Gujarati Arya Kshatriya Mahasabha UK
The Gujarati Arya Kshatriya Mahasabha UK (GAKM) is the national Samaj and umbrella organisation bringing together Gujarati Kshatriya families and affiliated community associations across the United Kingdom.
Our story began in the early 1960s, when Gujarati families from India and East and South Africa began settling in the UK and establishing communities across the country. As they built their new lives in Britain, they recognised the importance of preserving their faith, traditions, culture and community values, while also creating a strong sense of belonging for future generations.
On 25th May 1975, the Gujarati Arya Kshatriya Mahasabha UK was formally established, building on the community organisations and associations that had developed across the country.
Over the past five decades, GAKM has grown into a national organisation, connecting affiliated associations and families across the UK and providing a platform for community, cultural, religious, educational, sporting and social activities.
Bringing Our Community Together
GAKM works alongside affiliated associations in communities including:
- Bradford
- Birmingham
- Coventry
- Leeds
- Leicester
- Luton
- London
- Greater Manchester
- Preston
- Wellingborough
Our membership also includes the Mahasabha Sports Association, which supports and coordinates national sporting activities across our community.
Together, these associations form a strong and diverse community network. Through their dedication and voluntary service, they provide opportunities for people of all generations to come together, build friendships and celebrate our shared heritage.
Our Community in the UK
Today, our community has grown into a vibrant, established and multi-generational presence across the United Kingdom.
The GAKM represents approximately 4,000 households and around 20,000 members across the UK, connecting families and communities through a shared Gujarati Kshatriya heritage, Sanatan Hindu faith, cultural traditions and values.
Our members have made valuable contributions to British society across many professions, businesses and fields of public and community life, while continuing to maintain strong connections with their Gujarati and Hindu heritage.
The GAKM provides a platform through which our communities can remain connected, celebrate their achievements and support one another.
Our Culture, Faith and Traditions
At the heart of the GAKM is our commitment to preserving and celebrating our cultural heritage and the Sanatan Hindu traditions passed down to us by previous generations.
Our affiliated associations organise a wide range of activities throughout the year, including religious and cultural programmes, Garba and other traditional celebrations, educational initiatives, graduation ceremonies, sporting events and social gatherings.
These activities provide opportunities for our elders to pass on their knowledge and values, while encouraging younger generations to understand, appreciate and carry forward their heritage.
We believe that maintaining our cultural identity and traditions is not about standing still; rather, it is about taking the values and traditions entrusted to us by our ancestors and ensuring they remain meaningful for future generations in modern Britain.
A Community Built on Seva
The GAKM has been strengthened by generations of volunteers who have given their time, energy and resources in the spirit of seva – selfless service.
From founding members and community elders to today’s volunteers and young people, countless individuals have contributed to building the organisations, events and activities that bring our community together.
Their commitment has created a strong foundation for the future and continues to inspire the next generation to become actively involved in community life.
Looking to the Future
As we look beyond our first 50 years, our vision is to build upon the strong foundations created by our elders and create an organisation that continues to serve future generations.
We want to encourage greater participation from our youth, strengthen connections between our affiliated associations, promote education and cultural awareness, and ensure that the values of community, culture, faith, family and seva remain at the heart of our Samaj.
Our journey began with a generation seeking to create a home and community in a new country.
Today, we are proud to continue that journey – building a united, vibrant and forward-looking Gujarati Kshatriya community for generations to come.
The GAKM UK – connecting communities, preserving our heritage and inspiring future generations.
President’s Message
I am very proud to have been appointed for a third term as President of the Gujarati Arya Kshatriya Mahashabha UK (GAKM), with our last elections having taken place in Leicester in July 2024. Together with a new and dynamic Team, we will endeavour to serve the Affiliated Centres to the best of our abilities.
My father, the Late Subodhchandra Chavda, served as the first President of GAA London back in 1971 and continued for over 28 years. During that time, he also served as GAKM President for many years.
Since his passing, I have been actively involved in GAA London since 2000 and have served as Asst. Secretary, General Secretary and now serve as Vice President.
In 2019 I decided to stand as President of the GAKM as I wanted to make a real difference and make GAKM great again, as it used to be back in the day. Sadly, since 2015, most of the Cultural and Sporting activities seem to have diminished. One of the first approaches I took was to revamp the communications within the GAKM Affiliated Centres. I also directed there to be atleast a monthly meeting to find out what the other Centres were doing.
The GAKM represents a vibrant and diverse community in and amongst its nine affiliated Centres, which are as follows: Bradford, Birmingham, Leeds, Leicester, London, Luton, Manchester, Preston and Wellingborough.
Due to the ever changing dynamics of our community, the numbers in quite a few of the Centres have declined, with the many of the Third and Fourth Generations now no longer living in the same Centres as their parents. Consequently, those Centres find it very difficult to organise cultural or sporting events. This remains one of the biggest challenges for the GAKM.
With your help and support we will achieve our goal, which is to have a more stronger, vibrant and cohesive community, and make the GAKM the powerful Umbrella Organisation it once was, for the greater success of our community.
With best wishes,
Pradeep Chavda
President
Gujarati Arya Kshatriya Mahashabha UK (GAKM)
Executive Committee & Board of Trustees
At the last General Meeting, which was held in Leicester in July 2024, the following Executive Committee and Board of Trustees were elected:
Front Row (L to R):
Hitesh Chavda (Asst Sports Chair)
Panna Amilwalla (Asst Secretary)
Herhsey Champaneri (Secretary)
Pradeep Chavda (President)
Mitesh Chouhan (Vice President)
Mahesh Parmar (Treasurer)
Jitesh Chauhan (Asst Treasurer)
Kiran Parmar (Sport Chairman)
Back Row (L to R):
Shashikant Chouhan (Chair – Board of Trustees)
Bipin Parmar (Board of Trustees)
Rashmi Parmar (Board of Trustees)
Pradeep Bodhani (Board of Trustees)
Jasuben Chauhan (Not present – Board of Trustees)