It was on Saturday 3rd. November 1973 when a few Gujarati Brahmin friends, majority of who were the first generation emmigrants of East Africa and who met regularly in the City of London after work yearned of forming a Society for Gujarati Brahmins and have a permanent abode in North West London, where the community could congregate and celebrate various events and functions. The dream was to turn this into reality on Friday 22nd. February 1974.
At this time prominent Brahmin members included Jagdishbhai Acharya, Vinoobhai Vyas, Trilok Vyas, Mukundbhai Vyas, Dineshbhai Trivedi and Late Balkrashnabhai Rawal, Late Naranbhai Rawal and Batukbhai Trivedi and others arranged a meeting at a West Finchley Scout Hall. Nearly 150 Gujarati Brahmin family members were present and a resolution was passed to form an association of Gujarati Brahmin members in London.
Many meetings were held to establish how many Gujarati Brahmin families lived in London. A telephone directory was used to find names and addresses and house to house calls were made to promote membership.
On 22nd February 1974 a meeting was held at the Kings Cross Assembly Hall, Euston where all Gujarati Brahmins families were invited. Dinner was served followed by a musical programme. The meeting was well attended by nearly 400 people. A draft constitution was formally adopted at this meeting and the first Management Committee was elected. Brahmin Society North London was born and Shree Jagdishbhai Acharya was the first elected president.
The Management Committee worked with enthusiasm and energy to recruit new members. The First Management Committee and all the subsequent Management Committee’s has successfully organised Hindu cultural programmes such as Bhajans, Balev and Holi celebrations, Janmashtami, Navratri, Havan, Diwali, Coach Trips, Cultural shows and various other activities.
It was the through the vision and hard work of the Brahmin Society North London that in 1985 the Federation of Brahmin Associations of Europe was formed with 13 affiliated Gujarati Brahmin societies across UK.
The Society has steadily continued to make progress and currently we have an active youth wing of ‘Young Brahmins’ who look after the interest of youngsters and an equally active ladies wing- ‘Abhilasha’.
BSNL fulfilled a key ambition in 1998. The Society purchased a property situated at 128 East Lane North Wembley from the Borough of Brent. This purchase was made under the presidentship of Mr. Kamlesh Rajyaguru and the building project chairman Mr. Navalshankar Vyas and also with contribution from the officer bearers of the time – Mr. Divyang Purohit, M.r Vijay Metha, Mr. Rajiv Vyas, Mr. Harish Pandya and Mr. Jayprakash Bhatt.
The property has been renovated and currently is used for yoga classes, gujarati classes, meetings and private functions. Credit must be give to all the members who have contributed getting the BSNL house in its current excellent state.
There is also a private nursery for young children on site on the ground floor which operates from Monday to Friday during term times.