Atlanta Mandal History

By Mohanlal Virjibhai Fatania

In the year 1968, the Madhwani Sugar Factory employed Mohan as an Engineer in Kakira, Uganda. He had studied at the University of Poona, India and earned his Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was one of the rare, few crop of young, college educated, Kumbhars of the era. His will power and ambition was going to take him across the seas and further than any other Kumbhar had dared dreamed.

On December 1969, he got married to Pushpa, daughter of Mohanlal Virjibhai Fatania, of Thompson's Falls, Kenya. Soon after this, he received his Visa from the American Consulate and arrived in the U.S.A in 1970. Pushpa had to stay back in Kenya with her parents to await her Visa. Mohan worked in New Jersey and Chicago, soon Pushpa joined him and they bought a house in Chicago and had two sons Sarjoo and Sanjay.

In the Christmas of the year 1975, Arun, Pushpa's younger brother, came for a visit.

On August 1977, Arun, Pushpa's younger brother got married and Mohan, Pushpa and family came to U.K for the wedding. Mohanlal invited Dayabhai Gokalbhai Bharadwa (Pushpa's first cousin) for a visit to the U.S.A.

In 1979, Mohanlal received a great job offer from a company based in Atlanta, Georgia and the family settled down in a beautiful new house in Atlanta, Georgia. Then, in the summer of 1979, Mohanlal, Maniben and their daughter Shila, (Pushpa's parent's and younger sister) arrived in the America for a visit, they toured the U.S.A and Canada. They really liked the country and the lifestyle in the U.S.A, the weather and the greenery reminded Mohanlal of Kenya, and on their return to U.K, they encouraged Arun and Daya to visit the States. Meanwhile, Pushpa had started the process to sponsor her parents and brother and sisters for visas to the United States of America.

On December 1979, both Arun and Daya came for a visit to the U.S.A and by mutual agreement, Mohan and Daya, decided to form a business partnership. They bought Bodywork and a Paint Shop in Atlanta. Shortly, after this Daya and his family moved to Atlanta and started working on the business. He invited Karubhai Nathabhai Koria, he soon settled down in Atlanta with his family and then he invited Nanjibhai Khimjibhai Shingadia, upon encouragement from Mohanlal Pankhania, Nanjibhai and his family settled down in Atlanta. Soon Aswinbhai Nathabhai Koria, Mohanlal Virjibhai and Maniben Fatania, sponsored by his daughter Pushapa (her brother and sisters were still awaiting their visas), Devjibhai Gokalbhai Bharadwa (Daya's older brother) and Ashok Parbatbhai Taank settled in Atlanta with their families. Later , Dayabhai Bharadwa and his family moved to Orlando, Florida.

These families used to get together every three months in somebody's house. Soon, it was suggested that there was a need to establish Shree Sorathia Prajapati Mandal chapter in Atlanta. The Founding Members were as follows:
Mohanlal Virjibhai Fatania
Mohanbhai Naranbhai Pankhania
Karubhai Nathabhai Koria
Nanjibhai Khimjibhai Shingadia
Devjibhai Gokalbhai Bharadwa

Mohanlal Pankhania was the first elected President of the newly founded SSPGM Organization. Subsequent to that, he has held various positions in the executive committee, i.e. Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Advisor, and three times President to name a few.

The Atlanta Mandal was established on February 8th 1984, and the community decided that now as there was revenue, they could hire a hall for functions instead of gathering at members' houses. Since then, all the festivals such as Navratri, Diwali are celebrated in a Hall. We also celebrate Satam, Father's Day, Mother's Day and miscellaneous picnics. Last year, there was the ' Boat Party' it was a blast! This year we had a fabulous Valentine's party.

Since these humble beginnings, the Atlanta chapter has over 20 family members and has progressed to elect the first female SSPGM, President, Shilaben Dhiru Pankhania, and her committee has striven for higher standards and a structure. This committee published the most needed, first edition of the U.S.A/ Canada Directory, and Shila and Dhiru Zina Pankhania, have instigated the first worldwide web-site of this nature ever attempted.

It must be noted that Mohanbhai Naranbhai Pankhania was the first community member to settle in Atlanta, U.S.A, due to all his good efforts and good will, we all in Atlanta had this wonderful opportunity to settle in this wonderful city and country.

Mohanlal and Pushpa Pankhania