Universal Brotherhood Day 2009

Service to Humanity

Universal Brotherhood Day

Universal Brotherhood Day 2009

The Brethren of Lodge Fellowship No. 140 Ahmedabad celebrated the Universal Brotherhood day as always amongst the poor & needy. The function was held at a slum of Ahmedabad where the Brethren of Lodge Fellowship were present along with non masons & nearly 150 women & men from “Below Poverty Line” (BPL) families.

The proceedings started with a prayer, followed by a welcome song & dance presented by the slum children.

Thereafter, grains were distributed to the slum dwellers under the Dhanyadhan project of Lodge Fellowship.

Dhanyadhan was followed by a general medical camp organized by Lodge Fellowship for the benefit of the slum dwellers. They were examined by a panel of doctors headed by Dr. Geeta Joshi & free medicines were distributed to the patients.

The children & the slum dwellers were then given a sumptuous meal on the occasion of The Universal Brotherhood Day.

Universal brotherhood day started with a good cause which was very satisfying.........On this occasion we could pay back in a small measure to the society of which we are a part.

Apart from the above celebrations 4 brethren of Lodge Fellowship, W. Bro.Samir Desai,Wor.Bro. Madhav Kulkarni,Bro. O.P.Singh & Bro.Girish Mishra were travelling with 36 non-masons to St. Petersburg, Russia on the 24th June & celebrated The UBH Day by first informing all non-masons about the importance & relevance of UBH Day & gave them a brief account of Freemasonry. In the evening they closed the day by singing the national anthem with them.

Universal Brotherhood Day 2008

The Brethren of Lodge Fellowship No. 140 Ahmedabad celebrated the Universal Brotherhood day with a pledge to help the needy. The function was held at “ W. Bro. M. N. Subramanian Lodge Fellowship Youth Development Centre” where apart from the Brethren of Lodge Fellowship were present the gracious ladies as also Non masons & nearly 150 women & men from “Below Poverty Line” (BPL) families. The chief guest on the occasion was Ms. Asha Tekwani, Corporator & President, Women & Child Development Committee.

The proceedings started with lighting the lamp & a pledge by the brethren of Lodge Fellowship to help the needy to the best of our ability.

A medical camp was organized with Dr. Geeta Joshi & Dr. Hiren Gohel who attended to over 100 patients including pregnant ladies from BPL families. Medicines in large nos. were distributed free of cost to the patients & the pregnant ladies from BPL families were guided to get BPL certificates from the Corporator so that they could get subsidized treatment at Private Clinics during their pregnancies. This was done with the help of teachers & anganwadi staff of “Unnat” who had identified 40 pregnant ladies.

On this occasion grains were distributed by our brethren & the chief guest to a no. of poor families residing in the area that had been identified & selected by the staff of “Unnat”.

The chief guest was given a brief about Freemasonry and the various activities of Lodge Fellowship and was explained the significance of Universal Brotherhood Day. She appreciated our efforts in providing relief to the society & the needy & was very happy to see the “Youth Development Centre” set up by the brethren of Lodge Fellowship in her area which has become a nodal point for aid for the thousands residing in the area.

Universal Brotherhood Day 2007

The Brethren of Lodge Fellowship No. 140 Ahmedabad celebrated the Universal Brotherhood day on 24th June 2007 with much fanfare. The function was held at the Masonic Temple where apart from the Brethren of Lodge Fellowship were present the gracious ladies as also Non masons.

The function was held inside the temple and proceedings started with a brief introduction of our Lodge and its various activities by A.R.G.M., W.Bro. Dr. Iqbal Hakim for the benefit of the Non-Masons.

The occasion marked the onset of the new project of Lodge Fellowship in the pious memory of Late W. Bro. Subramanian. Since it was his desire to do something for the under privileged children, the brethren of Lodge Fellowship collected a sum of Rs. 1 lac from amongst them for this project which would e an going continuous project for the benefit of the under privileged children.

Mr. G. M. Hussain the Principal of F.D. Education Society who was present on the occasion was presented a cheque for starting certain special activities for the children as also meet the expenses of children who cannot afford education. F. D. education Society runs a school till the board level at Juhapura in Ahmedabad. The Principal and teachers of the school who were present on the occasion thanked the brethren of Lodge Fellowship for their noble gesture.

Col. Dr. Yashwant Joshi who runs Unnat Gram Samaj Nirman Kendra, an N.G.O., who have done tremendous work for the under privileged was then presented a cheque to start a Library in one of the slums of Ahmedabad. The Library would be built & books/magazines stocked for the children of the slums so that they develop interest in studies rather than do menial work. The library would be named in the honor of Late W. Bro. Subramanian. Col. Dr. Joshi was very impressed by the numerous projects undertaken by Lodge Fellowship & thanked the W.M. & the brethren for starting the library. He also expressed his desire to join Freemasonry & later in the Regular meeting his name was duly proposed & seconded.

Later Dhanya Dhan project was organized & grains worth Rs. 3,000/= were distributed to the poor & needy through the Sanjivini Trust.

The function ended with a high tea for the visitors who appreciated the efforts of Lodge Fellowship in various charitable activities. Literature pertaining to Freemasonry was distributed amongst the guests.

A vote of thanks was given by W. Bro. Dr. Iqbal Hakim who thanked the visitors as also the ladies and the non-masons for their presence.