Toronto Cultural program on Mother's Day.

June, 2011

Sanatan Mandir Cultural Centre (SMCC) is well known for its religious and cultural activities in Toronto. The centre is used extensively by Gujarati Community of Toronto. For the seniors it has become a focal place to meet and interact with each other.

SMCC promotes religious, cultural and humanitarian work.

On May 8th 2011, Mothers day SMCC held a major event to honor the visit of Dr. Vikrambhai Patel, chairman of Muni Seva Ashram.

Anuben Thakkar started the Ashram more than 30 years ago to educate the children of the local farmers who were not attending any educational facility when the parents were at the farms. To feed these children she started to grow its vegetables, to meet the dairy needs she started the dairy farm, and to meet the medical needs she visited the Dean of the Baroda medical College requesting him to encourage students to “donate” one day a month. Vikrambhai started working with Anuben 30 years ago and has become ashram’s chairman when Anuben passed away in 2002. From this humble beginning, the Ashram has blossomed into an oasis that serves thousands of needy people across Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The Ashram currently operates:

  • Nursery Schools (Bal Mandir) -16 daycare centers benefits approx.500 children

  • Primary and Secondary Residential Schools – aprox. 750 students

  • School for Nursing – approx 100 students

  • Residence for Mentally retarded girls. Approx. 100 women

  • Residence for Orphans (Parivar Mandir) approx 55 children

  • Residence for Seniors – approx 120 seniors who call Ashram their home.

  • Akshar Purshottam Arogya Mandir - General Hospital

  • Kailash Cancer Hospital with nuclear medicine.

  • Ashram operates : Dairy farm, organic farm, plants to meet its gas and electricity needs

The two hospitals provide full range of inpatient & outpatient services to meet needs of the rural community. Kailash Cancer Hospital was initiated in 2002 to meet the needs of local cancer patients. The nearest facility was in Mumbai or Ahemadabad. In absence of diagnostic centre, most of the patients came to know about the disease in an advance stage, when cure was not possible. With a staff of 20 fulltime doctors and nearly 30 visiting doctors, the two hospitals treat 60,000 outpatients and over 2,200 new cancer patients each year. In spite of being a not-for-profit organization, the Ashram has always employed the best available appropriate technologies to provide the best possible care.

One remarkable aspect of ashram is that it serves the society in complete harmony with nature. It is a complete utopia of climate solutions.

A 13kW solar PV power plant has been providing electricity to the high-school children since early ‘90s. A biomass gasifier powers the irrigation pumps for the Ashram’s organic farms; solar cookers feed hundreds of students at the primary and high schools; distributed solar PV on individual dorm buildings feed lights and fans; a biogas project provides cooking gas for on-site staff quarters; and rain water harvesting replenishes the ground water. The school is for local village children from all over Gujarat and is a place where they can learn the values of preserving the planet. This is a truly inspiring integrated energy solution for off-grid locations. Every available renewable resource is harnessed and utilized.

The celebrations at the SMCC were attended by around 450 people. It commenced with mothers receiving a rose in celebration of Mother’s Day. There were speeches by SMCC president Pankaj Shah followed by Chair of the trustees Kokiben Patel welcoming Dr. Vikrambhai Patel and congratulating the work of the Ashram. Gitu Parikh, who has been supporting the Ashram for over fifteen years, introduced Vikrambhai. Vikrambhai briefly outlined the services of the Ashram and invited everybody to visit the Ashram when they visit India.

The highlight of the celebrations was the wonderful musical program organized by Jatin Gujarati where local artist from Toronto - Kalpak Gandhi and Darshak Vishnav and others entertained the audience with wonderful bhajans and songs. The audience wanted more hence they continued the program even after the wonderful gujarti dinner (malpuda and patra etc).

The audience was very appreciative of the work being carried out by the Ashram, and healthy amount was raised in a short appeal.

It was a wonderful Mothers Day in Toronto.

Gitu Parikh