Push-button access to Pathare Prabhus

If all goes as per schedule, come 2011, members of the Pathare Prabhu community will not have to browse through old, worn-out diaries or crane their necks from their cars hunting for their fellow community members’ houses.

The Pathare Prabhu Charities is conducting a detailed census of community members that is expected to be completed by 2011.

The project, which started in 2009, is a laborious and detailed study on the total strength of the community, their addresses, number of children and marriages within and outside the community.

“We have been sending letters to various people from late 2009. If they do not respond, we ensure that we go and collect the data ourselves,” said Ajit Vijaykar, chairperson of the Pathare Prabhu Charities.

This is the third time such a project is being undertaken by the community. After the release of the first edition in 1952, the second could be made only 44 years later, in 1996. “This is because the main work of the organisation is to help the poor and the needy,” said Sunil Kothare, one of the trustees. The trust, along with the Pathare Prabhu Relief Fund and Pathare Prabhu Nursing Association, provides grants for poverty, educational, medical and intensive care relief, interest-free loans for education and scholarships, and organises felicitation ceremonies for merit-listers.

Considered as the original Mumbaikars, the Prabhus came to the city in the 13 century AD and were known to be solicitors, lawyers and medical practitioners. They were considered very well-to-do, with bungalows and community properties spread across Thakurdwar, Dadar, Phanaswadi and Khar.

“Slowly, people started selling their bungalows and lost touch. In that context, this exercise will help us keep track of where they live, and details of the deceased and the newborn. The details will be catalogued so that people can be identified by surnames or call numbers,” added Vijayakar.

Unlike the previous ones, the new directory will not be in a printed format so that it can be updated regularly, with the information being provided on a CD on demand. The community intends to prepare special software to feed in all details.