The person for whom the above quotes were used was Mr. Purushottam Premshanker Pandya (who was famous as P.P.Pandya in the archaeological field of India). He was an Archaeologist at Rajkot in the then bilingual state of Mumbai. He worked till his last breath and died of short term illness at very young age of 39 years, 2 months and 12 days.
Mr. Purushottam Premshanker Pandya was born on 8th November, 1920 in Kotda Sangani village of Rajkot District in a reputed Audichya Brahmin family. This family had settled in Kotda Sangani after the “Woncal Settlement”. His father Premshanker Jeevanram Pandya had studied in Engineering at M.S. University, Baroda. He had rendered his services as a “Jerif” in the erstwhile Kotda State and was highly respected person. He was the 2nd child among the six children of Premshanker Pandya and was an elder son from two sons.
After studying in Himmatsinhji Middle school up to 1936 he studied further in Kamribai High School at Jetpur town, appeared in the matriculation examination conducted by then Bombay University and became the topper among all the successful candidates from the school.
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Shri Jayaben Fondation,Rajkot: Activities
Shri Jayaben Foundation is an organization working in various fields including; Social, educational, cultural, and archaeological fields. The dignitaries of this Registered Trust are:
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Shri Dhanvantbhai Kakkad (B.Sc.,LL.B.) - Chairman
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Shri Pareshbhai Pandya (B.Com.,LL.B., Sangeet Visharad,D.Mus.) - Managing Trustee
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Shri Piyushbhai Pandya (B.A.,LL.B) - Trustee
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Shri Manishbhai Pandya (B.com. ,LL.B) - Trustee
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Shri Hiteshbhai Pandya [B.E.(Mech.) - Trustee
Shri Jayaben Foundation has done so many social activities viz. giving accolade to brilliant students, helping poor students, diagnosis camps in remote places etc. Besides these social activities, the foundation is also active for conservation and publicity of India’s world famous cultural architectures.
Shri Jayaben Foundation has achieved an overwhelming success in its representation and publicity since 2003 regarding renovation of Buddha Caves of Khambhalida and developing this place as a place of tourism.
About 1800 years old ancient Buddha caves near village Khambhalida of Gondal Taluka in Rajkot Dist. (Gujarat-India) were found out by renowned archaeologist Shri P. P. Pandya. The caves are declared as a protected monument by Government of Gujarat. In Gujarat, this is the only cave having the sculptures.
In its constructive activities, Shri Jayaben Foundation has always received constant warmth and encouraging support from Hon. Shri Kiritbhai Ganatra, Managing Editor and the main pillar of “Akila”, an evening News Paper published from Rajkot and having its readers all across the world, Shri Ajitbhai Ganatra, Editor-Akila and Shri Nimishbhai K. Ganatra, Executing Editor-Akila.
A series of 1800 years ancient Bauddhist caves stands amidst the beautiful landscape near village Khambhalida of Gondal Tehsil in Rajkot District (Gujarat-India). Caves situated at the base of small hillocks, on the bank of a spring flowing across the wast land create a beautiful scenery. Rajkot is one of the four fastest growing cities of Gujarat State (India). Presently, there are three caves in this series. The middle cave is Chaitya Grih. Bauddhist monks must have practiced exhaustive penance in this cave as the mind soothing-peace giving spiritual vibrations can still be experienced in the surrounding atmosphere.
The Bauddhist cave was discovered in the year 1958 by Shri P.P.Pandya, prominent archaeologist of the country who put Saurashtra at an important place in the archaeological history. These caves are protected monuments under the Archaeology Department.
Virpur (Jalaram) is the nearest town from village Khambhalida. Virpur town is situated on N.H.8B between Rajkot and Porbandar cities. After travelling further 2 Kms. From Virpur town toward Porbandar, a road leading to village Kagvad bifurcates from H.H.8B on the left side while travelling from Rajkot to Porbandar. One can reach village Khambhalida after travelling for 5 Kms on this road between N.H.8B and village Kagvad.
The sculpture of Vajjrapani, one of the sculptures of Khambhalida Bauddhist Caves, is the most ancient sculpture of Vajjrapani in India. The second such sculpture of Vajjrapani came into existence 400-500 years thereafter at Cave No.2 of the world famous Ellora(Maharashtra) caves. The second sculpture of Padmpani, contemporary to the sculpture of Khambhalida, exists at Patan, a place in Nepal.
