GARHWAL HITESHINI SABHA’S CENTENARY CELEBRATION WAS A GRAND SUCCESS. JUBIN NAUTIYAL, NARENDRA SINGH NEGI, RESHMA WERE THE MAIN ATTRACTIONS OF THE EVENT

The inhabitants of Uttarakhand living in Delhi and NCR attended the GARHWAL HITESHINI SABHA centenary celebrations in large numbers on 25 th November at TALKATORA Stadium in New Delhi and enjoyed the musical, socio cultural event to the fullest with full vigour and vitality. Good number of men, women, children including journalists, representatives of several socio political organisations, intellectuals, artists, theatre actors and people across spectrum participated in this significant event including those working at grass roots in Uttarakhand. GARHWAL HITESHINI SABHA established in 1923 in Quetta and Lahore in Pakistan during pre independence days completed its 100 years in the year 1923.

The Garhwal Bhawan was established in Delhi’s Panchquin road after the then PCS officer of British origin had allotted a piece of land to the then office bearers of GHS in Delhi. Since ICS Mr. Philips Mason had been the commissioner of GARHWAL then he has, special soft corner for Garhwalis and was therefore instrumental in allotting the land for building the GARHWAL Bhawan in 1956.

Since then it gradually acquired a modern shape after successive teams of the GHS energised their efforts tooth and nail. Organised by the present dedicated team of the biggest representative organisation GHS under the leadership of Ajay Bisht president and general secretary Mangal Singh Negi, the Centenary celebration was a grand success with Bollywood celebrity and renowned singer Jubin Nautiyal, legendary folk singer, eminent lyricist and literateur of Uttarakhand Narendra Singh Negi, popular melodious singer of Jaunsaar Baabar, GARHWAL, Reshma Shah, Nightingale of Uttarakhand Kalpana Chauhan, renowned singer Gajendra Rana, melodious singer Rekha Uniyal etc being the special show of attraction keeping the audience glued to their seats.

The magnificent souvenir with articles of eminent writers and journalists including a detailed account of Garhwal HITESHINI SABHA covering a challenging journey of last 100 years from Quetta, Lahore to New Delhi was also released by journalist, author SUNIL NEGI, Professor and writer Dr. Harendra Aswal, Professor Surya Prakash Semwal, Professor Kedar Singh Negi, President of GARHWAL HITESHINI SABHA and, Mangal Singh Negi on this occasion.

The real force behind GARHWAL Heroes who had been the three time Delhi Soccer Champions viz Senior Coach H. S. Patwal , Rattan Rawat, Anil Negi, BHAGWAN Singh Negi, sports secretary of GHS and SUNIL Negi president of Uttarakhand Journalists Forum have been felicitated with a big trophy.

The chairman of Supreme Advertising and reputed entrepreneur Mr. G. S. Rawat who helps hundreds of widows and handicapped of Uttarakhand with pensions and other financial aid every years was also felicitated with a shawl and trophy by Uttarakhand’s Rajya, SABHA MP Naresh Bansal.

Prior to Naresh Bansal, MP Rajya SABHA from Uttarakhand, the former Maharashtra Governor Andrew ex CM, Uttarakhand Bhagat Singh Koshiyari addressed the enthusiastic audience and left the venue in a hurry due to his other preoccupations.

The first advocate on record at Supreme Court in 1969 having a chequered 60 years legal career as an advocate Mr. Parihar was presented a trophy, shawl and citation by the Rajya SABHA MP Naresh Bansal.

On this occasion, the film Meru Gaon Garhwal received the Best Film Award along with a trophy and a prize money of Rs 51,000.

The Supreme Court Justice and former chief justice of Assam High Court Sudhanshu Dhulia was the chief guest who enjoyed the cultural event but left after two hours. His mother was felicitated with a shawl and a momento.

Many important personalities working diligently and with immense dedication in various fields in Uttarakhand were also felicitated on this ocassion.

A photo exhibition highlighting the activities of Garhwal HITESHINI SABHA with some invaluable pictures of veteran leaders etc who had been to GARHWAL Bhawan on various occasions during the last several decades were also pasted in the exhibition including pictures of multiple events.

Outside the TALKATORA indoor stadium good number of food stalls of Uttarakhand’s delicacies were also established and the people enjoyed the delicacies to the hilt.

The chief minister of Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami who was the chief guest could make it as he was already tied up with the Silkyara tunnel issue in Uttarkashi where maximum aggressive efforts are being made to safely evacuate the trapped 41 labourers due to the collapse of a part of the Uttarkashi tunnel.

The chief minister’s live message was telecasted from Dehradun, Uttarakhand in the evening in which he send his good wishes to the organisers, all artists and the audience. All the past presidents and general secretaries have also been felicitated for their contribution to GHS and a documentary exhibited highlighting their achievements. The Director General of Indian Space Association Lt General Anil Bhatt who was earlier the military secretary of Indian Army, PVSM, UYSM, SM, VSM was also the special guest of honour and felicitated amid cheers by the president and secretary of Garhwal HITESHINI SABHA with an appreciation trophy and shawl for his outstanding services to the nation and Uttarakhand. Kudos.