Dang district
Ghelubhai Naik was born in 1924 to Laxmiben in Kolva village near Gandevi, Valsad district, Gujarat. He first met Mahatma Gandhi at "Rentiyashala" of Amalsad when he was eleven. He studied Master of Social Welfare from Tata Institute of Social Science, Mumbai. He and his brother Chhotubhai Naik, were mentored by Jugatram Dave. In 1948, both brothers went to tribal Dang district when Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel asked them. As a "Sarvodaya" worker, he co-founded Dang Swaraj Ashram with his brother and Chunilal Vaidya at Ahwa to promote education and social reforms in tribals. He helped in establishment of the first "Ashram Shala" (residential school for tribal children) at Kalibel in 1949. Later more than hundred "Ashram Shala" were opened in tribal areas. He also organized a health and cleanliness awareness programme called "Gam chalyu nahva" (village goes to bath).