A Brief History of Gorkhali Sudhar Sabha, Dehradun

- JP Thapa

Gorkhali Sudhar Sabha will be celebrating it’s 75th Sthapana Diwas /Raising day (Platinum Jubilee) from 17 April to 21st April 2013. It was raised on 17 April 1938 at Dehradun. It’s aim and objective being to help all those who remain weak/backward socially, educationally and financially. It is a non political organization. 

During Shashi Shamser J.B. Rana’s tenure as President 1969-70 main multipurpose building was built by late field marshal SHFJ MANEK SHAW, PVSM,MC. Today Gorkhali Sudhar Sabha has over twenty five thousand members spread out in forty shakhas (branches). Sabha’s executive committee comprises of a president and two vice presidents duly elected by the members, where as other members of the executive committee are nominated. It is not being financed by any other organization or Government, neither it receives any financial aid from out side, though at times individuals with generous heart did come forward and helped in getting various important constructions/rooms done up. Without their help, Sabha could not have been of what it is today. We are grateful to our honourable doners who have sponsored scholarships for those progressive children who are excelling well in studies/higher studies. They are Sh. Anil Bhandari, Lt Col J.K. Kachari, Smt Bishnu Maya Rana, Sh. Vijay Kumar Thapa, Sh. Gopal Singh Gurung, Sh. Govind Prasad Gurung, Sh. Manish Gurung, Sh. Bhagwan Singh Thapa, Sh. Raj Bahadur Gurung, Sh. Dev Prasad Gurung, Sh. Chetan Karki. Money that they have donated towards scholarship are kept in the fixed deposit, yearly interest earned out of it is then given out as scholarship amount. Sh. Gopal Gurung father of Lt Gen Shakti Gurung UYSM, VSM, SM was the first person who started it during 1998 in the name of his late wife Smt Balpa Devi. 

During last one year the Sabha has helped:-

a)Students coming from financially weaker section - 185 
b)Widow’s daughter’s marriage - 35 
c)Medical treatment/Sports - 12 
d)Daha sanskar (cremation) - 10

Besides what is mentioned above, the sabha had sent financial help during emergencies to kargil war, Gujrat Apda, Uttarkasi crisis, Tiuni Agnikand and Sunami crisis.Since there was no perennial source of income to execute it’s aim and objective hence during Lt Col (Retd) B.S. Chhettri’s president-ship (1996-2002) a double storey building was constructed to accommodate SBI branch. It’s “Bhoomi Puja” was performed by Rani Rajya Laxmi Shah (now sansad) Tehri. The Sabha remains grateful to all those who had helped in construction of bank building by donation /advancing loan. We must not forget Sh. Sunil Pant then DGM of SBI who got the SBI Branch shifted from Birpur to our location. It gives us a sumptuous amount as rent which is a great help in looking after the needy people of the society. The Sabha is running training classes of NTT, Tailoring, Embroidery, and Fabric Painting. It has sports club, a cultural team and a”Nasa Mukti Point”. In near future we plan to have a room constructed in the first floor of main building for running of computer class. Always and every time the Sabha does look forward for your blessing, good wishes and help for our poor, down trodden,widow, handicapped and needy brother, sister and children. 

The Official Website of - Gorkhali Sudhar Sabha, Dehradun