IT was late 1982 AD, it was Shukla paksh, it was Magha month. It was Basanth Panchami when Mr BS Arora Mr Jugal Kishore Madaan, RP Malhotra, SP Bhasin Kapil Dev Chadda ,Ram pal Aggarwal , Ashok Misra and a group of likeminded Punjabis’ confabulated why Punjabi Diaspora In Karnataka is not organised.
These young men designed “PUNJABI SABHA” as a structured “Association-of-person”. It is a structured platform for integration of and celebration with Punjabi Diaspora.
In the geese of Punjabi Sabha a forum was presented to Punjabi Diaspora to celebrate Punjabi festivals to live Punjabi culture and preach our culture to next gen. Punjabi Sabha offered clinical help to fellow brother/s and local citizen/s , office bearers are available on demand to attend Medical needs, funeral/s, family disputes and to help destitute old and displaced.
| # | Executive Committee Members Sri/Mr | Designation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BS.ARORA (FOUNDER) | PRESIDENT |
| 2 | JK.MADAAN (FOUNDER) | VICE PRESIDENT |
| 3 | SSP KHURRANA (FOUNDER) | CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT |
| 4 | RAMPAL MALHOTRA | GENERAL SECRETARY |
| 5 | KAPIL DEV CHADDA | TREASURER |
| 6 | RAM PRAKASH AGGARWAL (FOUNDER) | JOINT SECRETARY |
| 7 | ASHOK MISRA (FOUNDER) | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER |
| 8 | GHANSHYAM DAS KUNDRA | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER |
| 9 | SURAJ PRAKASH BHASIN | EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER |
Sri B.S.ARORA one of the Founders & 1st President laid a road map to ignite, motivate and integrate Punjabis’ and Punjabi Sabha, to render focused community service. B.S Arora ji expired on 20.06.2007.
Sri Om Prakash Dhawan known as O.P.Dhawan was the 2nd President. To meet shortage of funds, the magnanimous office bearers pooled funds to organise cultural programmes to reach out to Punjabi Diaspora of Bangalore. He preached “PUNJABI SABHA” FIRST. OP.Dhawan ji expired on.09.02.2000.
Sri Viswanath Bajaj fondly called as “Bajaj sahib” was the 3rd President. Born to lead from the front. He believed in “delegating and only delegating”. He assembled focused achievers for office bearers like: Jugal Kishore Madaan, Suraj Prakash Bhasin, Ghanshyam kundra, Kapil Dev Chadda, R.P Malhotra, R.P.Aggarwal , R.L.Bhatia, & PP.Mehta.
He along with office bearers was prime mover of the first in south India “Punjabi directory” containing data of 1400 Punjabi Families. www.punjabibalebale.com was launched to show case achievements of Sabha. These were launched in the august presence of a high profile politician.
His support to “one Sabha for all Punjabi”s did not find acceptance with parallel associations for various reasons,
To take the sabha to next level he believed in the capability of next gen. He transferred his “Baton” to Next Generation in 2007. Bajaj sahib expired on 08.04.2018
Anup Bajaj became the 4th president from 2007-11 and 8th President from 2018-20. He is a chip of the old block, & like his father Anup Bajaj preached “Delegation and more Delegation”. “By choice” he is the most popular president of Punjabi Sabha .He is the only president to be in office for three terms. “One Sabha for All Punjabis” was vigorously pursued by him. Lack of common objectives and desire for individual dominance did not allow it to happen, nevertheless, the future looks good.
Anup Bajaj and Janak Madaan were the “sutradhar’s” to the bye law for Punjabi Sabha. Anup Bajaj approved the suggestion to limit to two terms of two years each for all office bearer of Punjabi Sabha. To set a precedent, he vacated his president ship after two terms. He was requested to take up office again in 2018 by popular demand.
To bind Punjabi Sabha and members a quarterly newsletter “PUNJABI TIMES” was re-launched, after a gap of nearly 4 years. 16 quarterly editions were published during Anup’s Presidency .He inaugurated “Mata ki Chowki” curetted by Ravi Ahuja and brought to life by a team of “Achiever ladies”. Among all the Sabha’s in south India “Mata di Chowki” by Punjabi sabha, Bangalore has become the most popular project.
Anup Bajaj retired in the year 2011 and again in 2020.
Sri SSP Khurrana was the 5th President from 2011-13. He was in all the committees. He had already been the joint secretary, organizing secretary, vice president, and had worked with earlier 4 Presidents.
As Team Leader with office bearers help published “PUNJABI DIRECTORY”, “The “PUNJABI TIMES” and WWW.PUNJABIBALEBALE.COM. He drafted the main objects of Punjabi Sabha in 1982 and scripted a comprehensive Bye Law for Punjabi Sabha in 2007. Unfortunately he aborted his presidency in 2012.
Sri. Vipin Aggarwal, Son of a founder member Ram Pal Aggarwal, was made the 6th President from 2012-14. Vipin Aggarwal with his office bearers planned and designed the present PUNJBI SABHA LOGO. He aborted his presidency in 2013.
Sri. Sanjay Bhasin, Son of Sri. Suraj Prakash Bhasin, among the first office bearers of PUNJABI SABHA was the 7th President from 2013-16. He was the youngest president, till date.
As joint secretary, organising secretary, vice president, Sanjay Bhasin gained administrative experience. He is soft spoken, good organiser, and a good Team Leader. He can lead and take his team along. Sanjay Bhasin popularised “Mata Di Chowki” to achieve highest foot fall and highest eye balls of about 1700 and collected highest donation offering. He put in place matrimonial services for benefits of Punjabis, irrespective of being a PUNJABI SABHA member or not.
Son of Jugal Kishore Madaan one of Punjabi Sabha founders, is the 8th President a ‘Dynamic youth” “very good Team leader” Janak Raj Madaan, popularly called“JANNAK” oozes ideas to fly Punjabi Sabha to greater heights.
In a first in south India Janak had proposed “Mobile Punjabi Sabha App” to be launched shortly? He and Anup Bajaj organised on ZOOM a virtual Bye-annual Elections 2020-22 of Punjabi Sabha.
Mata De Chowki-21was presented on Zoom with Participation from India and abroad. Janak could assemble a century of members to play on zoom a virtual tombola. Janak as team leader with office bearers organised musical programmes in different years by inviting Gurudas Maan, kapil sharma,Raju Srivastav, Pankaj Udaas, Mikka Singh. He arranged a drama “Taj MahalKaAuction”. Punjabi Films were screened for members and families
Punjabi Sabha as we see today is not solely due to the dedication and hard work of 8 presidents. It’s a team work of senior and next gen office bearers and members, who have worked as a team to carry forward the vision of our founders.
During the short journey from 1982 to 2021 advisors, senior/s and next gen office bearers, life members, members believe “Punjabi Sabha first”. In our quest to integrate Punjabi Diaspora today, were-dedicate ourselves to “Punjabi Sabha first” and “one Sabha for All Punjabis”
“Team” Punjabi Sabha
