|
"Thank You Dami Uncle!" say Kachchhi students and software engineers. |
|
When a student from India or a software engineer get a admission from University
in US or H1 Visa for a job in US, his heart starts pounding by the thoughts of
the differences in the culture, weather, lack of physical family support and the
fact that he will be flying to half way around the world. And then he start
asking other students around him or those who are already in US about what to
do. Many of them give them one common answer: "Email Dami Uncle and he will try
to help you."
Dami (Damji) L Rambhia, Born in Mumbai, raised in Ahemadabad came to US in
1960s. He has been living in CT for 30+ years. He himself went through the
hardship of what it meant to migrate to US in 1960s and remembering those days,
he decide to make it his mission to help those who migrate later. He has been
helping students coming from India for last x years. He gets information about
these students from friends in Mumbai and contacts them via email. If needed he
calls them while they are in India. He has developed a network of "Host
Families" through KOJAIN organization. Host Families are spread through out US
who are willing to help students coming from India to study in a University near
them. He calls many of these students after they land here; get them in touch
with Host Families and other students in the area. He spends a lot of his time
and money on this voluntary effort.
Vimla Chheda and couple of students took up the initiative to recognize
Damibhai's efforts and gathered mails from many students who expressed their
gratitude towards Damibhai.
Kachchhi community in CT, NJ gathered on Saturday May 11, 2002 at Navin and
Vimla Chheda's place to honor Dami Rambhia for assisting Kachchhi students and
others coming to USA for the first time. Dami Rambhia was presented with a
memento and a scrapbook.
"You are like a dad to us," wrote one student, who was able to overcome initial
difficulties with the help and guidance from Dami Uncle.
Kalyanji Mota, President of KOJAIN wrote "Those of us who come here in the
sixties and early seventies know how difficult it was to adjust to a new way of
life. Damibhai through his dedication, hard work and efforts has made a
difference in the lives of young adults adjusting to a new country."
Damibhai had a very tough(?) past : Born in Unogh in Kutch Damibhai moved to
Mumbai at age of 5. When he was in 4th grade his Dad had to go to Sri Lanka for
work and Mom went back to Kutch. As a young boy he stayed with his Uncle. He was
admitted to a boarding school during his 8th & 9th grade. His final 2 years
of High School were at Kabibai High School. During his 11th grade initially he
had no place to stay. So he went to school during daytime, had lunch &
dinner in lodge and slept in a Warehouse in Bhat Bajar. During the day they
would pack up their clothes and books in sleeping bag (Dhadki) and keep it in
the store.
Lax and Damayanti Jain from Mumbai, India wrote "At Seva samaj we were building
a bridge across India to US for our students and we found an excellent pillar on
the other end in the name of Dami who has been foster father to all these
students.
Glimpses of that event are shown in attached pictures: Gallery
|