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PalanpurOnline.com is an initiative of Vidyamandir Trust, Palanpur. It attempts to re-establish and nurture the link with the land of our forefathers. Connect.

This community website seeks to foster and strengthen the bonds between the members of the Palanpuri Jain community around the world. The website provides a virtual platform for sharing information and thoughts, learning more about the community’s culture and heritage, and staying abreast with news of the community and its hometown. Additionally, and importantly, it plays the role of an intra-comm

unity networking resource, hosting information and contact details of Palanpuri Jain families across the world. In the interests of privacy and security, the Directory section can only be accessed by Palanpur Online members, who can use the username and password that is assigned to them. Share. Unite. That's what the platform hopes to do! Note:
Palanpur Online members are those who or whose forefathers were residing in the town of Palanpur and/or possessed immovable property in the town at the time of India's Independence i.e. on August 15 1947 and practice Jainism. Apart from listing details of the Members, Palanpur Online also lists details of Jains of Banaskantha district. They are those who or whose forefathers were residing in and/or possessed immovable property at the time of India's Independence i.e. on August 15 1947 in the geographical area now covered by Banaskantha district and practice Jainism.

16/04/2026

Vidyamandir has added an exciting new feature to its campus with the inauguration of an AI & Robotics Lab at the Shukla Centre for Future Studies. The 2,800 sq. ft. space is designed to provide a real-world, technology-driven learning environment for students and represents far more than a technical upgrade.

It makes a clear statement that VMT believes AI literacy is no longer an elective skill but a fundamental necessity for all.

The lab took shape thanks to a generous donation from leading techpreneur Mihirbhai Shukla, himself an alumnus of Vidyamandir.

A special launch event took place on March 28, 2026 in the presence of the Board of Trustees, members of local committees, and the core team of Vidyamandir Trust.

Speaking at the inauguration, Russellbhai Mehta, Chairman, Vidyamandir Trust, perfectly captured this vision, stating: "This is not about making every child an expert in technology. It is about giving every child the confidence to engage with the future.”

With a strong focus on learning by doing, the lab is a future-focused initiative. It aims to nurture creativity, innovation, and technical skills and prepare students for tomorrow’s careers across AI, Robotics, Engineering, and emerging technologies.

The new facility offers an immersive, ‘learning by doing’ environment- complete with a dedicated Maker’s Space, 3D printing stations, and high-performance AI workstations. Whether through engaging in the Robo Soccer Arena or mastering rapid prototyping, students are taught to solve real-world problems using the very tools that are currently reshaping global industries.

By providing early exposure to everything from Arduino programming to complex hardware-software integration, Vidyamandir is bridging the gap between local education and global standards.

Click here to view short video of launch event - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4ObP1owSYGU

Click here for more details :- https://palanpuronline.com/Shows_Content.aspx?ContentID=1547&From=Events&PageFrom=NewsEvents

15/04/2026

Dr. Jatin Kothari Launches Book on his Life - ‘Kidney. Spine. Cricket. Tag Along’

Well-known nephrologist Dr Jatin Kothari launched a book based on the story of his life - ‘Kidney. Spine. Cricket. Tag Along’ – at an event held at The Pavilion, Mumbai on March 21, 2026. The book reframes the doctor’s journey and narrates the story of his life and work.

The launch evening brought together patients, doctors, artists, and collaborators, who have been part of Dr Kothari’s life and was designed as a cultural experience. It featured Bhajan Samrat Padmashri Shri Anup Jalotaji, a musical collaboration between Shantanu Moitra and Swanand Kirkire and a series of conversations and reflections anchored by Vikram Sathye.

Book launched by Dr Jatin Kothari and his family, Geetika Saigal, who co-authored the book, Padmashri Anup Jalota, Shantanu & Manju Moitra and renowned diamantaires Dilip Lakhi (Lakhi group) and Hitesh Mehta (H Dipak & Co).

The title reflects Dr Kothair’s philosophy – that meaningful journeys are built by staying present in people’s lives, rather than stepping away after the crisis passes. It also captures the four defining forces in his life: profession (Kidney), personal adversity (Spine), passion (Cricket), and relationships (Tag Along).

Dr. Jatin Kothari has performed over 2,000+ kidney transplants and built Apex Kidney Care, one of India’s largest dialysis networks. His work has contributed to system-level change in kidney care, including accessibility, technician training, and patient support ecosystems.

The book has been co-authored by Geetika Saigal, founder of Beeja House, a platform that has mentored 100+ bestselling authors. It represents a new category of doctor-led narrative storytelling — where clinical expertise meets personal voice.

Click here to view a video of the event - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UwuaZExAfWU?feature=share

Click here for more details :- https://palanpuronline.com/Shows_Content.aspx?ContentID=1543&From=Events&PageFrom=NewsEvents

14/04/2026

Palanpur Samaj Kendra - Women’s Forum’s Annual Celebration

When black meets white, magic happens. Just like the keys of a piano, together they create something truly unforgettable.

The Black & White theme was beautifully brought to life by Palanpur Samaj Kendra – Women’s Forum as they celebrated their Annual Day on 20th March 2026 at the CK Nayudu Hall, CCI.

Popular hosts, Sangeen Mehta and Nikita Mehta, lit up the afternoon with the 13th edition of their innovative and entertaining games.
PSK Women’s Forum members looked absolutely stunning, dressed in elegant black & white, adding glamour and charm to the event.

The thoughtfully curated activities and group games perfectly reflected the theme — challenging creativity, wit, speed, and most importantly, encouraging fun and friendly competition.

From the beautiful décor to the thrilling games, exciting prizes, and delicious food — every detail came together to make the day truly memorable.
The Women’s Forum looks forward to many more such joyful celebrations together!

Click here to view more photos - https://photos.app.goo.gl/XhUbA2auJTnsCGBk7

Click here for more details :- https://palanpuronline.com/Shows_Content.aspx?ContentID=1549&From=Events&PageFrom=NewsEvents

13/04/2026

Sahil D Mehta Honored with Special Mention at the Pushcart Prize 2025

Boston-based writer Sahil Mehta, son of Dilip Sobhagmal Mehta and Sonal Dilip Mehta, has received a special mention at the Pushcart Prize 2025 for his short story “The Silent World of Jordi Soto,” published in Tint magazine’s Fall 2024 issue.

Having lived in Boston for over 30 years, Sahil previously served as an editor in an education company before dedicating himself to writing, as well as giving him time for other interests like painting and learning Spanish. With over nine published short stories and one novel, Sahil’s work reflects depth, emotion, and an evolving literary voice that continues to earn recognition in international literary circles.

Born in Navsari, Sahil grew up in Surat, and lived in Bombay for a few years before moving to the US at age 18. He went to a college, Bentley, that specializes in business studies and graduated with a liberal arts degree. He initially worked at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt which is one of the big three educational publishers in the US and later worked part time in hospitality for many years, but decided to do it full time in 2022.

His first story, Mangoes in Exile Taste Bitter was nominated for the PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers. Another story, published in South 85 Journal was second runner-up for the 2023 Julia Peterkin Flash Fiction Award.

Sahil’s debut novel, Love, Loss, and Lost Causes, was published by Rebel Satori Press in September 2025.

Click here for more details :- https://palanpuronline.com/Shows_Content.aspx?ContentID=1546&From=Events&PageFrom=NewsEvents

11/04/2026

Smt. Chandraben Piyushbhai Kothari (Jewelex) Institute of Nursing Relocates to New Malana Campus

The Smt. Chandraben Piyushbhai Kothari (Jewelex) Institute of Nursing, which had been set up in 2023, has shifted to its new, permanent premises at
the Malana Campus of the Vidyamandir Centre for Skill Development (VCSD).

This marks an important step forward for the Vidyamandir Trust, which during its 75th anniversary celebrations in 2023, had laid the foundation stone for the new Skill Centre that would help bridge the gap between the education received in schools and colleges and the specific manpower needs of industry.

In the three years since then, the nursing college, which operated temporarily from within the existing Vidyamandir campus in Palanpur has seen two batches of students complete the two-year long ANM diploma course (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) successfully. The third batch was enrolled last year.

Anish Kothari, managing trustee of the new institute emphasized that the shift to a large specially designed and fully equipped campus will enable the college to operate at a much larger scale than before.

He reveals that the first batch had 43 successful students, and the second had 38, but the aim is to be able to enroll 60 students in each subsequent batch from now, as well as to offer the longer GNM course (General Nursing & Midwifery).

The successful candidates will be able to feed into the medical infrastructure in and around Palanpur which has now become an important medical hub for North Gujarat and even the adjacent border districts of Rajasthan.

Over the last three years, the nursing institute has developed a network of contacts across Banaskantha and neighbouring districts, to recruit students. The focus is on enrolling young women mainly from villages in remote areas with predominantly Scheduled Tribe populations.

Alongside the nursing training, the students are also given training in soft skills – particularly to achieve minimum levels of skill in communicating in English and using a computer. The aim is to ensure that the girls are equipped to carry out tasks related to the ANM responsibilities.

The college aims to introduce short term courses of varied durations – from 3 months to a year – for other health services related skills – e.g. X Ray and Lab technicians, Home visits for Sample collection, etc.

“The last three years has been a learning process for us, and we are now better equipped to move up the ladder and be recognized for delivering premium training. The aim is to ensure that the institute matches the standards set by other VMT institutes. We want graduates from the institute to be of high quality so that we are adding value to the hospital / medical infrastructure that has come up in Palanpur. The overall quality of medical care in the city should rise and Palanpur should consolidate its position as a medical hub,” Kothari adds.

The skill centre has also begun preliminary discussions regarding other non-medical skill training courses that can be launched at the Malana campus as it develops.

Click here for more details :- https://palanpuronline.com/Shows_Content.aspx?ContentID=1548&From=Events&PageFrom=NewsEvents

10/04/2026

Palanpuri Samaj, Surat, Teams Secure Top Two Positions at City Antakshari Competition

The top two positions at the Vipul Kalrav Antakshari Season 6 competition in Surat were secured by two teams from the Palanpuri Samaj, Surat this year. Brother-sister duo Niren Sanjeev Mehta and Shreya Sanjeev Mehta secured the 1st Prize, while mother-son pair Swapna Rajesh Shah and Parag Rajesh Shah secured the 2nd Prize.

The winners were selected from among 200+ participating teams through a series of rounds held from March 5 onwards, with 16 qualifying for the grand final round that took place at Rang Bhavan, Nanpura, Surat on March 15, 2026. The competition was organized by Maanav Kalrav and Rotary Club of Surat.

The winning teams received their trophies and awards from the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industry President Nikhil K. Madrasi, who was the Chief Guest and Asst. Municipal Commissioner of Surat, Gayatri Jariwala, the Special Guest.

Click here for more details :- https://palanpuronline.com/Shows_Content.aspx?ContentID=1545&From=Events&PageFrom=NewsEvents

09/04/2026

PSK Kalakshetra Celebrates Women’s Day

PSK Kalakshetra celebrated Women’s Day with a thoughtfully curated evening event led by visionaries Smt. Sarojben Mehta and Dr. Shefali Shah, alongside their team.

The highlight of the programme, held on Monday 9th March at Garware Club, were some sparkling dance performances choreographed by Ritu Miss, where the participating students encouraged to shine.

The occasion was further enriched by the presence of esteemed guests and senior members of various PSK committees.

Click here to view video of the event - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op3B5HRVUSk

Click here to view more photos - https://photos.app.goo.gl/iKqQmpxMBDLgrZss6

Click here for more details :- https://palanpuronline.com/Shows_Content.aspx?ContentID=1544&From=Events&PageFrom=NewsEvents

08/04/2026

Saahil K Mehta Delivers Talk at TEDx Princeton 2026 on ‘The Dangers of Saying Yes’

Saahil Mehta, who describes himself as a global citizen, serial entrepreneur, coach, and passionate mountaineer and is focused on leading, and helping others to lead, a ‘zero-regret life’ recently delivered a talk at TEDx Princeton 2026.

The event, organized by the Arts Council of Princeton, was themed around Both Wave and Particle in its inaugural year. It is described as the home for ideas that resist flattening because each angle reveals a part the others miss, and brought together 18 speakers from different backgrounds.

Saahil, the son of Asha and Kumar Chimanlal Mehta, spoke on “The Dangers of Saying Yes: How People Pleasing Almost Cost Me My Life”. He highlighted three key reasons why people-pleasing can hold you back, illustrating his ideas with practical examples from his personal life.

Talking about the difference between serving others and losing yourself, he said the former should not be mistaken for kindness, because it is a form of self-abandonment -- draining health, authenticity, and wholeness.

Saahil, who has coached hundreds of founders and executives across 25 countries, is a trusted voice in global leadership and a facilitator for forums like EO and YPO, and author of a popular self-help book, Break Free. He says his mission is simple: to help leaders stress less, grow faster, and live a Zero Regret Life.

Click here to view a video of Saahil’s TEDx talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0IzxFVyEl0

Click here to know more about Saahil Mehta and his mission - https://www.saahilmehta.com/

Click here for more details :- https://palanpuronline.com/Shows_Content.aspx?ContentID=1542&From=Events&PageFrom=NewsEvents

14/03/2026

Electrifying Atmosphere at PSK Box Cricket Tournament 2026

On February 1, 2026, the atmosphere at the venue of the PSK Box Cricket Tournament 2026 was truly electrifying, with all round enthusiasm, euphoria and excitement among the players, sponsors, spectators and the organisers.

The tournament was a major success with the interest building up from January 12, 2026 onwards when an auction was held to select players for each team from among those who had enrolled. It was marked by serious bidding by team owners and sponsors, with intense competition to select the best.

Actual tournament day saw the players, all dressed in their team outfits, eager to get onto the turf. Cheered on by the families and friends, all had a great time.

There were some new finds not only in the men’s participation but even among women. The women’s finals turned into an intense battle was witnessed in the women’s finals. Finally, the new winners and runners up emerged – TKC Divas won the women team title and the runners up were Fusion Box Blasters.

The men’s final too was an amazing thriller. Defending champions Asth Eco Warriors lost against Asian Superstars.

Both matches saw new stars of cricket emerging in the Samaj.

A highlight was the smoothness with which the matches proceeded with tireless effort from the PSK Sports Committee and the continued willing support from the sponsors.

Click here to view more pictures : - https://photos.app.goo.gl/CdwJDHzmn8cV1tyL9

Click here for more details :- https://palanpuronline.com/Shows_Content.aspx?ContentID=1537&From=Events&PageFrom=NewsEvents

13/03/2026

40th Shri Mangaljibhai Zaverchandbhai Mehta Vidyavistar Vyakhyanmala Hosted at Vidyamandir

The 40th Shri Mangaljibhai Zaverchandbhai Mehta Vidyavistar Vyakhyanmala was hosted by Vidyamandir at Shri Kanubhai Mehta Sanskrutik Bhavan from 19-21 February, 2026 with a distinguished array of speakers covering a wide range of topics in their presentations. The Vyakhyanmala is popular in Palanpur and is known for its in-depth intellectual presentations and discussions.

On Day One, the Keynote Address was presented by Shri Mahendrasinh Parmar—renowned storyteller, playwright, and Head of the Gujarati Department at Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University, delved into the literary world of Saadat Hasan Manto. He highlighted how Manto’s raw stories expose deep societal truths and transcend boundaries of caste, gender, and religion. The discussions were chaired by Chairperson Dr. Saroop Dhruv, a committed socio-political poetess and playwright.

The second day saw renowned writer, journalist, and columnist Shri Ankit Desai presenting his precise and interesting thoughts on the topic 'The Bhishma Way: Crisis Management and Leadership'. He explained to the audience that true leadership is achieved not merely by authority, but through humility, righteous conduct, and fulfilling 'Aapaddharma' (the duty to stand firm instead of running away during a crisis).

Chairperson for the day, retired Joint Secretary, writer, and social thinker Shri Dankesh Oza discussed the difference between Information and Wisdom citing real-life examples from the state.

On the final day, the main presentation by Smt. Pinkyben Dalal, a distinguished author and former editor of Mumbai Samachar was on "From Guru to Netzen." Mrs. Dalal traced the evolution of the Gujarati language from the classical grammar of Hemchandracharya to the modern digital era. She noted with appreciation that the younger generation is reclaiming their heritage through digital platforms like Matrubharti and Pratilipi, but, also encouraged a return to the tactile joy of physical books.

Chairperson of the day, Shri Manubhai Choksi, a respected educationist known for his deep commitment to academic excellence, emphasized that true education must nurture inner character. Comparing Vidyamandir to a venerable banyan tree, Mr. Choksi celebrated the institution’s enduring role in providing wisdom and shelter to the community, marking a profound end to this landmark lecture series.

Click here for more details :- https://palanpuronline.com/Shows_Content.aspx?ContentID=1540&From=Events&PageFrom=NewsEvents

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