"Several cities in Gujarat experienced the worst ever earthquake in the history of Independent India at 8.46 A.M. on the 26th January, 2001. It completely deprived the survivors of all their belongings and life long savings. The people today are completely at the mercy of nature and the relief teams".

Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI), is a network of over 4500 health and development agencies in the country, and has had several years of experience in disaster mitigation activities. VHAI has also been actively and successfully involved in relief and rehabilitation of the victims of the super Cyclone which devastated Orissa Coast in October 1999. Currently, there are 11 Medical-cum-Relief Team providing round the clock services in the remote and inaccessible areas of Kutch. However, the medium and long-term needs of the earthquake victims are enormous.

Keeping in view the enormity of the situation, under the aegis of VHAI, 100 eminent visual Artists like Jatin Das, Anjolie Ela Menon, Manu Parekh, Shamsad Hussain, Paresh Maity, performing artists like Ustad Asad Ali Kahn, Uma Sharma, Raja Radha Reddy, Prof. Debu Chaudhri, Ustad Wasiffudin Dagar, Ranjana Gauhar, Pritibha Prahlad and many other expressed their concern and solidarity towards the artists affected by earthquake and their families. A fund raising initiative in the form of an art exhibition is being organized at Visual Art Gallery, India Habitat Centre on 24th and 25th February, 201. This is in collaboration with the India habitat Centre.

This initiative is called "Aparajita" which aptly symbolizes the indomitable spirit of the people of Gujarat. To share their concerns and express their thoughts, famous painters, musicians and dancers will come together at the Visual Art Gallery on the 24th February, at 5.00 P.M. With the human indomitable spirit being the theme of the event, the artists will express themselves through variety of creative art forms on this occasion.

Funds raised through this programme will be utilized for the rehabilitation of artists and artisans in the disaster affected areas of Gujarat through VHAI's on going relief and rehabilitation initiative.

You are cordially invited to participate and cover this event.

Information on VHAI's operations in Gujarat is available on the Website; www.aparajitagujarat.com or on telephone: 011-6856693.

Alok Mukhopadhyay
Chief Executive