Harsutaben Dave - Junagadh City Pride

Indian-American community members on June 21, joined in the rare and joyous occasion of celebrating the 100th birthday of Harsutaben Hemubhai Dave.

Her family, including four sons and three daughters most of who live in Southern California with their families hosted a celebratory party at the unjab Palace Restaurant, here.

The over 125 invitees who attended were treated to songs by the vivacious ‘birthday girl’ and a speech where she thanked all for her blessings.

Harsutaben Dave was born one hundred years ago in a little hamlet near Bilkha village of Junagadh District in Gujarat.

At 17, she was married to Hemubhai Dave of Bhavnagar. Two years later, with her husband who was a well known jeweler, she relocated to Burma. But in 1935, returned to India, due to the gathering of war clouds.

In December 1968, the family moved to the United States. Unfortunately her husband passed away just a year later. Today, her family are all well settled and doing well in Southern California. Only her eldest daughter lives in Mumbai.

The energetic Harsutaben pursued her creative interests and in 1997 published a book of poems.

Currently, she lives in Arleta in the San Fernando Valley area.