Members of the Pukekohe Indian Association (PIA) remembered a number of pioneers and paid homage to them at their Platinum Jubilee celebrations held on November 13, 2011.
Among them was Bhulabhai Khusal Bhakta, who died in his native India on November 9, 2010 aged 80.
Mr Bhakta was 20 years old when he arrived in New Zealand in 1950 as a student of the University of Auckland and later of Massey University. He spent his student life as a guest at the residences of Daya Nath and Devijibhai Chitta.
Following his graduation in 1955, he worked at a dairy farm in Upper Hutt for nine months, before returning to Pukekohe later that year.
Mr Bhakta began his career at Pukekohe as a market gardener in partnership with Madhav Master and Gokalbhai on Blakes Road.
A while later, he began working on his own 20-acre Kitchener Road farm and later moved to another 41-acre farm on Dazeley Road.
Mr Bhakta was also a teacher at the Gujarati School from its inception in 1960.
He became a member of the PIA in 1956 and evinced great interest in its activities. He became a member of the Executive Committee in 1961 and was instrumental in establishing the Indian Youth Club.
He was elected as a delegate to the New Zealand Central Indian Association in 1961. He served the PIA as Vice-President and President.
He was closely involved with the construction of the $1.5 million Pukekohe Indian Community Centre.
Mr Bhakta was the first Indian to be elected to the Executive Committee of the South Auckland Growers Association. He was also the first Indian to be admitted to the Franklin Club in Pukekohe.
These appointments were considered significant against a backdrop of racial discrimination that the Indian community suffered for several decades.
Mr Bhakta was known for his friendliness and generosity.
