The National Indian Association (NIA) was established by Dadabhai Navrojee in 1886 with a view to encourage Indians and Europeans to know each other better, which he saw as the need of the hour. NIA at Ahmedabad was founded in 1887. It was housed in a building built through generous donation of Lalshakar Umiyashankar. The building was named Bholanath Sarabhai Literary Institute for Women. Lalshankar revered Bholanath for his pioneering actions in reforming practices of Hindu religion that were burdened by superstitious practices and blind faith.

Dr. Motibai Kapadia who graduated in 1889, the third woman doctor of India, worked as the head of the Victoria Jubilee Hospital in Ahmedabad for four decades. She founded the Gujarat Ladies Club, which was the first women’s association of Gujarat. It was housed in the present NIA building. Wives of British officials and many known personalities living in the city were members of the Club. Dr. Kapadia took the initiative to create a library and a tennis court for women. Thus she provided space for women from all communities to meet and interact. Women at that time used to stay at home, often in purdah, and did not venture out. The Ladies Club played a pioneering role in bringing them out of their homes, serving an important objective of widening the horizons of neighbourhood women.