Shree Nathalia Uneval Sevak Mandal
(A Community Service initiative)

Public Trust Registration No. A - 753 (Bom)
Founded : Vikram Samvat Year : 1971 - Chrisitan Era : 1915

C/o B. A. & Bros. (Bombay) Pvt. Ltd.
98, Princess Street, Mumbai 400 002
Postal Address : P.O. Box No. 2126, Mumbai 400 002

Shree Madhavji Savji Oza
Nathalia Uneval Vidyarthi Bhuvan
&
Shree Kankuben Ratilal Patel
Nathalia Uneval Kanya Chhatralaya
at Una, District Junagadh, (Gujarat) - 362 560

Brief History of the Trust (Mandal) & Record of its Achievements & Activities

Annual Celebrations
At Mumbai : Varshikotsav : Every Janmashtami
At Una : Vasantotsav : Every Vasant Pachami

Distribution of Puraskar ( Award) to meritorious Students

Samuh Lagna - Yagnopavit

Individuals make community, communities make society and Societies nation. Hence growth of individuals and communities results into development of a nation. Keeping this in mind and for the total development of the community, this Organisation, called `Shree Nathalia Uneval Sevak Mandal' was found in Vikram Samvat Year 1971, i.e. 1915 A.D. in Bombay to eradicate illeteracy as its basic Goal.

In the beginning, attention was paid to those villages where even primary education was not available. Beginning was made by starting primary schools in those villages. At the same time, the disbursement of school fees and payment for the cost od text books, etc. for the children of the whole community were started.

With the aim of development of closer fellow - feeling and fostering brotherhood among them and also with the intention to develop self reliance and self decision-making in the children and enhancing the facilities for education. It was thought to start a Vidyarthi Bhuvan for students. The basic goal was achieved by acquiring land at Una, District Junagadh of Gujarat State. The opening ceremony of the Vidyarthi Bhuvan buildings was arranged on a grand scale, in 1941 A.D., by the hands of the respected Sheth Shri Vithaldas Damodar Govindji, J.P.

In the year of 1942 A.D., i.e. Vikram Samvat Year 1998, ' Shree Nathalia Uneval Boarding' was started with a strength of 35 to 40 students as boarders. Mothly Fees (Subscription) was fixed as follows:
Full Freeship : No Fees at all
Half Freeship : Rs. 3.00 per student
Full Fee : Rs. 5.00 per student
when the monthly expenditure per head was Rs. 20/- to Rs. 25/- even in those golden days. However to increase the level of education in the community, one had to be prepared to sacrifice.

In the year 1947 A.D. Late Shri Madhavji Savji Oza of Devka, donated all of his immovable property (in Bombay) to the Mandal. This was really a very magnanimous way of contributing towards the education. This donation made it possible to run the Vidyarthi Bhuvan with less financial constraints.

To honour the magnanimity of the donation and to keep a permanent memory of the spirit of this great donor, the Executive of the Mandal (Trust) decided to associate his name with the Vidyarthi Bhuvan, an din 1947 A.D. i.e. in Vikram Samvat Year 2003, the boarding house was renamed as `Shree Madhavji Savji Oza - Nathalia Uneval Vidyarthi Bhuvan', in which there is sufficient accomodation and facility to house 60 boarders - boys.

Men and Women are the two wheels of this chariot of life cycle. Both must have balanced thinking, therefore, must be well educated. Hence, the need for education of the girls was also felt. Efforts were started for education for the girls through a boarding House. These efforts bore fruits. Shree Ratilal Shivshankar Patel of Simar, donated generously towards the education of the girls through the boarding house, in memory of his wife, Kankuben. In 1980, within the Vidyarthi Bhuvan compound itself, `Kankuben Ratilal Patel Nathalia Uneval Kanya Chhatralaya' (Boarding House for the Girls) was started with accomodation for 60 girl students. In addition to academic work, vocational training of tailoring is also imparted to these girl students.

Currently, the rates of monthly fees are as follows :
Boys : Rs. 35/- per month
Girls : Rs. 25/- per month
while the mothly expenditure per head is Rs. 250/- to Rs. 275/- which continuously keeps on increasing due to inflation.

Even with this subsidised fees, the Mandal provides:
1. Decent lodging and boarding facilities
2. Educational facilities in the nearby schools
3. Sports and recreation facilities within the Bhuvan Complex.
4. Religious and spiritual training within the Bhuvan Complex.
5. Special coaching facilities in subjects like mathematics, science and English within Bhuvan Complex.
6. Vocational Training like tailoring for the Girl Students and typewriting for all.

This is not the end. In view of attaining the goal of good education for the entire community, imporving the quality of academic work and encouraging the students towards it, the Mandal offers the following:
a) Those students passing with 60% marks and above are refunded 50% of the annual fees as Puraskar Awad.
b) Thos students passing with 45% ti 59% are refunded 25% of the annual fees as Puraskar Award.
This Puraskar distribution is done during Vasantotsav Celebration at Una in the presence of almost entire community and the guests.

c) Vasantotsav : It was decided to celebrate Vasantotsav on every Vasant Panchami at Vidarthi Bhuvan Una and since February 1986 it is being regularly celebrated.

Main aims and objectives of this celebration are :

1) To bring the people of the community living in local towns and village together.

2) Distribution of Puraskar to meritorious students in the Vidyarthi Bhuvan

3) To minimise the expenditures on individual social functions by organising Samooh Lagnam and Samoohi Yagnopavitam (Cimmunity Group Marriages and Holy-Thread (Yagnopavitam) Charge is onlyRs. 100/- (One Hundred) as token. Any family, on its own sweet will, can join it.

In addition to these academic activities, the Mandal undertakes socially useful, informative and creative activities also. They are:

Financial help to the dependants: Those who do not have anybody to support in the family are given financial help. Right from the inception of the Mandal, this activity is going on.

Mukh Patra : (Monthly Publication of Mandal for Community) Since January 1984, this Mukh Patra is brought out regularly on the 15th of every month. This keeps informed the community poeple not only in India but also abroad, about activities and thinking of the Mandal (Trust), good or sad happenings in the community and academic, social and professional achievements of different individuals of the community. It also contains articles of religious thinking interpretation of Vedic Scriptures and reforms to be brought about in old customs and traitions. Thus it helps making people feel being together. This Mukh Patra is distributed among all the families free of cost.

The Gnati Darpan.(The book of record of all families of our community)

In September1988 at the time of the 74th Annual Celebration of the Mandal on Janmashtami, this book, unique of its type, was released. It contains the otherwise not available history of our community. Also, for each family, it contains place of origin, address, total number of members in and the family with their names, ages, sex, married, unmarried maternal relations, educational background of different members in the family, etc. It also contains surname wise Gotram (Origin of Group named after some Rishi-Saint). Because of all these informationl, it has been appreciated by all. It was first of its kind to be brought out. The mandal really feels proud of being able to achieve it.

Medical Help : The needy people of our community are given financial help for treatment and cure of diseases difficult and expensive to treat.

Other affiliated organizations are:

Shree Nathalia Uneval Sahayak Sangh
The Sangh has brought out a scheme according to which, a member of the Sangh expires , contribution is collected from the remaining members and the amount is given to the bereaved family so as to relieve it of financial difficulties. This has very much been appreciated and the steps are described as very much acceptable

Shree Nathalia Mahila Mandal
In the beginning, the school going girls used to prepare Garba and Rass themselves and used to present them during the annual function. This was liked by all and they all wanted it to be on a still better way.

With these feelings, some of our elderly women started this organisation in1968 A.D.

They prepare and present Garba, Raas and Ballet during the annual function of the Mandal, earning love and appreciation of the community. This Mahila Mandal deserves and needs expansion to start other activities such as tailoring, needle work, and preparation of various dishes of food, etc. to promote contribution for all the above activities and help the committee.

Thank you for going through the mandal's activity as listed above, you can help us in this worthy cause by sending us your valuable monatory contribution to support our activities, which are dependent on donations received from well wishers.