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of the Delhi Gujarati Samaj, the then Chief Minister of Gujarat State, Shri Hitendrabhai Desai, was specially present, and in his very presence our Gujarati Samaj was formed and its auspicious inauguration was also performed at his hands. His good wishes on this historic occasion proved to be an inspiring force for our new organisation.
On this auspicious occasion, eminent Gujarati personalities including Shri Jaysukhlalbhai Hathi, Shri Manubhai Shah, Shri Khandubhai Desai, Shri Shantilal Shah, and Shri Tribhuvandas Patel, as well as Members of Parliament from Gujarat, were witnesses to this momentous event. On the occasion of the establishment of the organisation, Chief Minister Shri Hitendrabhai, while extending good wishes to the new organisation, gave the assurance that the state government would always look upon this new Samaj with favour. He also praised the distinctive qualities of Gujarat on this occasion.
Witnesses to the Founding
Shri Jaysukhlalbhai Hathi
Shri Manubhai Shah
Shri Khandubhai Desai
Shri Shantilal Shah
Shri Tribhuvandas Patel
Members of Parliament from Gujarat
To achieve the objectives set at the time of the establishment of the Akhil Bharat Gujarati Samaj, the organisation enrolls leading Gujarati men and women living outside Gujarat as its members, and also brings every active institution under its fold by making them institutional members. It also encourages them to carry out social, cultural, literary, and sports activities, among all other endeavours. Additionally, it provides motivation for the establishment and operation of guest houses, cultural centres, schools, and colleges in major cities across the country for the convenience of Gujaratis.
Individual and institutional members of this organisation spread across the country present the details of their activities and any difficulties they face in the organisation’s executive committee and general assembly meetings, and this Samaj helps in resolving those issues. The details of all such activities are also published in the organisation’s official publication, Gurjar Bharati.
The President of this organisation is elected every two years on a rotational basis from among the leaders of each region of India, so that the organisation continues to benefit from the service, skills, and experience of the leading workers of every region, and every region also receives representation. Members of the executive committee too are elected from among leading and service-minded Gujarati men and women of various regions, and such elected individuals are distinguished personalities in their respective regions, respected by all. They are always ready to participate in the activities of Gujaratis in their region and across the country, and to be of assistance in times of difficulty.
Coordination
As per the provisions of the constitution of the Akhil Bharat Gujarati Samaj, meetings of the management committee are held every three months in different regions. At these meetings, the work already carried out is reviewed and a plan for upcoming new activities is drawn up, the details of which are shared with the central committee so that smooth coordination with every region can be maintained.
Coordination with the Global Gujarati Samaj
The Akhil Bharat Gujarati Samaj also remains connected with the Global Gujarati Samaj, and therefore this organisation also actively contributes to the worldwide activities undertaken by the Global Gujarati Samaj. Members of our organisation are also included in the executive body of the Global Gujarati Samaj. By virtue of the position they hold, the President of the Akhil Bharat Gujarati Samaj serves as the Patron Vice President of the Global Gujarati Samaj.
Current Revised Constitutional Structure of the Organisation
After its establishment, the constitution of the organisation was amended at Dhanbad during the EGM and AGM held on 29-06-2014, based on current conditions and past experiences, and the new constitution provides for the following:
Approval of Gold Membership (₹1,00,000)
Constitution of the position of Chairman of the organisation (from among Gold Members)
Division of the organisation from a zone-based structure into a total of 17 states, with provision for the appointment of State Unit Presidents.
Detailed provisions regarding the election of the President, including a rule that a person may serve as President for a maximum of two consecutive terms.
In the year 2014, elections were held at Bhuj in accordance with the new constitution.
Current Status
Today, the organisation’s official publication is issued under the name Gurjar Sarita. With the advent of the digital era, the communication of information and news is now also carried out online and via WhatsApp. The organisation’s income primarily comes from new memberships. Today the organisation has 8 honorary Gold Member couples.
List of Former & Current Presidents and General Secretaries
| No. | Session / Year | President (Pramukhshri) | General Secretary (Mahamantrishri) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1968–73 | Smt. Vindhaben Manubhai Shah | Shri Sureshbhai Desai | Delhi |
| 2 | 1973–76 | Shri Premjibhai Laljibhai | Shri Navinchandrabhai Domadia | Hyderabad |
| 3 | 1976–79 | Shri Ramchandrabhai Bhatt | Shri Mulchandbhai Parekh | Jaipur |
| 4 | 1979–80 | Shri Navinchandrabhai Vyas | Shri Girirajbhai Bharatiya | Asansol |
| 5 | 1980–83 | Shri Navinchandrabhai Vyas | Shri Kumudraybhai Upadhyay | Asansol |
| 6 | 1983–86 | Dr. Natwarlalbhai Shah | Shri Jaydevbhai Trivedi | Indore |
| 7 | 1986–87 | Shri Kunjviharibhai Shah | Shri Ajaybhai Rana | Delhi |
| 8 | 1987–88 | Shri Kunjviharibhai Shah | Shri Vinodbhai Patel | Delhi |
| 9 | 1988–89 | Late Shri Jashubhai Patel | Shri Bachubhai Patel | Madras |
| 10 | 1989–91 | Shri Manilalbhai Pujara | Shri Bachubhai Patel | Madras |
| 11 | 1991–93 | Shri Dineshbhai Sheth | Shri Mukundraybhai Shah / Shri Vijaybhai Parekh | Alibaug |
| 12 | 1993–95 | Shri Mahendrabhai Kothari | Shri Maheshbhai Varma | Khariar Road |
| 13 | 1995–98 | Shri Navinchandrabhai Doshi | Shri Vijaybhai Dave | Raipur |
| 14 | 1998–2000 | Shri Vinodbhai Patel | Shri Narendrabhai Patel | Delhi |
| 15 | 2000–02 | Shri Prahladbhai Patel | Shri K. J. Dave | Chennai |
| 16 | 2002–05 | Shri Harendrabhai Tanna | Shri Maganbhai Thakkar | Nagpur |
| 17 | 2005–08 | Shri Manubhai Patel | Shri Maganbhai Thakkar | Jaipur |
| 18 | 2008–11 | Shri Balubhai Talati | Shri Dineshbhai Shah | Vadodara |
| 19 | 2011–14 | Shri Pareshbhai Chauhan | Shri Pareshkumar Thakkar / Dr. Bhupendra Amarsinh Savariya | Dhanbad |
| 20 | 2014–17 | Shri Pareshbhai Chauhan | Shri Darshan Bharatiya | Dhanbad |
| 21 | 2017–20 | Shri Pareshbhai Chauhan | Shri Arun Joshi / Shri Sanjay Patel | Bhuj / Bhopal |
| 22 | 2020–24 | Shri Himanshubhai Mehta | Shri Bhaveshbhai Thakkar | Ranchi / Dhanbad |
| 23 | 2024–Present | Shri Sanjaybhai Patel | Shri Chetanbhai Patel | Bhopal |
