Sub:            Appeal for donation for a Community Centre in Ahmedabad

Dear Sir,

I have the pleasure of introducing All Gujarat Kashmiri Welfare Trust to you. It was formed in the wake of the mass exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from their Valley of Kashmir in 1989 –1990. The prime object of the Trust is to help the unfortunate displaced Kashmiri Hindus, in facing the hardships of being refugees in their own homeland.

The Trust has taken up the task in the field of education and health care. It established a library in Jammu providing textbooks as well as reference books for the students.  It gave financial assistance to needy students and for meeting medical expenses of the seriously ill people. During the early period of the exodus from Kashmir, when the people had left their homes with just the clothes they were wearing, we dispatched Saris, kurta and pyjama and other dress material to various social organizations that were active in Jammu.

With the passage of 13 years of exile in our own country, new problems and necessities have developed. Amongst them is the lack of the knowledge and practice of Kashmiri culture, literature, festivals, and religious rituals.

The Trust has undertaken the task of providing necessary infrastructure for a cultural cum religious Centre. It has purchased a 500 sq. plot of land in Sterling City, Bopal, Ahmedabad and intends building a community hall on the ground floor, rooms for library, music Centre, and two residential rooms. These will be used to accommodate visitors to Ahmedabad for medical, educational or other purposes.

The proposed Community Centre can host meetings of the Kashmiri Hindus, organize religious functions, teach the Kashmiri language, have discussions on social, economic, literature and music. It will give an opportunity to the Kashmiri community to revive and maintain their identity and culture. It will act as a meeting place for the senior Kashmiri people who find themselves in an environment totally different from where they lived.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs.30, 00,000=00 that is being raised entirely through donations.

We appeal to you for your kind assistance and donation in building the Community Centre.

The donations can be sent to our Savings Account No.01100050011 with State Bank of India, St. Xavier’s High School Road, AHMEDABAD 380 014

With warm regards,

T.K. Kachru

General Secretary

15.03.2005

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