Ms. V. Pradeepa*
Abstract
The Rajasthanis came to Coimbatore for the purpose of trade. At first few families settled in Coimbatore from Rajasthan. Later many Jain people migrated to various district of Tamil Nadu 80% of the Rajasthanis happen to be the Janis. The Rajasthanis are doing business like handloom cloth and cotton works in Coimbatore. Rajasthani Sangh in Coimbatore is a non-profit service organization involved in social welfare activities and services to the needy people of any caste creed and community. Both the Rajasthani Sangh and Rajasthani Nivas building are widely used by the people of all walks of life. The Rajasthani people are unique in food habits, dress, ornaments, ceremonies, art and festivals. The Rajasthani Sangh is a champion of social causes.
* Ph. D., Research Scholar, Government Arts College, Coimbatore.
History of Rajasthani Sangh
Rajasthani Sangh, in Coimbatore is a non-profit service organization involved in social welfare activities and services to the needy people of any caste, creed and community. It was formed in the year 1972 with six members as a Charitable Trust with a universal motto “SARVEJANA SUKHINO BHAWANTHU” by a handful of people of Rajasthan origin with the main objective of service to the needy. Today, the number of Members have grown nearing 2700 (as on 31-12-08) and more than two lakhs members belonging to the Sangh are residing in and around Coimbatore all with the same motive and goal1.
Rajasthani People
From Rajasthan many Jain people migrated to various districts of Tamilnadu. In Coimbator, 80% of Rajasthaniare Jains. After Jain people made their entry, Rajasthani Sangh was started with their efforts.Though the Jains are spread around different places of Coimbatore, they are mostly confined to R.S. Puram and Vadavalli of the Coimbatore area2.
Principles of Rajasthani Sangh
The Sangh adheres to the principles of secular humanism, social justice and sustainable development for their bright future 3.
Location of Rajasthani Sangh
Rajasthani Sangh Bhavan is located at 579, D.B Road, R.S. Puram, Coimbatore. The total area of the Sangh is about 20,000 Sq.ft. The Bhavan building consists of A.C auditorium, A.C. dining hall, roof garden, 21 well-furnished A.C rooms, large kitchen, AC conference hall, store room, adequate parking and rest rooms.The Bhavan can accommodate around 1500 persons for a function. Any person can reserve the Bhavan in advance as per the rules and regulations of the Sangh. The Bhavan has adequate amenities, vessels, water, Generator, power, lifts and security for conducting the function in a smooth and easy manner.Apart from the “Rajasthani Sangh” building, a small unit named “Rajasthani Nivas” located at 33, Periaswamy Road East, R.S.Puram is available for small functions which can accommodate around 500 persons. This unit includes 6 A.C well furnished rooms, dining Hall, kitchen and rest rooms. Both the Rajasthani Sangh Bhavan and Rajasthani Nivas buildings are widely used by the people of all walks of life to their utmost satisfaction.The surplus derived from these buildings are utilized for maintenance and upkeep of the buildings and to create additional amenities for the Social welfare4.
Objectives
The Rajasthani Sangh was formed with the only objective to serve the society and do social welfare activities for the needy without discrimination of caste, creed and color.
The main objectives of the Sangh are as follows.
* To unite the members in the bonds of friendship and to encourage mutual understanding and social contacts among them.
* To make necessary provisions for the social welfare activities of the society in general and of its members in particular without distinction of caste, creed, color and languages.
* To give financial help to the deserving poor and needy students for their education and also medical welfare assistances to the deserving patients to conduct free medical camps.
* To establish and maintain Public Library, Charity Dispensary and Community Hall used as Mandapam where marriages and religious and social welfare functions, exhibitions, meetings are held.
* To help the nation during natural calamities and extend co–operation and support to the Government in all social welfare activities to mitigate the sufferings of poor and under privileged5.
RAJASTHANI SANGH OFFICE BEARERS 2014– 2016
· Babulal Jain President
· Vinod Choraria Vice -President
· Madanlal Bafana Secretary
· Banshi Sing Chauhan Joint Secretary
· Prakash Chand Tandovi Treasurer
· Jora Ram Patel Joint Treasurer
Facilities of Rajasthani Sangh Library
A public library with reading hall is there i Coimbatore where in every day an average of 100 persons are visiting. The library reading room has lot of newspapers, magazines, educational books, novels, to the interest of the readers. Hindi, English and Tamil Language books are also available6.
Auditorium
The auditorium is a fully air-conditioned hall with a huge dais connected with two rooms on either side for bride and groom. The auditorium is fully furnished with eye catching interiors and a spacious lobby at the entrance. It is also well-equipped with sound systems and fancy lighting and very well suitable for conducting marriage and conferences. The auditorium has a balcony and attached rooms. The auditorium can accommodate 800 persons comfortably.
Dining Hall
The dining hall is fully air–conditioned with all modern infrastructure and interior for luxurious dining. It is also equipped with sound systems and fancy lighting. The dining hall is at the first floor of the building well connected with kitchen for easy access to food items. Separate provision is made for drinking water and wash area. It can accommodate 250 seats at one time.
Kitchen
The kitchen is located at the ground level with spacious area and equipped with all modern equipments required to cook food for about 1000-1200 people at a time. The kitchen is well connected to dining hall and utility like wash area, drainage, vegetable room, store room etc., all vessels for cooking and serving are made available at the store room adjoining to the kitchen. Plenty of water for both cooking and washing is available in kitchen itself.
Roof Garden
The roof garden at the terrace level is suitable for dinner for about 300 people in an open air. Fancy lighting, fixed canopys for buffet and other equipments are available at the roof-garden.
Room Block
The room block of the Sangh consists of 21 fully air conditioned and furnished rooms. Ffour floors are there in the block and separate lift are available for this block. Adequate lighting and ventilation are done in all the rooms for comfortable stay of guests7.
A/C Mini Conference Hall
Fully air conditioned hall with seating capacity of 60 numbers attached with mini A/C dining hall is also there at the basement level. It is suitable for conducting meeting, conference, educational training classes, birthday and family functions. Ffacilities like podium, audio system and chairs and tables are available.
Rajasthani Nivas
It is located at 33 Periyasamy Road (East) R.S. Puram, Coimbatore -641 002.Dormitory type of hall for accommodation of 150 members, 6 A/C Rooms with double cot and foam beds attached with toilets and bathrooms are there in this Nivas. There is a spacious dining hall with an area of 2000sq.ft and 4 additional halls and 4 common toilets. Specious kitchen with uninterrupted supply of gas is attached with a store room and drinking water facilities. Generator facility is also available.
Other Halls
Rajasthani Samaj has totally ten halls including the Bhavan and Nivas which are used by the Coimbatore people for many purposes like wedding celebrations, official meeting, seminars and family gatherings. Mmedical camps are also organized in these halls regularly8. The other halls are
* Maheshwari Office Hall,
* Devi Bai Mahal,
* Bafna A.C Auditorium,
* Mahgal Dining Hall,
* Seth Gokul Chand Bangur ,
* A/C Conference Hall,
* Open A/C Auditorium,
SOCIAL WELFARE ACTIVITIES
The Rajasthani Sangh is a charitable non-profit social welfare organization involved in various social welfare activities in Coimbatore city and its adjoining area without discrimination of caste, creed, colour, religion, or faith. It is a champion of social causes.
Free public dispensary
The RajasthaniSangh in its main building also runs a “Free Public Dispensary” with renewed duty Doctors, to help the poor and needy patients. The dispensary is catering to the medical needs of the financially weak population, in Coimbatore. Around 100-150 poor patients per day are treated at the dispensary and medicines are also given at free of cost.
Camps
Various medi-care camps for the welfare and health care of the poor and downtrodden in and around Coimbatore District are conducted regularly. The Rajasthani Sangh organized the following medical camps for the welfare of the people.
* Polio Camp
* Eye Camp
* Asthma Camp
* Blood Donation Camp
* Bone and Joint Health Camp
Awareness Programs
Awareness programs like,
* Diabetes Awareness Programs.
* Aids Awareness Programs
* Heart Awareness Programs.
were also lunched for the social welfare for the people. Their roles in medical services are tremendous. At an affordable cost, they invariably offer medical services to the hand to mouth existing people9.
Donations
Donations for heart surgery, kidney transplantation and other medical assistances and educational assistances to the poor and needy are offered by the Rajasthani Sangh
Drinking Water Facilities
The Rajasthani Sangh has installed borewell in Pondanur village and constructed a overhead tank at Thudiyalur for making drinking facilities to both the villages besides installed water huts at Corporation bus stand and CMC Hospital at D.B Road.
Eco friendly activity
A road side park is also maintained by the Rajasthani Sangh in the heart of the city at “Race Course” in Coimbatore. It really renders sincere service to all the people to have a good and healthy walk10.
Coimbatore Sree Mahaveer Welfare Society
Coimbatore Sree Mahaveer Welfare Society (CSMWS) is a social organization totally dedicated to service to the underprivileged people in Coimbatore.
Free Dialysis Center
Dialysis Center is a non-profit charitable organization. This Dialysis Center provides subsidized dialysis treatment to the needy members of our society. So these patients will not be deprived of treatment due to financial difficulties. Dailysis Center is committed to bring the best doctors, technicians, equipments and technical support for the Center. The entire space and machinery belongs to the Trust and they provide dialysis on a non profit basis and free dialysis with donors support11.
Train Services
Due to the sincere efforts made by Rajasthani Sangh a direct train service from Coimbatore to Jaipur was introduced by the Indian Railway with effect from 25-02-2006. The long pending representation of the Rajasthani Sangh for extensionof the train service from Jodhpur to Coimbatore has been ordered by the Government of Indian Railways on 13-02-2009. The devotion and dedication of the organization and co-ordination in their charity work is boundless and limitless.
Relief Works
When nation is paralysed with national clamities and crises, Rajasthani Sangh will come forward donating liberally to the various funds such as Sankara Eye Society, rehabilitation assistance to Sri Lankan Refugees, victims of Maharashrtra and Gujarat Earth Quake, Orissa flood and Tsunami relief and rehabilitation work etc. The Sangh has performed civil duties during serial bomb blasts. The Sangh has donated a sum of Rs12, 21,400 to Gujarat Eastern Relief fund. Relief and rehabilitation measures were undertaken by the Sangh members in Tsunami affected area at Cuddalore and relief materials were also distributed to the people affected in the catastrophe and earned the love and affection of the affected people12.
Rajasthani Mela
The Rajasthani Sangh in association with the Government of Rajasthan has conducted a free Rajasthani Mela event in Coimbatore during the period from 13th to 16th January 2002 to highlight the cultural heritage, arts and education, costumes, handicrafts, of Rajasthani and the mela was a great success13.
Educational Fair
The Rajasthani Sangh has also conducted an educational fair from March 26th to 28th of 2012. 1500 people participated in the event which was also a great success. The Rajasthani Sangh conducted an educational fair in March 2011. More than 2500 people participated in the event which was also a great success.
Educational services
The Rajasthani Sangh is granting monthly financial assistance for the education and medical expenses to the poor and downtrodden people. Every year four students of the school are granted scholarship for their education. The strong dedication, determination and constant focus are the key essentials to meet the high objectives to achieve its goals. The success of the organization depends upon hard work, honesty, courage, tolerance, curiosity, loyalty and patriotism14.
References
1. K. Vijayan, History of Rajasthani Sangh, 2011, p-6.
2. S. Kumaran, Social Cultural Histoty, 2012, p-76.
3. Personal interview with K. Ramya, member of Rajasthani Sangh, Coimbatore, dated 03/06/2014.
4. Lalith matha, Darpan, Monthly Magazine 2012, volume .17.
5. K. Vijayan, Op.cit., p.26.
6. Lalithmatha, Darpan, Vol.16, Rajasthani Sangh, April, 2013, p.16
7. Lalithmatha, Darpan, Vol. 11, Monthly Magazine April-2014, p. 65
8. Lalithmatha, Darpan, Vol. 19, Monthly Magazine May-2014, p. 73
9. Personal interview with P.Saker, Doctor of Public Dispensary in Rajasthani Sangh, Coimbatore,dated 13/10/2014.
10. Personal interview with J.Anitha, Doctor of Public Dispensary in Rajasthani Sangh, Coimbatore, dated 22/10/2014.
11. Peronsal interview with S. Kumar, Coimbatore Sree Mahaveer Welfare Society, p.3.
12. Daily Thanthi, Coimbatore, January 2, 2009, p.5
13. Daily Thanthi Coimbatore, January13, 2002. p.7
14. Daily Thanthi, Coimbatore, March 28, 2012. p.8