Shri Labhubhai T. Sonani

Introduction

Date of Birth: 15/03/1967

Religion: Hindu Patel

Contact Information

Ambition

To make Bhavnagar district the best educational and rehabilitation hub in the country for physically disabled people. And every physically and mentally challenged person work hard till he achieves what he wants.

Educational Qualifications

• B.A. (First class)
• Special B.Ed (First class)
• Visharad in Music

Publications

Written Series in Newspapers

Column "Samvedna ni Shodh" on every Tuesday in newspaper Loksansar from 19/3/2018 to 2022.

Family Introduction

Though the whole community of visually challenged people believe his family as one among their families, his immediate family consists of:

• Father's Name: Tapubhai Dhyabhai Sonani
• Mother's Name: Ajwaliben T. Sonani
• Wife's Name: Late Neelaben L. Sonani
• Daughter's Name: Nishtha L. Sonani

There was a simple family of Tapubhai Sonani and Aijwaliben with three sons and one daughter living in Tarsamia. In this family third son Labhubhai took born on 15th March 1967. He was brilliant since childhood. But when Labhubhai reached at the age of 3-4 years he was severly ill due to Thyphoid and lying between life and death. Doctors also left the hope of his survival. And told that this boy has become blind due to thyphoid so take him home and treat him as his life is short. Disheartend Father Mr. Tappubhai started towards home taking his piece of heart as his son. On the way home child listens the voice of street vendor selling banana. And asks banana for eating. Saddened Father says-let him eat banana. This way eating banana became a habit. Labhubhai passed the first exam of life. The only bad thing was that he would not be able to see the world with his open eyes.

Educational Experience

Labhubhai lost his eyes in the childhood due to thyphoid and also lost the mother Aijwaliben before reaching 5 years of age. He didnot loose the courage and with the help of family took admission in Bhavnagar Andh Udhyogshala at the age of 9. With this he started the educational journey.

• Quality of leadership developed here and continuously for four years he was elected as General Secretory of the school without any opposition. He got involved in many committees of the school and conducted many activities of the children. Besides this he represented different problems of the children management Committee very transparently and mediated to solve them very fast.
• Mediated the clubbing of Secondary education Bhavnagar with VIshuddhanand Vidhyamandir.
• He stood first both in school and visually challaneged children of the state and obtained gold medals in New SSC examination.
• He successfully passed graduation from erstwhile Bhavnagar University and RCI recognised special B.Ed meant for visually challanged people from Bhopal University in first class. Besides this he obtained Visharad degree in music.

Social Life & Service

Labhubhai’s favourite subject is related to rehabilitation and different acts and Articles of disabled Persons. And he works hard for its implementation.

Positions Held

• Since last three decades he is working on diagnosis, medical treatment, education, training and rehabilitation of physically challenged including mentally deformed children. This all is helping him in developing manpower in this sector.
• The main aim of Labhubhai is to make Bhavnagar as the model district in the country for service and education of physically disabled children. No affected child should be left under privileged just because of lack of resources.
• Working in following institutions under various capacities
  • Hon’ General Secretory- Shri K.K.School and Home for the blind, Bhavnagar
  • Hon’ General Secretory-National Association for the Blind, District Branch, Bhavnagar
  • Vice President – N.A.B. State Branch
  • President- Gujarat Apang Sanstha Sanchalak Sangh, Gujarat
  • President- Shri Andh Abhudhya Mandal, Bhavnagar
  • President- Akhil Gujarat Netraheen Jagrat Trust, Bhavnagar
  • Ex.Chairman - Sports and Cultural Activities State Branch Ahmedabad
  • Member Committee- N.A.B State Branch, Ahmedabad
  • Member- Andhjan Kalyan Mandal-Rajkot
  • Member- Viklang Dhara 2016 Amalikaran Committee, Bhavnagar
  • Member- Rozgar Sankalan Samiti, Bhavnaga
  • Expert Committee Member- Raah Foundation, Ahmedabad
  • Expert Committee Member- Bhavnagar Citizen Council, Bhavnagar
• The K.K. School & Home for the Blind Growing under the able guidance Shri Labhubhai was selected as the Second-best school among the 11,000 Secondary Schools in Gujarat State by State Education department. School Received Rs. 4 Lakhs as prize money.
• Under the Labhubhai’s noble work after examining many disable people across the state doing the surveys one is shown a new way to living making them available to the hospices, employment education and medical assistance and the needy disabled people.
• With the Labhubhai's untiring efforts, today 3000 to 4000 people with disabilities have got new life.

Fight against the serious illness: Even Himalaya can’t move a person with strong will power.

During childhood he was seriously ill due to typhoid and during the year 2013 affected by Meningitis. As the illness prolonged for a long time and almost half of the body was totally paralyzed. But due to his strong will power he defeated the illness and got up again. It was a rebirth for him.

Determined to live his life for the development of Disabled people:

The journey for the overall development and service of disabled people which was stopped due to illness is being continued with more vigour and he is determined to devote his whole life for the same purpose.

Journey of Service

• Founder member of The National Association for the blind, Bhavnagar established during 1984 for the service of visually disabled people.
• Under this, he moved to city and nearby villages to create awareness and helped the association in collecting funds for the cause.
• He was appointed as Development officer of Shri Andh Abhyudaya Mandal and now serving as the President of the Mandal.
• Since 1992, he is in constant touch with 600-700 registered members and providing guidence to the visually disabled boys and girls
• Manages the annual convention of Mandal. Collects the funds for the convention, arrengements are made for local hospitality. And provides all the help including cloth, groceries, medical, financial to the needy and unemployed people. Also provides scholarships to blind students.
• During 1995 when he was selected as honorary secretary of National Association for the blind, Bhavnagar district branch he arranged employment camps and presented the report to government for the visually challanged people so that they can get an opprtunity even in Government jobs. A camp was arranged for the prevention of blindness, arranged All India blind flag day week, booths were established for creating awareness among the people. Important jobs like training to doctors for management of disability in primary health centres, community based health centres was undertaken. Under this 300 doctors from Saurashtra were provided 3 days training. As a result,presently all the medical officers of CHC/PHC of the whole Saurashtra area have all the basic information about disabled people.
• In Bhavnagar city and taluka, Gadhada, Gariyadhar, Ghogha, Mahuva, Palitana, Shihor, Talaja, Umrala, and Vallabhipur in Bhavnagar District. Under this scheme the disabled children like Visually Handicapped, Hearing Impaired, Mentally Retarded, and Cerebral Palsy of std. 9 to 12 of secondary and higher secondary school are admitted in normal schools and trained them by giving special education and training by special teachers under the. ‘Inclusive education for the disabled at secondary stage’ scheme sponsored by Central Govt. of India.
• The beneficiaries are provided education, training, uniform and stationary allowance, education kit etc. by trained professionals. At present more than 400 disabled children are receiving benefits of education by about 48special teachers under this scheme.
• CBR focuses on enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities and their families, meeting basic needs and ensuring inclusion and participation. CBR is a multi-sectorial approach and has 5 major components: health, education, livelihood, social and empowerment. CBR was developed in 1984, to give people with disabilities access to rehabilitation in their own communities using predominantly local resources. By the tremendous Efforts of General Secretary Shree L. T. Sonani Social Defense Department, Gujarat State Gandhinagar allotted to National Association for the Blind, Bhavnagar District Branch the project of CBR means Rehabilitation of Group of people. We have with the team of 12 field workers and 1 field supervisor Door to Door Surveyed the Impaired people in the Talukas allotted to us. During the survey many of them are curable and non-curable cases were examined by the Doctors and certificates were issued them accordingly, Medicines if required are being advised during training. Identity cards are issued by the District Social & Defence Office. Further Assessment camps, Blood grouping camps, Photography camps are arranged, impaired people are being given Equipment’s and Training after Assessment. Passes for travelling by bus, concession in Railway fares, guidance for Employment, Vocational training etc. are being carried out for rehabilitation. We are also helping for Scholarship Forms, Loan Forms, etc. Education, Training and Employment training to impaired found are being carried out during inspection under CBR project. National Association for the Blind, Bhavnagar District has been carried out this program in Bhavnagar, Botad, and Vallbhipur Talukas and Surveyed for the impaired people, were rehabilitated under this program.
• Besides this, during 2001, Blind Teachers Association was rejuvinated by providing full financial support and guidence.
• A seminar was arranged for CRC-BRC teachers of the district to provide intense training regarding effective method of teaching to disabled children. Which was recognised by RCI, New Delhi
• During his leadership the first Higher Secondary Residential School was started in Saurashtra zone, Gujarat. Large number of visually challanged children got the benfit of it and improved their qualifications.
• Under the able guidence of Labhubhai, a brail press and Dhvani Mudran Kendra was established by National Association for Blinds, Bhavnagar branch to satisfy the educational needs of visually challanged children.

Encouraged Games and sports and other activities

Labhubhai is constantly encouraging the games and sports activities in the visually challanged children to bring out the hidden talent among them. During his educational period he himself was a talented sportman and used to participate in games like Kho-Kho, Kabbadi, and cricket. Even he used to enjoy playing chess. Following are the encouraging activities which are arranged under the guidence of Labhubhai.

• Gujarat cricket tournament for visually challanged children, Bhavanagar- 1995
• State level drama compitition for blind, Bhavnagar-1997
• All Gujarat games festival for visually challanged children, Bhavnagar-1999
• Chess and poetry compititiion for visually challanged children, Talaja-2001
• All Gujarat drama compitition, Bhavnagar-2005
• State level criket tournament for visually challanged children, Bhavnagar-2013
• Special cultural programme for visually challanged children, Bhavnagar-2013 onwards
• Shrimad Bhagvat saptah week by visually challanged speaker was arranged from 11-17 January and 22-28 december 2016 for the welfare and development of visually challanged children to bring out the hidden talent among the children.
• Gujarat state level Chess tournament for visually challanged children-2016
• Educational annual seminar for all Gujarat visually challanged teachers-2016
• A 13 days adventurous tour of 150 visually challanged children to north India-2016
• He is serving the disabled people by organisation of “Samvedna Setu” programme since 2017 for all round development fo all types of disabled people and to create awareness among the people about their responsibilty towards them.Under this visits are being made to school and colleges of the district.
• A mega camp was arranged in Talaja and Palitana during 2017 by creating social awareness and equipments were provided to more than 750 physically disabled people after primary diagnosis in the camp.

After the sickness of 2013,he has been arranging a number of displays, cultural programmes with heart touching headings like “chalo nihaliye Aankh vina ni Duniya”, “Olvaya Andhara ane Chamkya Sitara", Aankh vina na anokha Ajvala”,”Chalo batau mari aankh vina ni jeevan yatra”,” Divya drashti na kala sagara ma dubki”, “Pangri pratibha Aangli na terve”, “aangli na terve dithi duniya” and “Band aankhe,pragati ni pankhe” to bring the hidden talent of the visually challanged people and display the power of visually challanged people to the society. He has also set the path of rehabiltation of these people. Hon’ble Governor of Gujarat Shri O.P.Kohli has also acknowledged his untiring efforts for the social cause.

Employment and rehabilitation

• During 1998, he made special efforts for the appointment of visually challanged students as assistant music teachers and wrote and discussed with education minister Smt. Anandiben Patel. As a result of this at present approx 2100 visually challanged students are being employed as music teachers all over Gujarat in primary school and living the life happily.
• During 2009, approx. 1250 teachers did not get salary for about one and half to two years from the collective funds of visually challanged students. Labhubhai intervened and got the pay released from goverment from 1/12/2011.
• After implementation of new educational scheme, about 1000 teachers working in the old system became unemployed. Labhubhai made tremendous efforts for their employment and represented to Chief minister Shri Narendra Modi and finance minister Shri Saurabh bhai Patel. It resulted in solving the problem of employment.
• During 2016, new rules and regulations were implemented for disability. A number of public awareness programmes were organised which have helped the community of Gujarat significantly. An article “Samvedna ni shodh” has been appeared in the daily newspaper” Lok Sansar” from 19/3/2018 to 2021.
• During 2010 and 2011, he fought for the visually challanged students who did not get appointment of assistant teacher even after their names in the list on the basis of their marks. He made public agitations and fought long legal battle. With this fight 34 visually challanged students got the appointment letter on 6/7/ 2013 at Gandhinagar.
• Since 1995 till date about 35 visually challanged children were helped to establish various businesses like provision store, welding work, cold drinks counter, vegetables vendor, computer and xerox etc so that they get employment and remain self dependent in life.

Main involvement

• At Palitana provided guidence related to integration education programme– 2004
• Guidence, module drafting and suggestions regarding special module “Manthan”for GCERT - 2004
• Member of main coordination committee for GCERT teachers of Gandhinagar for the special module “Path Darshan”-2007
• Main coordinator for special training of teachers at Junagadh-2007
• Delivered lecture on disability for medical officers of CHC and PHC of Saurashtra zone.
• Provided guidence for foundation courses under District Primary Education (DPIP)and Sarva shikha Abhiyan (SSA)

He has worked and fought for the rights of visually challanged people. He has even raised public voice, provided guidence and legal help to fight their cases in high court against governament.He has played a major role in changing the attitude of the people towards visually challanged people and their employment and rehabilitation. He is always active so that these people get overall justice in the society. Due to all his efforts for disabled people, he is known as “Gandhiji of disabled people”. He has reached new heights in his personality.

Awards and honours received by Labhubhai Sonani

• Best employment Officer award by Labour and Employment department-Gujarat in 1997
• Late Bhikhabahi Shah award by NAB branch of Gujarat state in 2007
• Best Social worker by Andh Apang Vikas Mandal-Mogri for his social work in 201
• Honoured by Bhavnagar Nagrik Sahakari Bank as the Best Social worker of the district in 2015
• Dr. Neelkanthray Chatrapati award one of the best award of the state by Andh Kalyan Kendra Ahmedabad in 2017
• “Samaj Ratna” award by Bhagvan Mahavir Viklang Sahayata Samitee, Ahmedabad in 2017
• Best Integrated programme Development award by GCERT-Gandhinagar
• Best social woorker by Bhavanagar Rotary club round town., 2001
• Best blindness prevention award by Rashtriya Seva Unit, Mahua., 1998
• Andhjan Karmaveer award by NAB, Porbandar
• In 2025 Pandit Sukhlalji Award
• Besides all above, he has received a number of awards and honoured by several state and social organisations.

He has worked and fought for the rights of visually challanged people. He has even raised public voice, provided guidence and legal help to fight their cases in high court against governament.He has played a major role in changing the attitude of the people towards visually challanged people and their employment and rehabilitation. He is always active so that these people get overall justice in the society. Due to all his efforts for disabled people, he is known as “Gandhiji of disabled people”. He has reached new heights in his personality.

The knew Heights

Labhubhai is a very cooperative lovable person, and gets mixed with all young and old persons.He has great leadership qualities, since he believes in public opinion he moves togather withhis associates like teachers, students, workers, parents and executives. Though he is a very good administator, he has very deep knowledge of teaching and health. He is a great orator and it is treat to listen him.

Labhubhai is never sad about loosing his eyes. He always shares his this incident of loosing eyes lightly and says”: If my eyes would have been saved, I would have been a small time diamond businessman like my fellow caste persons. I would have not done any thing special in my life.”His life has become an example for disabled brothers and sisters. He is a simple, inspiration personality and living a life with his great will power using his internal eyes which surprises a common man. The nature given disabilty has become a boon for him to serve the people. His wife Mrs. Neelaben, who is also visually challanged is a Primary school teacher run by district adminstration. Their daughter Nishtha is the eyes of this couple. with whose help they are working for the overall development and social upliftment of disabled people.

Really Labhubhai is a candlebearer for the people to show the path of honesty in this ocean like world.

Personal Philosophy