About spgbs

Shree Poona Gujarati Bandhu Samaj

Established in the year 1913, Shree Poona Gujarati Bandhu Samaj is one of the pioneers in providing a platform for the Gujarati community of Pune to come together and create its own identity since the past 110 years. It has helped the Gujarati community to achieve success and happiness by inculcating a sense of unity.

The founding fathers of the Shree Poona Gujarati Bandhu Samaj are:-

Sir Vithaldas Damodar Thakarsi
Sir Purshottamdas Thakordas
Sir Lathrobhai Shamaddas
Shri Manmohandasji Ramji

Shri Narotamdasji Morarji

Shri Kasturbhai Lalbhai
Prof. J. P. Trivedi
Shri Balwantrai K Thakore

Shri K. S. Vakil

Prof. N. M. Shah

Shri Dayalal Hiralal Nanavati

Shri Gunwantrai Hiralal Desai

The Gujarati community residing in Pune has always been an integral part of the success of Pune. Students, service class and the business class intermingled with each other and became emotional, social and economic support for each other. Shree Poona Gujarati Bandhu Samaj was successful to a great extent in providing higher education to its students along with hostel facilities to achieve their dreams successfully. The students after completing their studies became ardent members of this community. The Samaj has always felicitated and acknowledged the success of its members.

Shri B K Thakore, was instrumental in the commune establishing a well-equipped library as it believes in importance of reading for character building. Today the library has more than 20,000 books.

The Gujarati community residing in Pune has always been the backbone of this commune and their hard work and enthusiasm has been consistent throughout the years.

Various activities are undertaken by the commune for the betterment of its people. Some of the activities are as follows:

Bride-Groom introduction fair
Healthcare camp
Tree plantation
Creating awareness to encourage voting during elections
Creating awareness about politics and encouraging to participate in active politics
Youth guidance centres
Awareness for freedom from addiction
Financially Backwards Women Empowerment Centres
Providing education to underprivileged children
Celebrating World Gujarati Language Day

As the commune started interacting and touching the lives of more and more Gujaratis, its fame and glory started crossing the boundaries of Pune city. It became a source of inspiration for the whole of Maharashtra and also the state of Gujarat. Many reputable organisations look up to it today for guidance and advice. Shree Poona Gujarati Bandhu Samaj celebrated its golden jubilee in 1963- 64, platinum jubilee in 1987-88 and centenary in 2013.

A group of elders from the community had a vision to create an establishment for the Gujaratis of Pune.

This group consisting of

Shri Muljibhai Pacharia Nandu
Shri Dahyalal Mansukhlal Shah,
Shri Narayandas Valji Parmar and
Shri Champaklal Vithaldas Suratwala

donated funds to purchase a plot of 6 acres of land at Kondhwa Budruk, for the Samaj in 1985-1986, with a dream to build our very own Gujarat Bhavan.

Shri Hirabhai Shah (Chokhawala) had a desire to create a mammoth Gujarat Bhavan with top of the line facilities in sports, dining, halls for social & cultural events and guestrooms on this plot of land. Shri Hirabhai Shah, urged Shri Nitin Desai to head the Board of Trustees to take on this onerous responsibility. To commemorate the centenary celebrations, the Samaj invited Shri Narendra Modi then Hon. Chief Minister of Gujarat for the ground breaking ceremony of Gujarat Bhavan. Under the guidance of President Shri Nitin Desai, Managing Trustee Shri Rajesh Shah & Joint Managing Trustee Shri Nainesh Nandu are totally committed to the construction and development of this project - Gujarat Bhavan.

Shree Poona Gujarati Bandhu Samaj believes that a Gujarat Bhavan in Maharashtra is of utmost importance because though there are number of schools & hospitals headed by members of the Samaj for Gujaratis in Pune, it lacks a multifunctional Gujarat Bhavan.

Shree Poona Gujarati Bandhu Samaj is committed to work on such ambitious projects in the future too, to help the Gujarati community become an essential part of Maharashtra's cultural and economicprosperity.

Shree Poona Gujarati Bandhu Samaj is the identity of hundreds of Gujaratis residing in Pune. Believing in the gesture of 'Atithi devo bhava', the commune has always endeavoured to uplift the name of Pune with its activities. The crowning glory for its efforts was receiving the Jeevan Gaurav Award as the best social Institution of Maharashtra and Gujarat from the Sahitya Academy. This shows its commitment towards betterment of not only Gujarati Community but also providing a strong platform for all the future generations to come.

Jai Jai Garvi Gujarat! Jai Gujarat! Jai Maharashtra! Jai Hind!