Adivasi Welfare

Very early in life, as an admirer of Gandhiji, Swami Vivekananda, Shri K J Somaiya's motto was to remove the sufferings of all beings afflicted by pain. He realized that decades of planning have left vast number of our land untouched, uncared for and fruits of development have not reached the traditionally neglected tribals. In order to bring our neglected brethren living in the forests and hilly regions in the mainstream of our national life, Girivanvasi Pragati Mandal was formed in 1974 at Dahanu, Maharashtra.

The GVPM aimed at :

• providing medical relief through annual Eye-cum-Medical camps
• establishing a training centre for adivasis.

The GVPM held 7 eye-cum-medical camps in different states rendering assistance to over 1.85 lac people. Eminent surgeons and physicians like Dr. B M Purandare, Dr. J S Mahashabde, Dr S M Merchant, Dr. Mukund Parikh and teams of Doctors and Nurses used to give their services. Eminent personalities and leaders in the areas including the Late Prime Minister Shri. Charan Singh inaugurated these camps. Shri K. J. Somaiya himself along with family members worked day and night in these camps.

As a long term and permanent part of its activities, GVPM has established an Experimental Farm and a Training Centre at Nareshwadi near Dahanu in Thane district, Maharashtra. The object of this Centre is to impart education - traditional and vocational in Agriculture, Horticulture and Dairy. A free-boarding School and a 40-bed hospital has been put up to serve the local population and the Adivasis residing in the nearby villages.

Thus, the Somaiya Trust has over the years worked with grit and dedication to fully realize the dreams and social aspirations of its founder.

Drought Relief at Kutch

In 1987-88 Kutch and Gujarat suffered one of the worst droughts of this century. There was a total destruction of cattle and human lives. Shortage of water and food were felt.

Shri K. J. Somaiya immediately opened over 100 Cattle Camps in various Talukas of Kutch, dug about 64 borewells in different villages so that there could be water for both the rural folk as well as for the cattle and set up an effective machinery for movement of fodder by rail wagons and rakes from Maharashtra to scarcity areas in Gujarat and Kutch.

The entire Drought Relief operation was indeed a marvel in human effort. It won appreciation from visiting dignitaries including Union Minister of External Affairs and the Late Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi during their visits to the drought affected areas.

Conclusion

Shri K. J. Somaiya thus lived a full life - as envisaged by our Shastras in the service of the Society and the fellowmen. He was a humanist par excellence. His heart throbbed for the people in need. He not only believed but also acted on the belief that every person owes a debt to society and to the Almighty. Each one, in his humble manner, should endeavour his best to redeem the debt.

In the evening of his life, Shri K. J. Somaiya would say to himself :

"this life has nothing more exciting to offer than to do one's duty towards one's fellowmen. It is not given to many to realise this goal as well as he has been enabled to do by the grace of the Almighty."

He often used to quote the Chinese proverb :

"when you drink from the well, remember the man who dug the well and pay him silent tribute."

Following is his favourite shloka from Mahabharat :

Neither do I long for kingdom,
Nor for heaven,
Nor do I desire to be free from rebirth,
I only wish to remove the sufferings of all beings afflicted by pain.

May the great soul live in our hearts and guide us in every walk of life.

The Three Generations of Somaiya.
Dr. Shantilal Somaiya,
Shri K.J. Somaiya and
Shri Samir Somaiya
at Samirwadi factory in April 1994.