Samgam of Sree and Samskriti- Confluence of Wealth and Culture (An Old and Rare Book)

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Shri Girdharilal Mehta was born on January 13, 1907, in Varanasi. After his matriculation, he joined the family's traditional grain business. In 1922 he married Jawahar Kor.

A very successful and prominent person in business and industry, Girdharilalji's interests are wide and varied classical music, mathematics, Vedic studies, religion, philosophy, social service, education, sports. He has been a notable philanthropist.

Shri Girdharilalji was closely associated with Kulapati Munshiji. He became a Trustee of the Bhavan in 1957 and one of its Vice-Presidents in 1969. He was persuaded to become its President in 1983. Due to advancing age and indifferent health in 1990, he wanted to be relieved of his duties. However, he continues his official association with the Bhavan as its President Emeritus.

The Bhavan has had the privilege of publishing a hundred biographies and autobiographies of great saints and leaders, spiritual, social and political. We hope this succinct biography of Girdharilalji will be a welcome addition to the Bhavan's publications.

My heartiest greetings and prayerful good wishes to Shri Girdharilalji Mehta, the Bhavan's senior most living patriarch, on his stepping on to the 90th year of his Pilgrimage on Earth.

I have known Girdharilalji for four decades and more. It began with my association with the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in 1952-first as the Chairman of the Bhavan's Coimbatore Kendra, later as the Chairman of the Bhavan's Madras Kendra and thence as Vice- President, Trustee and President of the Bhavan and the Bhavan International.

A very successful and prominent person in business and industry, Girdharilalji's interests are wide and varied classical music, mathematics, Vedic studies, religion, philosophy, social service, education, sports. He has been a notable philanthropist. Above all, he is a shining symbol of simple living.

Girdharilalji is also a great scholar and patron of Sanskrit and a practitioner of true religion. It is this quality which has transformed him into a symbol of wealth (Sree) and culture (Samskriti). Even though he is a very orthodox religious man, he is also equally modern in his outlook on life.

Girdharilalji is a good institution-builder. There are many institutions religious, cultural, educational and humanitarian - which owe their origin and growth to his munificence, guidance and advice.

From 1950, Girdharilalji was closely associated with Kulapati Munshiji, the far-sighted founder of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. He became a Trustee of the Bhavan in 1957 and one of the Vice-Presidents in 1969. He was persuaded to become its President in 1983.