Newsletter May 2010

Global Roundup

Ekal Vidyalaya implementing Gandhiji's Concept

Gandhi Memorial Society, INC based in Jacksonville, USA says that Ekal Vidyalaya is implementing Mahatma Gandhi's concept of basic education on a voluntary effort basis among the deprived children. They have appreciated the work of Ekal by sponsoring 3 schools for one year.
For details click here

Rice Club Donation

The RICE club has been busy collecting contributions from friends and families. At this time, the total amount is sufficient to fund three schools. I am still getting a few private donations and am raising money through sales at my school.

Arjun Mathur

Ekal Florida region completes 5 successful fundraising programmes

Dear Ekal Supporters,

We just completed 5 concerts with Sanjeevani's group which is as follows:

Orlando: April 9, attended by 300 audiences.

Jacksonville: April 10, attended by 300 audiences.

Tampa: April 11, attended by 900 audiences.

Orlando Private concert: April 14, attended by 150 audiences.

Ocala: April 16, attended by 200 audiences.

We partnered with local Gujarati Samaj chapters at Jacksonville, Ocala and Tampa. Sri Ramesh Bhai Shah also attended Orlando, Jacksonville and Tampa program. In all programs numbers of attendees were twice than previous years.

Sanjeevani takes audience down the memory lane with some vintage songs from Noorjahan, Shamshad Begum, Geeta Dutt, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle and Sanjeevani's original songs.  Amit Mehta also sang and that provided the variety the audience typically looks for.  The program was well received by the audience. Sanjeevani also sang Telgu, Gujrati and Marathi songs on request of the audience.

Sanjeevani did a good job of promoting Ekal through appeals between the songs. She also kept the audience engaged and connected with them through dialogues. She invited audiences to the dance floor and also sang dudes with them.

All artists are very simple down to earth and very easy to deal. Dream out Loud DVD was played after 60 to 90 minutes of music.

We collected/pledged about 680 schools. Overall all 5 Florida program were quite successful.

Jawahar Taunk

Dr. Sudhir M.Parikh, an Ekal Volunteer in US, receives Padma Shri

President Mrs. Pratibha Patil on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 conferred Padma Shri Award to Gujarati-origin US based NRI Dr. Sudhir M.Parikh in an impressive function in Rashtrapati Bhawan. Dr. Parikh has already been honoured with "The Ellis Island Medal of Honor", the "Pravasi Bharatiya Samman" for his outstanding contributions in society and has become the only Indian American to receive all three most prestigious awards.

News from home

Kind gesture from young heart

Mr. K.Venkatesh S/o Sri P.K. Krishnanmurthy, Vice- President, FTS Kochi Chapter, joined Ekal Vanayatra to Pinacandy, Manthwadi, Wayand dated on 7th April 2010. He was highly moved by the services rendered by Ekal to the tribal children in the remote regions. He was enthusiastic in interacting with the children and very much impressed with their conduct and excellent manners.


Mr. Venkatesh is a class 10 student in Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan School, Girinagar, Kochi. He received Rs 800/- as prize money for quiz contest and service fee for temple rites. He offered the entire sum of Rs 800/- to sponsor 2 children out of the money earned by him.

FTS wish to express appreciation for the spontaneous gesture on the part of this youngster and wish him all success.

Appreciation Award for FTS Coimbatore

 The Rotary Club of Coimbatore Millennium came for Vanayatra on the auspicious day of Gandhi Jayanthi on October 2, 2009 to the village called Kaaliyur in Ooty Anchal. There were around 24 children in the Vidyalaya. After the club members’ arrival the Acharya guided the children and Sri Poovarajan (Kshetra Abhiyan Pramuk) explained the regular functioning of Ekal Vidyalaya.

They were inspired by the Ekal Vidyalaya which motivated them to become part of FTS also to bestow the Vocational service award.

The award also includes medal and citation. It was handed over by Rtn. Capt. Mathews – Rotary District Governor (RI Dist. 3201) during his official Visit on 8^th April 2010.

FTS Selected for ‘THAKKER BAPA RASHTRIYA SAMMAN’

The Welfare Department of the Government of Madhya Pradesh has selected the Friends of Tribals Society for the coveted ‘Thakker Bapa Rashtriya Samman’ for the year 2009. Besides the Certificate of Appreciation a cash of Rs.200,000/- is also included in the award. The Award will soon be given in an appropriate function in Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal.

BLSP Organizes Kavi Sammelan

The Bhartiya Lok Siksha Parishad organized a ‘Kavi Sammelan’ on the 11th April 2010 in New Delhi. The FICCI auditorium was full to listen to the famous ‘kavis’, which included Sri Hariom Pawar, Sri Pradip Chaubey, Sri Sunil Jogi, Sri Shahnaz Hindustani, Smt Anju Jain, Sri Gajendra Solanki and Sri Rajesh Chetan. The master of ceremonies was Sri Rajesh Chetan and the convenor was Sri Jagdish Mittal. Many dignitaries including social workers and industrialists and businessmen attended.

Ladies wing of FTS Indore, Organized “Sunderkand” on the occasion of Ramnavami

Friends of Tribals Society (FTS), Indore Chapter, ladies wing organized a musical “Sunderkand” on the auspicious occasion of Ramnavami on 23.03.2010 at the residence of Smt. Saraswati Maheshwari.

Smt. Umashish Sharma, the former mayor of Indore was the chief guest of the programme. She inaugurated the programme by lighting the lamp. Smt. Geeta Mundra, President, Mahila Samiti Indore, Smt. Saraswati Maheshwari, Smt. Vidya Muchhal welcomed the guests.

Smt. Madhu Biani and Smt. Shakuntala Shekhawat who came from Mumbai to perform the “Sunderkand” were welcomed warmly. All the attendees got overwhelmed with the chanting of “Sunderkand” and sweet Bhajans. The programme was carried on about 3 hours.

The exhibition of Lord Rama, decorated by Smt. Shreya Maheshwari was the point of attraction. 40 pair of Kurta Payjama were given for the fulltime volunteers of Khargone District. Smt. Vineeta Jaju gave the vote of thanks.

Ekal Vanyatra

Friends of Tribals Society, Bhopal organized a Vanyatra – a report

Friends of Tribals Society (FTS),   Bhopal organized a Vanyatra on  21st March, 2010 in Suagarh and Jamunia villages under Raisen Anchal of Madhya Pradesh.

We all got collected in hotel “Sarthak Malviya” at 8.00 o’clock in the morning. Sri Suresh Kumar Chowkse, President, FTS Bhopal welcomed all the 43 visitors and departed to Raisen at 9.00 AM.

We reached Vikramgarh at 11 AM where Sanch Samiti members welcomed all of us and arranged the breakfast. From Raisen our team reached Jamunia village via jungle where Village Samiti and Ekal School children welcomed us in their traditional manner. After that we all reached Ekal School with the villagers. In Jamunia village school, Acharya ji was teaching the children. Smt. Uma Sodhan, President, Mahila Samiti, FTS Bhopal and Smt. Kiran Agarwal asked the questions from the children. The answers were satisfactory. We distributed teaching material, sweets and chocolates to the school children. Kshetra Prashikshan Pramukh Sri Mukesh Karn introduced us with the villagers.  The visitors Sri Sanjeev Agarwal, Sri Manish Gupta ji, Smt. Indira Gupta, Smt. Dipali Gupta and Sri K.S. Dhillan welcomed Acharya Sri Harinarayan, parents of Acharya and Villager Pramukh.

After this all the visitors reached Suagarh Ekal School. Village Samiti welcomed warmly to all of us. We reached Ekal School with the playing drums, band and songs where Acharya conducted the school. Ekal School children performed alphabet knowledge, national anthem, stories and Surya Namaskar. We distributed teaching material, sweets and chocolates to the school children. After that introduction was made between the Village Samiti and members of Vanyatra team. Sri Trilok Jaju, Smt. Kanchan Gupta, Sri Rajesh Gupta and I welcomed of Archarya Sri Hanumant Singh, parents of Acharya and Village Pramukh. The villagers organized a Vanbhoj Dal-Bati (food) that was very appreciable. After taking food Vanyata team departed to Bhopal.

In back journey, Vikramgarh Sanch Samiti members arranged tea and a programme of telling our Vanyatra experience at Vikramgarh. We took tea and shared our experiences with them. All the visitors praised this Vanyatra. Especially Sri S.K. Dhillan, Sri Manish Gupta, Sri Kuldeep Kaul, Sri K.C. Jain, Sri Ashish Agarwal and Smt. Indira Gupta told that in the lac of basic needs, to provide the primary education, health education and empowerment education is a great work. It is the real service to humanity. It is a nation building work. We all came to know the reality of that children and assured to give the support to Ekal cause.

Kishore Gupta

Ekal Updates - Schools

Ekal updates - Ekal Vidyalaya

Current: Number of Ekal Schools:  27,041 Number of Children: 753,123