The Secretary’s Message
It’s been almost 4 months since I wrote my first message in my role as Secretary. Whilst lockdown is being eased out, events are still not possible owing to strict Covid 19 regulations and social distancing.
Even so, the Trustees of BSNL have been tireless in keeping the members busy and entertained. Who knew that a little known programme called Zoom would change the way we meet and interact? As your Trustees of BSNL, we are all very proud to have kept the events rolling with attendance ever increasing. Mens Club, E Group, Open Mic and Yoga are just a few of the events that our Samaj has maintained throughout and a huge appreciation is given to all who made it possible. So titanic have been the efforts that Trustees of other many other Samajs have openly admired and praised the BSNL.
Once we are allowed to hold events at the hall and other venues, there will be no stopping us! Personally, I’m looking forward to the Sweet & Spice, an event where all you single souls get to meet your prospective partner. I’ve had many emails about this, but I ask that you be patient! Cupid’s Arrows will recommence firing as soon as Bo Jo gives us the go-ahead. Speaking of Leaders, does anybody else favour the odds of Rishi kaka becoming our next PM? Answers in the next Zoom meeting please.
I’m also still waiting for prospective Young Brahmins to raise their hands and carry the torch. Come on guys and girls; you’ve had long enough to pluck up some courage! Let’s get this going…
Finally, as we edge closer day by day towards Navratri and the Havan, we understand that our members are getting curious. We are liaising closely with senior management at both the JFS school and the SKLP Hall. At present, large gatherings are not allowed but we hope that restrictions will be lifted as the year progresses. Again, we urge all members to do their part in controlling this virus and protecting our NHS.
Take care all and stay safe.
Ameet Kumar Sharma
Secretary, BSNL
secretary@bsnl.org.uk
BSNL Ladies Group
Since the lockdown BSNL Ladies club has been running via Virtual sessions every Friday from 11.30am to 1.00pm
There is so much entertainment provided by our very enthusiastic team of Ladies. Please feel free to join as we wouldn’t want you to miss out.In the past few weeks, we hosted the following activities:
• Quizzes on Famous Indian Women, general knowledge quizzes, mathematical quizzes, Bollywood quiz, religious quizzes on Jyotirlings.
• Very engaging discussions on certain topics like – Plastic vs Glass ,Telephone vs Mobile, Housewife vs Working woman ,Boarding school vs Day school (which is better),Social media –good or bad ,Traditional vs Modern Education ,Cash money vs credit card ,Love marriage vs arranged marriage , car vs bicycle.
• Why do we believe in arranged marriages, why pregnant women cannot wash her hair for seven months? Does one believe in colouring grey hair.
We also had holistic beauty therapy talks, especially on the skin hosted by Bhartiben Vyas followed by questions /answers session, Vad Savitri vrat talk, and not to forget Antakshari singing plus bhajans.
Our lovely ladies do enjoy Bollywood singing so we try to include some of that each week.
May I urge you to join and do not hesitate to contact Vandana Joshi —- 07944913208 for any information.
During this difficult time that we are all facing, we have temporarily closed BSNL Yoga activities at the hall in line with the other activities at BSNL.
However, to remain focused in a challenging time we are offering online yoga sessions every Tuesday from 8.30am to 9.30am. This session is only for BSNL Members and links should not be shared with anyone else.
Contact Vandanaben Joshi on 07944 913 208 to join the group.
BSNL Open Mic
Open mic is karaoke singing with like-minded members. We meet at the BSNL Hall on the last Friday of each month & members enjoy singing, some come to listen and enjoy the lively atmosphere.
Due to the government restrictions we stopped holding events at the hall and have moved them online.
Members join on via a zoom link and this has been well received by the attendees.
The Open Mic members also chant Omkar daily at 9pm virtually. This helps us to deal with the current global crisis and pray that everyone stays safe. If you would like to take part, contact either of the people below.
If any member wishes to join the Open Mic group, please contact Anandbhai Pancholi on 07984 439 307 Pathik Vyas on 07590 818 653
BSNL Elders Club
Although we are closed, we run the virtual club every Tuesday via our WhatsApp group chat. So far, we have played Antakshari, sung Mataji garbas etc. Also, in the pipeline, we have jokes, chintan and various other themes. Members are happy as they are still able to enjoy the (virtual) club and still look forward to Tuesdays. We have received quite a lot of positive feedback from the members.
We recently hosted a sponsored event with Marina which was very well received. If you would like to join, please get in touch.
Kind regards
Anjana Thaker – 07949 830 273
Trustee in Charge
BSNL E-CLUB
BSNL Men’s Social Club
If we can take any positives from this pandemic, it is that we are more tolerant and helpful towards each other, especially with respect to our older members who have become more resourceful and tech savvy. We have seen up to 15 members joining our daily online meetings (held between 12- 1:00pm every weekday) using a variety of devices.
We have a lot of fun and laughs during these daily 1 hour Monday to Friday sessions. We run over video technology and any BSNL member wishing to take part can contact Gunvantbhai or Vinodbhai Nathwani. Chandrashekharbhai has been providing guidance and training to members, on technology matters and also on how to use Twitter and Instagram.
Besides this, through his own personal experience, Chandrashekharbhai has started a helpline for our members who require administrative support and guidance on processes to bring back friends and families stuck in India. He has volunteered to provide assistance to Indians in UK who needed help to return back to India during this pandemic.
Other members have been helping the homeless food kitchen run from within our premises during this difficult time.
We as members, volunteers and trustees are here for the benefits of our samaj during the good and the difficult times and pray that this temporary phase will pass very quickly.
Stay Safe and follow the Government guidance.
Contact Gunvantbhai Dave on 07877 565 747 for more information on how to join or for more details
Gunvantbhai Dave
Trustee i n-charge
Bereavement Service
Due to the current climate and government guidance, a lot of our members who have faced bereavements are having to do virtual Prathna’s.
We, as BSNL, are offering a virtual Prathana Sabha to all our members who have had bereavements in the family.
We will provide a bhajan mandli who can sing bhajans via our Zoom platform for an hour.
Family members would be allocated a code to be used for the prathna Sabha which can be shared with up to 100 other families.
Please contact Anjanaben (07949 830 273) or Parul (07940 584 321).
We are also looking to start up a support service for affected members. Details will be shared as soon as they have been finalised by the Board of Trustees. If you think you can help or would like to volunteer with this, please do get in touch.
BSNL Young Brahmins
Hey…it’s quiz time!!
Put your knowledge to the test and join us for a socially distanced, online quiz on the 18th July at 8:00pm.
Call me, Shivani Joshi on 07913411317 or Simran Mehta at 07952 976688 to register and more information!
BSNL Tesco Grant Activities
Currently all Tesco Grant activities are suspended. We will recommence once the restrictions are lifted.
Please contact Vandana Joshi on 07944 913 208 to register your interest in any of these activities.
Yoga Classes
Teacher: Jyoti Joshi & Team
Start Date: 1 July 2020
Day & Time: Wednesday – Saturday – 8.30am to 9.30am
Classes are held by various experienced instructors from Patanjali. Sessions are varied to show various elements of Yoga and various poses and postures.
Shri Hemantbhai conducted asanas on how to improve the flexibility of muscles, Ninaben carried out a chair yoga session.
So please do join us to learn new yoga skill every day.
Dance Classes
Teacher: Binal Trivedy
Start Date: 4 July 2020
Day: Saturday every week
Time: 12.30pm – 1.30pm
Binalben Trivedi has started new dance classes showing and teaching beautiful dance moves. She has commenced teaching a very new garbo from the famous movie Hellaro, —Vagyo re dhol.
Join to learn this one.
Music Classes
Teacher: Narendra Jethwa
Instrument: Harmonium
Start Date: 6 July 2020
Day & Time: Every Monday 3-4pm
Narendrabhai Jethwa, our Harmonium Teacher, teaches the skill of enhancing your music passion that you never had a
chance to learn until now.
You don’t have to purchase an expensive instrument. Any small keyboard will also do the job initially for learning purpose.
Come and talk to us. Currently there are 25 people who have joined up.
So, do not hesitate. Come and learn Sargam , alankars, short bandishes, Bhajans, short dhoons. You can do it.
Please register your interest
Vandana Joshi 07944 913 208 or Parul Jani 07940 584 321
BSNL Bollirobics
These are held virtually via Zoom.
Every Wednesday 2pm – 2.30pm
Contact
Nilima Raval: 07719325173
Anjana Thaker: 07949 830273
BSNL Classical Sangeet classes
These are currently suspended as advised by the government.
We will recommence once the restrictions are lifted.
If you are interested in joining future classes, please contact
Anjana Thaker – 07949 830 273
BSNL Appeal for the Homeless
Help us to help homeless people living on the streets of London by helping to make sandwiches for them.
Our volunteers make between 150-200 sandwiches each week for the homeless at our hall and the demand is increasing. We need more volunteers so please come forward and help us to help in this wonderful seva.
You don’t need to commit every week (though this would be useful) but can do so on an ad-hoc basis.
Venue: BSNL Hall
Day: Saturday
Time: 9.30am to about 11.30am
If you are interested in coming and helping, please contact
Anjana Thaker – 07949 830 273
Harshaben Trivedi – 07956 586 926
You will be added onto the WhatsApp group, which will keep you updated.
BSNL Hall Hire
The BSNL Hall is available for hire at very competitive rates for BSNL members.
As we have two halls, upstairs and downstairs, each with their own set of toilets, there is total flexibility on what you can hire. In addition to this, there are food warming facilities available in both halls.
Contact the BSNL Hall Hire team on 07483 904 979 to discuss your needs.
Remember the Hall was acquired for use for the Samaj and its long supporting members.
BSNL Story time for the youngsters
We have all been coming to terms with our new normal, attempting to find new and interesting ways to pass the time. Perhaps the ones who have missed out the most have been the children – school closures and isolation will leave a mark that we cannot even begin to measure.
BSNL are looking to start with short stories for under fives over the next month.
Stories will be read by experienced primary school teachers and hope to start engaging these young minds.
Please visit our website and follow the links to hear the first one.
Happy reading!
If you would like to record a story for the under-fives,
Please get in touch with Trupti Joshi, 07947 897 147 to find out what you need to do.
BSNL Kids Zone
A similar online quiz is also being planned for the younger members of the Samaj.
This will be on 2nd Aug 2020 at 11.00am
Children up to the age of 13 are welcome to join.
The session will be hosted by DBS checked individuals and a BSNL trustee will be present throughout the session.
To get more details on this and to register, contact.
Nutan Purohit 07963 796 748
Forthcoming Events for 2020…
Due to the current conditions as imposed by the UK government, no events have been planned for the foreseeable future.
However, there are several ideas, as mentioned by our Secretary, which will be organised once the restrictions are lifted.
Ideas currently being discussed include:
– Virtual Garden Party
– Virtual Jamnashtmi celebrations
As lockdown continues to ease, we will start holding functions in small groups.
Your safety is our outmost concern.
Membership News
As we are coming to the end of the current membership period, this is a reminder to all annual renewal members that these will become due on 1st September 2020. We are renewing memberships right now which will then expire in September 2021, so no need to wait until the end of August to apply.
Last year, we experimented with online renewals and that worked very well. Almost 60% of our renewals were done online, saving the Samaj time and money.
We will be updating the website soon for the forthcoming year and this will be ready from the middle of August 2020.
Forms can be requested, if needed, from the membership trustee.
Strict Rules for all zoom classes
Please take note that if you wish to participate in any Zoom class hosted by BSNL, your camera must be turned on and the host must be able to identify you. We have had incidents of users failing to identify themselves, despite repeated requests.
If you do not follow the host’s instructions, your will be removed from the Zoom meeting. This is for the safety and security of everyone involved and we trust you appreciate our position. The Zoom meetings are for all to enjoy, so please abide by the rules.