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Part IV. Rise and Glory
generously pledged the donations. A total of 300000 shillings was collected. This resulted in a solid strong foundation for the Halari community in the education field. Meghji Pethraj Shah laid the foundation stone of the building on February 27, 1941 with the blessings of the ruler of Navanagar State, Jam Digvijay Sinhji. There were many prominent people of the community present during the ceremony. An attractive single storey building was built with a beautiful garden in the front. The foundations were made strong enough for a future second storey extension to be added. The first most auspicious occasion handled by the Board was the opening ceremony of the Jamnagar boys' boarding house. No less a person than the ruler of Navanagar State, Jam Digvijay Sinhji performed the opening ceremony on April 27, 1942. The Navanagar ruler appreciated very much the efforts put in by the Halari community living abroad towards the building of the boarding house.
Over the years, as the boys' boarding house did not have enough space. A decision was made to build a new bigger boys' boarding house on a plot located on Saat Rasta that was purchased in 1956 A.D. and to convert the existing boys' boarding house (in Digvijay Plot) into a girls' hostel. Premji Parbat Karamshi and Bharmal Vaja Virani of Dabasang donated the cost of land for the new boarding house. Bharmal Raishi Haria laid the foundation stone for the new boys' boarding house on April 3, 1962. Construction was completed in March 1963.
The students who stayed in the boarding house and pursued higher education became some of the leading citizens at home and abroad. They never forgot the place, which helped them achieve their goal.
Jamnagar Girls' Hostel: Just as the importance of girls' education was realized in East Africa, in India also people were realizing the importance of girls' education. An
