Don’t forget us Mahers here in the West please!?
Our Heritage (2)
The Maher community has a rich heritage originating from the Saurashttra region of Kathiawar peninsula, Gujarat, India. Here in the West (UK) much work has been done and is on going to facilitate social and cultural needs for the younger generation in respect of the environment they thrive in. The community has strong connections with its counterparts in India; maintaining traditional values and customs.
The Leicester Maher Community Association (LMCA)
The Leicester Maher Community Association (LMCA) is a registered charity working closely with its community members in the United Kingdom, USA, Europe, and Asia to promote religious, cultural, social, and educational matters within the Maher community. Please find below a list of the existing committee members:
|
Position |
Full Name |
Responsibilities |
| Trustees | Nathubhai Avka Gorania (Managing) | Oversee the LMCA charitable status |
| Dr Bhimabhai Arjan Odedra | ||
| Mr Jivabhai Lakha Odedra | ||
| Mr Jivabhai Khima Ranavaya | ||
| President | Mr Lakhansibhai Modhwadia | Lead the LMCA committee |
| Vice | Mr Rajshibhai Modhwadia | |
| Secretary | Mr Nagajanbhai Bapodra | Oversee the running of the LMCA / daily running of the centre / meetings etc |
| Vice | Mr Dilipbhai Karavadra | |
| Treasurer | Mr Sudhirbhai Odedra | Oversee the accounts of the LMCA |
| Vice | Mr Dilipbhai Keshwala | |
| Members | Mr Maheshbhai Odedra | Working committee members who are regular attendees at committee meetings and have an input in the decision making process. These committee members also lead innovation projects affecting the wider community e.g. Pratapbhai, Hiteshbhai, Dilipbhai Keshwala are leading the ‘dandia’ groups. |
| Mr Pratapbhai Lakha Odedra | ||
| Mr Pratapbhai K Odedra | ||
| Mr Hiteshbhai Godhania | ||
| Mr Lakhubhai Godhania | ||
| Mr Rambhai Godhania | ||
| Mr Mandanbhai Modhwadia | ||
| Voluntary Contribution | Mr Jethabhai Karavadra | Committee members who contribute mostly during festivities e.g. Navratri, Sharad Purnima, and Diwali. |
| Mr Sureshjibhai Odedra | ||
| Mr Pratapbhai Jethwa | ||
| Mr Rambhai Tukadia | ||
| Mr Rajubhai Gorania | ||
| Mr Hamirbhai Odedra | ||
| Mr Laxmanbhai V Odedra | ||
| Directors Input | Mr Rajeshbhai Odedra (Managing) | Directors of the Maher LTD Company/Maher Holdings which owns the Maher Centre building. They oversee the lease of the centre to LMCA. |
| Mr Nagajanbhai Bapodra – Leicester | ||
| Mr Nathabhai Odedra – Leicester | ||
| Mr Bhurabhai Modhwadia – Leicester | ||
| Mr Keshubhai Maher – Birmingham | ||
| Mr Nageshbhai Odedra – Birmingham | ||
| Mahila Mandal | Mrs Tamuben Sida (Chair) | Group of ladies who make immense contribution to the community by organising events and activities promoting cultural/social values |
| Mrs Bhanuben Sida | ||
| Mrs Deviben Khunti | ||
| Mrs Pushpaben Odedra |
Paid Employees/Contractors: Vivekbhai Khistariya (Premises Manager), Rambhai Modhwadia (Cleaning/Setup)
Bhikubhai Kotecha of ‘Sterling Accountants’ is LMCA accountant.
Mahers in other cities and towns also have very similar committee set up under the ‘U.K. Maher Samaj’ (body/committee) umbrella who’s current president is Mr Keshubhai Maher (Odedra).
The Association is further responsible for the day to day running and management of the Maher Centre. The centre; first of its kind in UK for our Community was opened in the Aug 1996, with a grand ceremony that attracted thousands of people from all parts of the world. To date, the Centre has hosted countless number of social, cultural, charitable, religious, and commercial events for not only the Maher community, but further for the wider community.
Regeneration Project
Our community centre has now completed the first phase of the major refurbishment since it was opened. The regenerated building now has state of the art facilities for weddings, parties, exhibitions and all major events, including social and cultural events. In the second phase, a separate Sports Hall will extend the facilities offered to the wider community. The Maher Centre is no doubt first choice in comparison to its competitors within the market. The competitive rates, facilities, large car park, and well rated customer service has attracted clients from all over the country and continues to do so.
With pressures of time and the environment we thrive in; transformation certainly plays a vital role in preserving our rich heritage and culture. Materialistic factors such as the community centre itself have and will continue being a major part of our Samaj here in the West. Months of dedication from several community members have today shaped our community centre into a state of the art building that will meet various conference and banqueting needs, whilst continuing to be a cultural hub for our Samaj. We now need to ensure various strategies are in place in order to make the centre sustainable for future generations.
Please call our centre or log onto www.mahercentre.com for information and enquiries relating to new booking procedures and check availability. The booking officer can work with you to customise and tailor your event to your needs.
In what form does leadership exist in our community?
Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task“. Definitions inclusive of nature of leadership have also emerged. Alan Keith of Genentech states that, “Leadership is ultimately about creating a way for people to contribute to making something extraordinary happen.” According to Ken “SKC” Ogbonnia, “effective leadership is the ability to successfully integrate and maximize available resources within the internal and external environment for the attainment of organizational or societal goals.”
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadership
On Saturday the 2nd of July 2011, an opening event was hosted by the Leicester Maher Community Association to showcase the refurbished building. In my 6 years experience of volunteering with our community, I was positively amazed at the level of leadership shown by various individuals in many different ways before and during the opening event itself. The builders came and did their job, but it was the Maher youths who dedicated months of time and hard work to ensure the premises was in top condition ready for our elders to come and appreciate the investment. From gardening, to scrubbing the floor, to sorting old clutter, to finishing off paint jobs, to cleaning the community centre all contributed to having the place ready for the opening.
Who are the leaders?
The opening event itself created a platform for many dedicated individuals who worked behind the scenes to make what some of our elders called a dream and an ambition. The board members of the regeneration project were Dr Bhimabhai Odedra, Keshubhai Odedra, and Bhojabhai Karavadra. The project itself was managed by Rajeshbhai Odedra and Ajaybhai Modhwadia, whilst Nagajanbhai Bapodra coordinated the project. Months of dedication through ‘Tun, Mun, Dhun’ certainly ensured an efficient delivery of the project meeting the needs to today’s youth.
Who are the leaders?
It was certainly pleasing to hear various individuals speak during the opening with some interesting key messages encouraging young people to preserve and build on our community spirit. A historical overview was delivered by Jiwabhai Odedra (Trustee of LMCA) who touched base with the migration of Mahers from India and Africa to their present settlement here in the West. Dr Virambhai Godhania (President of Maher Supreme Council) congratulated the team overseeing the project and reflected on the importance of education. Lakhansibhai Modhwadia (President of LMCA) delivered a humble speech about the hard works and efforts put in the prese
rvation of our culture here in the West by various elders in the last 40 years and paid homage to some of them whom are sadly no longer with us. Parbatbhai Sundavadra (Loughborough Mahers) was honoured for his teachings and gave his blessings for all future projects. Bhojabhai Karavadra (Treasurer to UK Maher Samaj) spoke respectively about the efforts towards the project. Pratapbhai Odedra (Executive Member of LMCA) pointed out various strategies that were needed to promote our culture and traditions symbolic to our culture such as ‘Dandia Raas.’
Who are the leaders?
Throughout this section, you have read the question asking who the leaders are. In my observation, a natural distribution of leadership exists within our community. Yes a ‘Management Structure’ is important within any society, group, organisation, establishment etc but leadership can take shape in many different forms. Each and every individual has the potential to lead and show themselves to be at their best; whether this is through contribution within the community they thrive in or encouraging others to do their best. During the renovation of our community centre, there were several members of our community who demonstrated leadership and this made the project a success story.
Communication
I would like to convey congratulations and a say a huge thank you to the efforts of Maher Supreme Council towards our community magazine ‘Sukalp,’ which we have been enjoying for several years. I urge our UK counterparts to ensure their contact details are updated at the centre to ensure you receive a quarterly edition of the ‘Sukalp’. Please note, you are not having to pay for this magazine as the Leicester Maher Community Association makes the payments for every single UK copy and has been doing so since its first inroduction. On this note, I sincerely look forward to collating interesting articles on behalf of UK – ready for forthcoming editions. If you wish to include details of a success story within our community, please do send it across to info@mahercentre.com
Cultural Celebrations
Whilst the summer is appreciated by residents in the UK; autumn is just as favourable bringing with it celebratory events. This year, LMCA have organised various renowned artists to perform at the annual festivities. Details of it are as follows:
|
Event |
Date |
Type |
|
|
1 |
Mixed Dandia-Raas |
Saturday 24th September |
Open to all (Ticketed) |
|
2 |
Navratri |
Wednesday 28th September – Thursday 6th September |
Mahers only (Free) |
|
3 |
Sharad Purnima |
Saturday 15th October |
Open to all (Ticketed) |
|
4 |
Lok Dairo |
Saturday 22nd October 2011 |
Open to all (Ticketed) |
|
5 |
Diwali Gathering |
Saturday 29th October |
Mahers only (Free) |
A celebration is only a celebration when there are people to celebrate it with. Without your support and encouragement, praise and criticism, it becomes difficult for volunteers to organise future events and/or have the motivation. We would like to sincerely request our community members to show your support by attending the above detailed events. On this note, the Diwali Gathering is open to all Mahers here and abroad to celebrate the re-launch of our centre and its facilities. It will also be an opportunity for individual committees to organise and deliver performances by young people within their local associations and catchment area. Further details will be available on our community website www.maheronline.org and on our centre website www.mahercentre.com
Membership
Without the financial support of many, our community centre in Leicester would not have been a reality. This is a request to all community brothers and sisters who have not yet purchased the available membership to become shareholders. The membership will bring with it benefits of booking our centre at discounted rates and community events being free to attend. On this subject, please note membership could possibly become restricted in the future. Please find details of the process of becoming a member:
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£300 per person to become a shareholder; 10 shares at £30 each
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£150 for pensioners
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Shares can be bought by any Mahers over the age of 18
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Anyone interested is requested to provide 2 forms of identification (passport and utility bill)
Should you wish to find out more information, please contact our community centre through post, telephone, or email; leaving your full name and contact details.
Final Thought
Should you wish to enquire about anything in relation to the Maher Centre and/or any of the events being hosted at the centre, please do so using the following contact methods:
|
Address |
Maher Centre 15 Ravensbridge Drive Leicester LE4 0BZ |
|
Telephone |
0044 0116 242 5360 |
|
Website |
|
|
|
info@mahercentre.com |
As a reminder, Jayubhai Odedra has made immense contribution in updating the UK Maher Contact Directory, which will be published in due course. This will be available to purchase from local associations as well as the Maher Centre. There is a limited number in print and it is advised for you to place your orders as soon as.
On this note, please do visit our community website www.maheronline.org for latest information about our community events and activities. Should you wish to write an article for either the website or ‘Sukalp’ please do send it across to info@mahercentre.com .We look forward to your company over the next few celebratory months.
Thank you
Dilip Rambhai Karavadra
On behalf of the Leicester Maher Community Association