Now we rejoice to see a 10-percent increase over last year, and a new peak of 7,410 publishers in the country’s 340 congregations and isolated groups.

This steady growth signaled the need for larger branch quarters. However, expansion of India’s branch in Bombay was impossible. And land in that city was scarce and expensive. Bombay’s air quality, too, was said to reduce one’s life expectancy by ten years. Thus in 1978 a site was obtained in the hill resort of Lonavla, the first location south of the city of Bombay where road and rail meet. Situated at an elevation of 2,000 feet (610 m), the town has relatively unpolluted air.

Six Years of Work

Preliminary work involved building walls, reaching a height of 15 feet (4.6 m) in places, both to protect the land and to retain the soil of neighboring properties on the hilly slopes. Deep depressions needed to be filled in, and the land had to be cleared of heavy undergrowth that was full of poisonous snakes, such as cobras and vipers. Several bungalows and other existing buildings required extensive renovation to serve as living accommodations and temporary office space.

Commercial contractors were hired, but qualified brothers supervised every stage of the construction, and many others rendered assistance wherever they could. One contractor, employed to pave the road inside the property, decided that work should be delayed six months, as necessary watering of the rough road surface could not be arranged. What a sight it was as the entire branch family hauled buckets of water to the road evening after evening so that work could be done on schedule!

The sound of bulldozers was never heard, as most work in India is done manually. Thus work proceeded smoothly up to completion of the first floor of the main building. Just at this time, there was a serious cement shortage. But, happily, the Korea branch of the Watch Tower Society arranged for the shipment of 10,000 bags, allowing for all construction to be finished as planned. So in 1984 the beautiful new branch building stood completed​—to Jehovah’s praise.

The Final Results

Eight structures now stand within the Society’s 4.6-acre (1.9-ha) compound, which is landscaped with banana, mango, fig, and papaya trees, along with many flowering plants and shrubs.

The main building of the branch has two floors and a basement, which houses a garage and a laundry. Factory space on the ground floor has room for three small printing presses, as well as cutting, folding, and stitching (stapling) machines. On this floor also are the MEPS computer rooms and the shipping area, from which literature produced locally is mailed to 56 other countries. Offices, library, and bedrooms fill the second floor.

The new Kingdom Hall is on the front edge of the property. A corner stage, paneled with hand-carved teakwood, faces an auditorium that can seat 250. Nearby, renovated buildings offer residence, kitchen, and dining-room space for the branch family of 31 people. Some vacant land also exists if further expansion is needed.

A Special Event

So it was, after 80 years of the gathering in of Jehovah’s precious things, attention was focused that delightful January day on the dedication of India’s new branch facilities.

These 80 years of preaching were traced during the dedication program. Highlights of the construction work were given. Zone overseer Günter Künz noted in his dedication talk that there has been a 30-percent increase of Jehovah’s people worldwide in the past five years. But he was glad to report that India had surpassed that with a 34-percent increase, and he reminded listeners that with much hard work India would continue to move forward.

All present were thrilled with this evidence of Jehovah’s blessing. The brothers in India are determined to work diligently so that many more can be helped to respond to the Kingdom good news.

[Picture on page 25]

New branch headquarters south of Bombay