Our History

Agarwal community is famous and well known for its entrepreneurship. They do not hesitate to go any where in the world for their livelihood. They have migrated to far of places from their birth place and have carried with them the rich culture and traditions of their community. ie. hard work, integrity, helping and risk taking nature. In the process of settling at a new place they have not only established their contacts with the local Agarwal community members who were already living there but have also mixed up with the local people of other communities. Slowly and steadily they contributed their might not only for the benefits of the local public but also for those outsiders who needed help during their short stay. For the benefits of the society they constructed dharamshalas, schools, colleges, temples, hospitals and other charitable institutions at the places where they started living.

In Chennai (Madras) too some of Agarwal families arrived from Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and other North Indian States and settled mainly in Sowcarpet area where other Marwari families like Maheshwari and Jain were living. Some of the Agarwal families are settled for more than hundred years. As it was in their nature, they had been meeting each other and used to exchange greetings on the occasions of Deepavali and Holi.

For the first time in 1946, Agarwal community celebrated Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti and continued to celebrate the same. During one of the celebrations in the year 1949 at the gardens of Shri Moolchandji Gupta under the chairmanship of Shri C L Agarwal, the assembled members decided to carry out the activities of the community in an organized manner and they decided to form a Sabha under the name and style of “ SHREE AGARWAL SABHA”.

Accordingly under the chairmanship of Shri Mahadevlalji Dalmia, a meeting of like minded persons was convened and rules and regulations of Sabha were framed. Since there was no permanent place/office for Sabha, some of the members suggested to have its own office or building from where they can run the activities in more organized way.

With the dedicated efforts by Shri Mahadevlalji Dalmia, Shri Brij Mohanji Chowdhary, Shri Mangilalji Pitti, Shri Hari Gopalji Kejariwal, Shri Brijlalji Chowdhari, Shri Sita Ramji Palsani and Shri Chhagan Lalji Goyal in the year 1951, the present building of Shree Agarwal Sabha, Audiappa Naicken Street, Madras was purchased for a total amount of Rs.80,000/- from Seth Shri Ramji Hyderabadwale and for this noble cause of purchasing the building, Shri Bal Krishanji Goenka donated a very handsome amount of Rs.45,000/- and the balance amount were contributed by other philanthropists members.

The first AGM of the Sabha was held on 7-6-1952 under the chairmanship of Shri Mahadevlalji Dalmia and it was unanimously decided to name the building after the mother of Shri Bal Krishanji Goenka that is Smt.Purani Devi Goenka Agarwal Bhavan and the Bhavan was registered in July 1952.

The 2nd AGM of the Sabha was held on 20-10-1952 in which 72 members were present and following persons were unanimously nominated as office bearers and committee members:-

It was unanimously decided to fix Life Membership as Rs.101/- and Ordinary Membership as Rs.6/-

For the purpose of more clarity a Trust known as Smt Purani Devi Goenka Agarwal Bhavan Trust was formed on 20.7.1953 with sole object to cater to the needs of Shree Agarwal Sabha. The following Trustees were nominated to the Trust Board.

Shree Agarwal Sabha Bhavan was inaugurated by the then Governor of Tamil Nadu Shri ShriPrakashji in 1953 on the occasion of Deepawali. This day will be remembered as a Red Letter day in the history of Shree Agarwal Sabha.

The above Trust was registered in 1954.

In 1956, by the sincere efforts of Shri Hari Gopalji Kejariwal and Shri Vishwanathji Kedia a Hindi Library and a Reading room with good number of Hindi Books and periodicals was inaugurated by Shri Puran Malji Boobana, Director, Edward Textile Ltd. to cater to the needs of Hindi speaking population of the area.

A sub committee was formed with Shri Brijlalji Chowdhary, Shri. Hari Gopalji Kejariwal and Shri Vishwanathji Kedia as members to frame the rules for proper utilization of guest rooms, utensils and library books and periodicals. It was also unanimously decided to let these facilities free of charges to the members of the society without any discrimination.

On the suggestion of some of the committee members that a separate youth wing must be started and after a unanimous decision on 17.12.1963 Shree Agarwal Navyuvak Sangh was started and was permitted to use the first floor of the Bhavan for the purpose of indoor sports activities.

With the growth of the utility of the Bhavan a need was felt to construct a hall for which Shri Gowrishankarji Goenka had contributed Rs.17000/- in his mothers name and under the able guidance of Shri Sita Ramji Palsani the hall was built.

Under the efficient and able guidance of many dedicated persons like Late Sri Jainarayanji Kejriwal, Late Sri Mongilalji Kejriwal, Late. Sri. Moolchand Chandji Gupta, Late Sri Ugresenji Goyal, Late Shri Hari Gopalji Kejariwal, Late Sri Srikishanji Nevatia, Late Sri Srinivasji Choudhary, Late Shri Brijlalji Chowdhary, Late Shri Sita Ramji Palsani, Late Shri Mohanlalji Saraf, Late Sri. Arjunlalji Agarwal, Late Sri. R.D. Bansalji, Late. Sri. Suresh Chandji Gupta, Shri Balakrishnaji Goenka, Shri.Vishwanathji Kedia, , Shri Madan Lalji Goyal and others like Shri Kesar Devji Chudiwala, Shri Ramautarji Agarwal, Shri Prahalad Raiji Saraogi, Shri H.D.Gupta, Shri Ramnivas Chowdhary, Shri Basudeoji Jalan, Shri B.L.Goel, Shri Vithal Das Agarwal, Shri Kesar Devji Kandoi, Shri Sita Ramji Khetan, Shri Roop Chandji Gotewala, Shri Ramesh Gupt Neerad, Shri Bhagwan Das Mangal. Shree Agarwal Sabha started expanding its cultural, educational and recreational, religious and social activities by organizing different related events of interest in which many dignitaries participated. The following are some the important events and functions which are worth mentioning.

Silver Jubilee Function of Shree Agarwal Sabha was organized in a very grand manner by the sincere and dedicated efforts of Shri Sita Ramji Khetan, Shri. Ramesh Gupt Neerad, Shri Ram Niwas Chowdhary, Shri Lakshmi Kant Saras and others on 30th and 31st March 1974 at Shri Rama Kalyan Mandapam. On this occasion of silver jubilee function a Kavi Sammelan was very successfully organized on 1st and 2nd April 1974 at Music Academy. Shri Bal Krishanji Goenka and Shri Vishwanathji Kedia who were President and General Secretary of the Sabha and other Executive Members appointed Shri Ram Nathji Goenka as the Chairman of Silver Jubilee Function with Shri Shrikrishanji Nevatia and Shri Hari Gopalji Kejariwal as Secretaries.

Shri Mohanlalji Sukhadia who was then the Governor of Karnataka State was the Chief Guest to inaugurate Silver Jubilee function on 30th March 1974. He was highly impressed with the activities of Shri Agarwal Sabha which he referred in his inaugural speech. On this occasion many literate dignitaries of Chennai like Dr Inder Raj Baid, Shri Lakshmi Kant Saras, Shri Ramesh Gupt Neerad, Shri Ram Niwas Chowdhary and Smt Shireen Bharati were honoured by the Governor Shri Mohanlalji Sukhadia.

On 31st March 1974, other than sports activities and games, debates were also organized which were chaired by the renowned writer Shri Vishnu Prabhakarji and Shri Sanwar Malji Todi from Bombay.

Shri K.K.Shah, the Governor of Tamil Nadu was the Chief Guest and inaugurated Kavi Sammelan on 1st April 1974 in which the renowned poet of the country like Shri Saraswti Kumar Deepak ( coordinator ), Shri Santoshanand, Shri Bal Kavi Bairagee, Shri Surendra Sharma, Shri Shanti Suman, Shri Vithal Bhai Patel, Shri Nirbhaya Hatharasi, Shri Shail Chaturvedi and Shri Manik Varma participated. On this occasion a souvenir without a single advertisement was published.

On the occasion of Silver Jubilee Function a very important decision was taken to start a mobile Medical Van to cater to the need of slum area people & to start a Hospital. For this purpose, a separate Trust was formed under the name of Agarwal Relief Trust and a bungalow with about 12 grounds of land at EVK Samapath Road, Vepery was purchased for Rs.2.50 lakhs. The functioning of the medical van was found uncomfortable and it was then decided to drop the hospital project and start a school in the premises by name of “Agarwal Vidyalaya” and for this purpose the adjoining land was also acquired. Bhoomi Pooja for the school was performed by Shri Kesar Devji Chudiwala on 26.8.1979. Agarwal Vidyalaya was started on 7.7.1980. The name of Agarwal Relief Trust was also changed to Agarwal Relief and Educational Trust under which Agarwal Vidyalaya is functioning and about 1700 students are studying at present. Agarwal Vidyalaya has the distinction of achieving cent percent result from its inception. And now an Arts and Science college is also functioning under Agarwal Relief and Educational Trust at Madhavaram by name JHA Agrasen College where post graduations courses are being offered.

An Executive Committee meeting of All India Agarwal Sammelan was held on 14th and 15th January 1976 at Shri Rama Kalyan Mandapam.

On 4th and 5th February 1978, South India Agrawal Sammelan was organized at Shri Rama Kalyan Mandapam in which Central Law Minister, Shri Santhi Bhushanji, Shri Rameshwar Dasji General Secretary of All India Agarwal Sammelan, Shri Tilak Rajji, Dr. Swarajmaniji and other members of the Executive Members of All India Agarwal Sammelan along with Agarwal brothers from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala participated. On this occasion, Agarwal social wokers like Shri Sita Ramji Khetan, Shri Vishwanathji Kedia, Shri Ram Niwas Chowdhary and Shri Vithal Das Agarwal were honoured by Shri Shanti Bhushanji.

On the suggestion by Smt Geeta Chowdhary, Agarwal Mahila Mandal was formed on 15.12.1979 and it was decided to take two members from Mahila Mandal to the Executive Committee of Shree Agarwal Sabha.Maharaja Shri Agrasen Jayanti was celebrated in a very grand manner on 8.10.1991 in which His Highness the Governor of Tamil Nadu Shri Bhisma Narayan Singh was the Chief Guest and Tamil Nadu Food Minister Shri Raja Ramji and Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax Shri Vinay Gupta also graced the function by their presence. The present dignitaries were highly impressed and praised the activities of Shree Agarwal Sabha. On the occasion, philanthropist Shri Jai Gopalji Gadodia was specially honoured along with the Past Presidents of Shree Agarwal Sabha by the Chief Guest.

In the Executive Committee Meeting held on 24.10.1991 it was decided to form a Marriage Endowment Fund and for this noble cause 10 persons were to be requested to donate Rs.11,000/- each and it was decided that the interest accrued on this Fund will be utilized at the time of the childrens’ marriage of the weaker section of the society.

It was also decided to honour the best Principal of CBSC School every year with a Rolling Sheild. Shri Bhagwan Das Mangal donated Rs.15,000/- and a Shield for the purpose and Narmada Devi Nathu Lal Mangal Edowmnt Fund was created.

When any Association grows, there are chances of misunderstanding and difference of opinions develop among members. Shree Agarwal Sabha faced the same in 1992 and certain members who were not satisfied with the working style of elected office bearers and executive members of the Sabha decided to disassociate with the Sabha and formed a new Agarwal Society in 1995.

Mean while in 1994, Shri Ravi Prakashji Khemka donated about 4.5 grounds of land at Anna nagar to Shree Agarwal Sabha for the purpose to augment the activities of the Sabha by constructing a new Bhavan. Shree Agarwal Sabha too purchased adjoining one ground of land. Bhoomi Pooja was performed on 14th April 2006 and finally a beautiful Bhavan in the name of “Shri Ram Dayal Kalawati Khemka Agarwal Sabha Bhavan” was constructed in 2008 with the contributions of the Members of the society. On the Inaugural function of this Bhavan, Shrimad Bhagawat Katha was organized under the auspicious presence of Pujya Shri Gaurav Kishanji Maharaj of Vrindavan. The Bhavan is used extensively for various social, religious events etc. The following members have dedicated their valuable time to make SRKK Bhavan a land mark of the area.

At present, Shri Agarwal Sabha has taken up a very prestigious project of constructing an Old Age Home. For this purpose Shri Hitesh Kanodia donated .89 acre of land at Nandiabakkam near Minjur and Shri Agarwal Sabha purchased adjoining 2 grounds of land. Shri Rajendra Gupta has agreed to donate major construction cost and the block will be named after Shri Rajendra Gupta. Now this Old Age Home is known as Shri Ramavatar Kala Kanodia Agarwal Sabha Old Age Home. The construction of this Old Age Home is in full swing. Members of the society are enthusiastically contributing towards it which is expected to be completed by 2011.

Shri Ashok Kedia and Dr. Gaurav Singhal with their hard work and full devotion made this Website and e-Directory of Shree Agarwal Sabha, this website contains all details about its members and history of Shree Agarwal Sabha. Website and e-Directory was launched on 1st January 2011 by the Legendary Shri Bal Krishan Ji Goenka.

On this auspicious occasion of releasing the brief history of Shree Agarwal Sabha, we cannot forget the contribution of some members who had shouldered the responsibility to carry forward the objects of Shree Agarwal Sabha like Late Shri Ramautar Ji Kanodia , Late Shri Lekhram Ji Gupta, Shri Basudeo Ji Jalan, Shri Narayan Prasad Ji Gupta, Shri Shyam Sundar Ji Goenka, Shri Mahavir Prasad Ji Gupta, Shri Manohar Lal Ji Bagadia, Shri Govind Prasad Ji Agarwal, Shri Mangal Chand Ji Khemka, Shri Satyanarayan Ji Petty, Shri Tara Chand Ji Kedia and some of the members actively shouldering their responsibility at present are Shri Inder Raj Bansal, Shri Praveen Garg, Shri Vijay Goyal, Shri Ramautar Rungta, Shri Ramautar Goel, Shri Mohan Lal Saraf, Shri Kishan Lal Modi, Shri Subhash Gupta, Shri Shriram Goel, Shri Kishan Lal Goyal (Hissaria), Shri Ashok Kedia, Shri Hitesh Kanodia, Shri Rajendra Gupta, Shri Sarwan Todi, Shri Vinod Goel, Shri Raja Ram More, Smt Sunita Singhal, Shri Ravindra Gupta, Shri Sanjeev Agarwal, Dr. Gaurav Singhal and many others. Of course the role of Shri Ravi Prakashji Khemka can not be forgotten for his timely help and guidance which he without any hesitation rendered to Shri Agarwal Sabha from time to time.

Shree Agarwal Sabha has always been a land mark for Agarwal Community not only for Chennaites but also for those Agarwal brothers who have been living in other States specially in Northern India. Shree Agarwal Sabha has a distinction to host legendary persons like Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee, Shri Deendayal Upadhay, Shri Hanuman Prasadji Poddar-Editor of Kalyan and many more for their visit and stay at Shree Agarwal Sabha Bhavan.