This year Diwali function was extra special as it was also opening of ‘Annex’ Dinning Hall. It was suggested by Mahindra Kaneria in an Executive meeting that it would be good to do an exhibition, charting the growth and successes of our Samaj, in celebration of this new extension to the KPS Centre. The reality was time consuming, collecting material from various sources and collating them into a coherent story. A lot of last minute work was put in by Anshuni Kaneria to make it a success.

The exhibition proved very popular with all ages and about 700 people attended. Divided in various sections, the exhibition started with our ancestral roots in India. It followed the establishment of the Samaj in East Africa and later in the UK along with a retrospective of the different activities and events done by KPS UK in the last 30 years. Photographs of the opening of Nairobi Samaj and the second Diwali function in Coventry in particular were very popular. The exhibition was a trip down memory lane for many, causing delight for those successfully able to identify familiar faces.

Not only did this exhibition remind us of our past but allowed Samaj members to look into the future. Concluding with photographs of “Annex” in different development stages, personal statements and messages, it sparked the imagination for what lays ahead. Hopefully another exhibition in 30 years time will have twice as much to celebrate!

To view video of the Exhibition online click here


By Neema Kaneria