Vanthali Memon Association
Encyclopedia
The Vanthali Memon Association (VMA) is a non-profit social welfare organization which represents Memons who have a connection with Vanthali
, a small town in Kathiawar
, a former district of the state of Gujarat in India
near Mumbai
. The main purpose of the organization is to unite all the Memons who are living in Pakistan
and who migrated from Vanthali. VMA is one of the prominent welfare organizations of the Memon community, having more than 25,000 members. It has serviced the Vanthali Memon community for the last 55 years on a non-profit basis. Its valuable services, especially in the field of education, health and social services are widely acknowledged and appreciated by the Pakistan Memon Federation, World Memon Organization, and by governments.
and vicinity. After independence they migrated to Pakistan and now the majority live in Karachi
.
After migration, elders of the community such as Haji Ali Muhammad
Abdur Rehman Wakil, Haji Habib Wali Muhammad Lania, Ahmed Suleman Essani, Abdul Ghani Qasim Batavia, Haji Muhammad /Usman Darwaish, Muhammad Tayyab Tukdi, Muhammad Haroon Tayyab Monda, to promote the community’s unity and welfare and to resolve social issues
, formed an organization in 1952 named "Vanthali Memom Jamat". In 1995, it was given legal status, and according to the registration act 1860 XXI was registered in Karachi. It is known today as the Vanthali Memom Association.
Vanthali
Vanthali is a city and a municipality in Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat.-Demographics: India census, Vanthali had a population of 15,861. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Vanthali has an average literacy rate of 70%, higher than the national average of...
, a small town in Kathiawar
Kathiawar
Kathiawar or Kathiawad is a peninsula in western India, which is part of the Saurashtra region on the Arabian Sea coast of Gujarat state. It is bounded on the north by the great wetland of the Rann of Kutch, on the northwest by the Gulf of Kutch, on the west and south by the Arabian Sea, and on...
, a former district of the state of Gujarat in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
near Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. The main purpose of the organization is to unite all the Memons who are living in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and who migrated from Vanthali. VMA is one of the prominent welfare organizations of the Memon community, having more than 25,000 members. It has serviced the Vanthali Memon community for the last 55 years on a non-profit basis. Its valuable services, especially in the field of education, health and social services are widely acknowledged and appreciated by the Pakistan Memon Federation, World Memon Organization, and by governments.
History
The Vanthali Memon community includes people who, prior to participation, were the residents of villages in the state of JunagadhJunagadh
Junagadh is the headquarters of Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city is the 7th largest in Gujarat. The city is located at the foot of the Girnar hills, 355 km south west of state capital Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. The city is in western India. Literally translated,...
and vicinity. After independence they migrated to Pakistan and now the majority live in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
.
After migration, elders of the community such as Haji Ali Muhammad
Haji Ali Mohammad
Haji Ali Mohammad introduced Pakola, the first national branded soft drink to Pakistan, and founded Gul Ahmed, a major business group. His family came to be known as Pakolawala's, after the famous drink. He was also known as a major memon philanthropist at the forefront of social service who...
Abdur Rehman Wakil, Haji Habib Wali Muhammad Lania, Ahmed Suleman Essani, Abdul Ghani Qasim Batavia, Haji Muhammad /Usman Darwaish, Muhammad Tayyab Tukdi, Muhammad Haroon Tayyab Monda, to promote the community’s unity and welfare and to resolve social issues
Social issues
Social issues are controversial issues which relate to people's personal lives and interactions. Social issues are distinguished from economic issues...
, formed an organization in 1952 named "Vanthali Memom Jamat". In 1995, it was given legal status, and according to the registration act 1860 XXI was registered in Karachi. It is known today as the Vanthali Memom Association.
VMA Former Presidents
| S.NO. | NAME | YEARS |
| 01 | HAJI ABDUL AZIZ ZAIRY (LATE) | 1995 - 1997 |
| 02 | HAJI SULEMAN USMAN BHAMLA | 1997 - 1999 |
| 03 | SALEEM HAJI UMER BATAVIA | 1999 - 2001 |
| 04 | MUHAMMAD IDREES HAJI HAJI YAQOOB CHAIPIWALA (LATE) | 2001 - 2003 |
| 05 | MUHAMMAD ASHRAF ABDUL SATTAR MANJEVDIWALA | 2003 - 2005 |
| 06 | MUHAMMAD AMIN ABDUL SHAKOOW ESSANI | 2005 - 2007 |
| 07 | ABDUL WAHID ABDUL GHAFFAR DEWANI | 2007 - 2009 |
| 08 | - - - - - - | 2009 Till now... |