History of the Visa Oshwal Community - Thika, Kenya

At the beginning of the last century, Oshwals as young as 10-15 years started migrating from Gujarat, India to Kenya, the first stepping stone to the Dark Continent. They arrived in dhows with meagre funds, but with dreams of uplifting their livelihoods which over time became a reality. Thika was a main centre after embarking at Mombasa. It is believed from the information gathered that Shah Meghji Ladha and Meghji Kanji were the first Oshwals to have come to Thika in around 1910. Others who followed and settled in Thika and its surroundings, i.e. Makindi, from 1910-1925 were:

Devraj Parbat Hemraj Mepa Hemraj Ladha
Premchand Vrajpar Mepa Punja Dharamshi Jesha
Dharamshi Lakhamshi Ranmal Ladha Mulji Jivraj
Ghella Manek Lakhamshi Meghji Karamshi Virji
Karamshi Khimji Punja Hira Fulchand Keshavji
Meghji Kanji Hemraj Virpar Fulchand Bhoja
Meghji Hirji Popatlal Padamshi Sundarji Lalji
Vershi Mepa Samji Hirji Bharmal Raishi
Devshi Haddha Nemchand Mepa Rajpar Ladha
Karamshi Panachand Jethalal Nathoo Virpar Kachra
Fulchand Lakhamshi Hemraj Nathoo Ladha Khimji
Ghelal Govindji (G.G. Shah) Somchand Kachra Kalidas Virpar
Rupshi Meghji Shah Shah Kanji Ladha Lakhamshi Pethraj

Some settled in Thika, near the present day Blind School, whilst others settled in Makindi which was about 5-7 kilometres away. They lived in wooden and iron sheet houses and used water for their domestic use from the nearby Chania River. There was no electricity until 1924 and Thika Water Works also started thereafter. The young Oshwals always had a passion for business in their blood and soon started small scale businesses after the First World War.

The first shop in old town was started by an Ismaili named Jamal Hirji Ojami in 1914. Dharamshi Lakhamshi was employed by him.

For the first 25 years from 1910-1935, the young Oshwals were bringing up their families and worked tirelessly to put a foothold in this new country of theirs. The population soon grew to nearly 280 and it was in 1933 that Premchand Vrajpar, Meghji Kanji, Ladha Khimji, Vershi Mepa, Meghji Lakhamshi, Hemraj Ladha and others got together and decided to form some sort of community as the Oshwal numbers were increasing. Their vision was:

To get together is a beginning.
To live together is progress.
To work together is success.

With these noble thoughts, Shree Visa Oshwal Jain Gnati Mandal was established in 1934. This name was later changed to Shree Visa Oshwal Gnati. The office bearers for the first two years, i.e. 1934 and 1935, were:

Chairman - Shree Meghji Kanji Bid (1934-1937)
Secretary - Shree Hemraj Devraj
Joint secretary - Shree Jethalal Nathoo
Treasurer - Shree Ladha Khimji

The first four trustees were:

Shree Premchand Vrajpar
Shree Vershi Mepa
Shree Meghji Lakhamshi
Shree Hemraj Ladha

The Gnati approached the Town Advisory Board for land to build their own community hall. The Board agreed to give one acre of land in the name of ‘Jain Church Committee’ and they got the title deed on 09/07/1934. On 18/02/1935, Hemraj Ladha laid the foundation stone for the buildings. They raised Kshs 15,000/= in the meeting and more was raised in Nairobi.

Education at that time was at the Government Indian Primary School and for higher education, Oshwals had to go to Nairobi where they stayed at the Oshwal boarding.

Most of the Oshwals were in small retail businesses including garment manufacturing, but others were more enterprising and ventured into industry. In 1934, Meghji Pethraj, Premchand Vrajpar and Hemraj Nathoo formed the ‘Kenya Tanning Extract Co. Ltd’. This was the first factory in East Africa owned by Oshwals. Bark from trees like Mimosa was extracted and exported as solid wattle extract to 25 Countries in the World. This was a very prosperous venture. Later, Kethshi Nathoo joined this factory in 1945 and stayed on for 28 years until the factory was sold to local Africans in 1973.

Later, other families also became pioneers of Oshwal industries in Kenya.

Rice Mill, Saw/Wood Mill, Coffee and Sisal Farms owned by Meghji Kanji family.
Flour Mills owned by Samji Hirji, Hemraj Ladha, Dharamshi Jesha.
Coffee Mill owned by Meghji Hirji.

In late 1935, a Savansari lunch was organised by collecting Annas. At that time, the cost of one Anna was equal to Kshs 10/=. Anna collection was Kshs 270/50 and lunch expenditure was Kshs 177/78. The balance of Kshs 92/72 was placed in a fund. From then onwards, Paryushan and other activities were carried out here.

In 1936, there was a famine in Halar, India. Meghji Pethraj, Popatlal Karman, Somchand Meghji and Bharmal Raishi formed a Halar Famine Fund. A meeting took place on 27/09/1936 in Thika and a good amount was collected.

Our Oshwals were known to be very orthodox and though it was very common for a man to re-marry, it was not acceptable for a widow to re-marry. However, some Thika Oshwals came together, even after a lot of opposition from Oshwals in other towns and in India, and forcefully approved of the first widow re-marriage. Mrs. Amratben, daughter of Manek Sura, married Mr. Devchand Punja Malde of Tanga on 20/06/1937. This was an important day for the Thika Gnati. About 1500 people from all over East Africa attended this auspicious occasion. Premchand Vrajpar gave away the bride and the Thika Gnati bore all the expenses for the re-marriage. This was the foresight of our Thika pioneers.

After ten years, in 1947, another re-marriage of Keshavlal Hemraj Ladha took place in Thika.

Premchand Vrajpar Shah was chairman from 1938-1940.
Vershi Mepa Shah was chairman in 1941.
Meghji Hirji Shah was chairman in 1942.

Shree Jain Youth League was established on 01/04/1941 and would later operate under Shree Visa Oshwal Gnati. The first chairman was Devshi Mepa Shah who continued until 1960 when he passed away. He was awarded the M.B.E by the Queen of England in recognition of his social and charitable work.

Shree Keshavlal Ladha Bid, who was a secretary of Shree Jain Youth League, was presented with a gold medal for his selfless and dedicated service. He was instrumental in spearheading the Shree Jain Youth League lottery scheme to raise funds.

The Oshwal Education and Relief Board, Nairobi was established on 11/04/1941. This Board would cater for educational and religious advancement for Oshwals in Kenya and India. Thika Oshwals donated Kshs 74,514/= towards the establishment of an Oshwal boarding in Jamnagar where later many of our young Oshwals would go to study.

During this period, the Thika town was expanding and a lot of businesses were shifting to the new town. More than 100 businesses, ranging from wholesale produce shops to retail shops dealing in household goods, textiles, hardware, restaurants, cinema hall, food stuff and groceries, were owned by Oshwals. The only entertainment at that time was to play cards or chopat (board game played with shells), which was mainly played outside the shop’s veranda.

As we did not have a Derasar, Jain Pathsala was started in the community building on 01/01/1942 to teach children about Jain religion. Manishankar Jairam Naker (Brahmin) was employed at Kshs 125/= per month for this and Mepa Punja was elected to oversee the Pathsala.

The third Adhivashan of Oshwal Education and Relief Board was held on 23/04/1943 in Thika and Thika Gnati donated Kshs 6,000/=.

Juthalal Vrajpal Shah was chairman from 1943-1944.
Mepa Punja Shah was chairman from 1945-1946.
Punja Sura Shah was chairman in 1947.

In October 1946, Yatishree Hemchandraji (a religious scholar) came to Thika from India and Thika Oshwals donated Kshs 2,501/= to him.

In 1947, Hindi Mahila Mandal was inaugurated by Thika Gnati to bring together our Oshwal ladies and other Hindu ladies.

Jethalal Bharmal Shah was chairman from 1948-1949.
Meghji Raichand Shah was chairman from 1950-1951.

On 15/08/1949, Hemraj Ladha expired in Thika and due to his immense contribution to the community, Thika Gnati agreed to keep his portrait in the community hall as a remembrance.

During the 1950s, Bhagwanji & Co. purchased Nath Brothers (a textile mill) in Thika. After a few years the name of Nath brothers was changed to Thika Cloth Mills Limited.

The families of Vershi Mepa, Mulji Mepa and Devshi Mepa had a vision to build a Derasar and it was in 1950 that the foundation stone for the first Ghar Derasar was laid by the families at Thika Mahajanwadi. The Derasar was opened by Shirmati Kasturben Devshi Mepa. There were three Idols, the main one being Shree Mahavirswami Bhagwan, and the other two were Shree Dharmanath Bhagwan and Shree Naminath Bhagwan. These Idols are still in the Derasar today.

Kanji Mepa Shah was chairman in 1952.
Punja Sura Shah was chairman in 1953

On 25/12/1952, the first constitution of our community was passed and registered. The four new trustees elected were:

Shree Meghji Lakhamshi
Shree Kanji Mepa
Shree Mepa Punja
Shree Punja Sura

Soon after in 1953, the secretary and joint secretary resigned and Mohanlal Devraj Shah was elected secretary and Kethshi Nathoo Shah joint secretary.

Mepa Punja Shah was chairman from 1954-1957.

During this time, though Kenya was under the British colony, a lot of political activity was taking place with the Mau Mau revolution and emergency being declared. Thika, being the epicentre of political activity in central province, Oshwals had to be very careful in their day-to-day activities and their relations with both the local African and British rulers.

On 16/08/1956, Mr. Meghji Kanji Bid laid the foundation stone for the dining hall, kitchen and stores. The contract for the construction was given to Lalji Laxman Patel at a cost of Kshs 200,000/=. The 16th Board Adhivashan was held in Thika in 1957 and the opening ceremony of the new construction was done by Mepa Punja Shah (pictured).

On 31/07/1956, discussions were held for separating the Derasar Funds (Dev Dravya). This topic is still discussed but no conclusive decision has been taken.

On 03/04/1959, Bharmal Kanji Shah pledged to give milk freely from his dairy for the Pakshal in the Derasar.

As education standards were improving, a primary and secondary school was named after M.P. Shah. Some of our brighter students even travelled to the UK and India for further studies.

On 31/07/1961, Premchand Vrajpar, a pioneer of our Oshwal community, passed away in Jamnagar and a condolence meeting was held in Thika.

Mr. Sobhagchand Kachra Shah, who had been the chairman for four years (1958-1961), resigned on 29/08/1961. The trustees were assigned to conduct the affairs of the community until a new chairman was elected.

In 1962, Shree Meghji Pethraj Shah came back to Kenya from the UK and donated Kshs 40,000/= towards the dining hall and a plaque was put up in his name.

Bharmal Kanji Shah was chairman for seven years from 1962-1968.

In April 1962, the 21st Board Adhivashan took place in Thika. Shree Jain Youth League donated Kshs 100,000/= towards the girls hostel in Nairobi.

The 22nd Board Adhivashan took place in Jamnagar in April 1963. Bharmal Kanji, Jethalal Kachra, Kanji Mepa, Gulabchand Meghji and Meghji Kumbha represented Thika Gnati as delegates.

Kenya got independence on 12/12/1963 with Mzee Jomo Kenyatta being declared the first President of the Republic of Kenya. During this time, our Oshwal population had reached about 1,000 people. All Jain and Hindu religious functions were held with both communities together supporting each other.

In 1966, Ornaments and Angi for the temple Idols came from India were donated by Bhagwanji Narshi Parivar and this Angi is still used today. In this year, the Pratishtha of the Thika Hindu Sanatan Mandir took place.

Mr. Manishankar Jairam Naker served as the priest of the Derasar for nearly 25 years until he retired in 1967. Thereafter, Mr. Mohanbhai was employed as a Pujari and in 1970, Mr. Hasmukh Lalji Khetia from India was employed as a Pujari. He resigned in 1975 and Mr. Zaverchand Kachra Shah was appointed both as a Pujari and caretaker until 1986, when Mr. Virpal Lakhamshi (Kanabu) was appointed a caretaker. In 1986, Mr. Bhavarbhai Bhimaji Mali from India was appointed a Pujari and at that time the cost of the work permit was only Kshs 20/= per annum.

As the Kenya government was introducing Kenyanisation in businesses owned by Asians of British origin, a lot of Oshwals had to shut their businesses and within a span of 5 years from 1968-1972, more than half the Oshwals migrated to the UK. This was the start of Oshwals settling in the UK where they have also prospered and advanced. Today the Oshwal population in the UK is much higher than in Kenya.

Lalji Kachra Shah was chairman from 1969-1971.
Gulabchand Meghji Shah was chairman from 1972-1974.

In 1971, some committee members and well wishers gave an interest free loan to Thika Gnati to purchase a commercial and residential property on Kijabe Street, Nairobi. This property was bought for Kshs 330,000/= and the present value is in excess of Kshs 20,000,000/=.

In 1974, Khetshi Nathoo left Thika to settle in the UK.

In 1975, the 34th Board Adhivashan took place in Thika.

Premchand Lakhamshi Dodhia was chairman for five years from 1975-1979.
Gulabchand Meghji Shah was chairman in 1980.

From 1978, other Oshwal industries started, mainly in baking, wheat and maize flour milling, sweet factories, vegetable oil factories, etc. Today Thika Oshwals own some of the biggest industries in Kenya.

In 1980, the first Shah Free Eye Camp was held under Shree Visa Oshwal Community, Thika. Due to the tax exemption status of Shree Jain Youth League, it was agreed to revive it and since then, all the preceding Eye and ENT Camps have been held under the banner of Shree Jain Youth League. The Shah Free Eye and ENT Camps have been the biggest medical camps outside India. For the last 30 years our own Oshwal, Dr. S.K. Savla from Bombay, has been giving his voluntary service as the team leader of all the doctors from India. Thousands of poor Kenyans with sight and sound ailments have benefited from this great humanitarian work.

In 1980, Shree Visa Oshwal Community got its first post office box number - 157.

Mohanlal Dharamshi Shah was chairman from 1981-1983.
Nandlal Devshi Malde was chairman from 1984-1985.

On 1983, Gulabchand Meghji Kanji left Thika to settle in Nairobi.

In July 1983, the first mini Oshwal sports festival was held in Thika. Oshwal teams from Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret and Nyeri participated.

In 1984, Kenya was facing a severe drought and Shree Visa Oshwal Community Thika, together with other Hindu and Sikh communities of Thika, donated Kshs 81,486/25 to H.E. President Daniel Arap Moi.

Mohanlal Dharamshi Shah was chairman from 1986-1989.

In 1987, the 46th Board Adhivashan took place in Thika.

In 1987, three young Oshwals, Nimesh Raichand Shah, Divyesh Zaverchand Shah and Jitain Premchand Shah, cycled from Thika to Mombasa to raise funds for badminton and tennis courts for the community.

In 1990, Kshs 100,000/= was donated to H.E President Daniel Arap Moi for the Bursary Fund.

Mr. Ramniklal Dharamshi Dhanani was chairman in 1990 and resigned in May. He performed the ‘Khanan Vidhi’ of the Shikarbandhi Derasar.

On 01/12/1989, the families of Vershi Devshi and Co. donated Kshs 400,000/= to renovate the Ghar Derasar and turn it into a Shikharbandhi Derasar. The foundation stone was laid by their family on 14/02/1990. The erection of this new Derasar took place from 1990-1998. The architecture design and construction was all locally based. As the contractor left the construction midway, the Pujari Mr. Bhavarbhai Mali together with the chairman Mr. Mahendra Keshavlal Shah and the convenor Mr. Mohanlal Dharamshi Shah, worked tirelessly to ensure that it was completed. There were many donors and Mr. P.L. Dodhia and his brothers pledged Kshs 125,000/= for the bricks and stones. Later in 1995, their mother, Mrs. Ratanben Lakhamshi Meghji Dodhia, pledged another Kshs 1,500,000/= towards the cost of tiles and marble for the new Derasar. Mr. Ratilal Hemraj Parivar also donated the 14 silver dreams (sapna) at a cost of Kshs 500,000/=. Mr. Govindji Depar Shah of Mombasa donated the silver cradle (Parnu).

It was agreed to add the Idols of Shree Adinath Bhagwan and Shree Parshvanath Bhagwan. The Idol of Shree Parshvanath Bhagwan was donated by Ratilal Hemraj Shah. The idol of Adinath Bhagwan was donated by Punjalal Kachra Shah. The Pratishtha Mohatsav was held on 3rd February 1998 - 7th February 1998. The Pratishtha ceremony was performed by Mr. Navinbhai Babulal Shah of Jamnagar and presided over by Jin Chandra Vijaji Maharaj of Tithal. Thika Oshwals donated generously and a souvenier was published.

The pratishta of the idols was performed by the following pariwars:

Mahavirswami Bhagwan   Mohanlal Dharamshi Padana Parivar
Parshavanath Bhagvan   Punjalal Kachra Parivar
Adhinath Bhagvan   Ratilal Hemraj Parivar
Naminath Bhagvan   Dr. Jayendra Malde Parivar
Dharmanath Bhagvan   Virchand Devchand Parivar

The Dwar opening of the Derasar was done by the family of Fulchand Lakhamshi Shah on 7th February 1998.

Mr. Mahendra Keshavlal Ladha was elected as chairman in June 1990 and he continued as the chairman for eight years from 1990-1997.

On 25/03/1991, the trustees for ten years were elected. They were:

Shree Mohanlal Dharamshi Shah
Shree Maganlal Hemraj Shah
Shree Ratilal Hemraj Shah
Shree Ratilal Fulchand Shah

In 1992, Shree Visa Oshwal Community Thika organised the first swimming gala at Kasarani Sports Complex, Nairobi. Teams from Thika, Nairobi, Mombasa and Meru participated. Mr. Jitain Premchand Shah was convenor of the event.

On 25/06/1995, a foundation stone for the new Upashray hall, office and residential block was laid by Mr. Mohanlal Dharamshi Shah. The cost of this new building was Kshs 15,000,000/=. It was officially opened on 07/02/1998 by Lakhamshi Meghji Dodhia Parivar. Many Oshwal families donated generously towards this project.

The 55th Board Adhivashan was again held in Thika in 1996 and Mr. Mohanlal Dharamshi Shah was elected the chairman of the Oshwal Education and Relief Board. However, since then no other Board Adhivasans have been held at Thika.

Ratilal Hemraj Shah was chairman in 1998 and hence resigned as a trustee. On 02/06/1998, Ramniklal Nemchand Mepa Shah (R.N) was elected as a trustee and Amichand Fulchand Shah was elected as the secretary.

In June 1998, due to a typhoon in Halar, Thika Gnati sent Kshs 100,000/=.

In August 1999, Shree Visa Oshwal Community Thika and Shree Jain Youth League hosted a farewell lunch for Premchand Lakhamshi Dodhia.

Motichand Hansraj Dodhia was chairman for five years from 1999-2003.

Jain Sanghs from Mombasa, Nairobi, Dar-es-Salaam and Nakuru visited Thika for Jatra from 1999-2007.

On 20/01/2000, it was decided in a special general meeting that when any marriage took place between a Thika Oshwal boy/girl to any Hindu cast at the Mahajanwadi, the couple should be given a marriage certificate and the marriage gift should be accepted by Oshwals.

In 1998, Shree Chandna Vidya Peeth was started as a Patshala and continues to date. Adult Jain classes have also started.

Various donations were made to the victims of the earthquake in Gujarat, Panjrapur, Oshwal Welfare and Charitable Trust Mumbai, Famine Relief Fund and Kitale Visa Oshwal Mandal. Funds were also raised for the medical treatment of Miss Vasanti Nemchand Mepa Shah.

On 18/06/2001, three trustees were elected, namely:

Shree Mohanlal Dharamshi Shah
Shree Ratilal Hemraj Shah
Shree Ratilal Fulchand Shah

In February 2002, the 4th Pratishtha of the Derasar occurred. Munishree Jinchandra Vijayji of Triputi Bandhu, Tithal conducted the ceremony. At this time, Thika Gnati donated Rupees 111,000/= towards Shantiniketan Sadhna Kendra, Tithal.

On 19/03/2002, a special general meeting was held to discuss constitutional amendments. It was decided from now on to elect three trustees for a span of 5 years, instead of 10 years.

Mahendra Keshavlal Ladha was chairman from 2004-2005.
Dr. Jayendra Malde was chairman from 2006-2008.

For the last three years, Jain scholars from Tapovan (India) have been invited to share their knowledge during the annual Paryushan Mohatsav.

In September 2007, the Thika Directory was updated and a copy was given to each household free of charge.

After the 2007 presidential elections, due to conflict and displaced people, Thika Gnati donated aluminium pots and pans worth Kshs 50,000/= to the Red Cross, Thika.

On 30/09/2007, Pujari Dinesh Bhatt resigned due to ill health and Pujari Kamlesh Arvind Zala from Jamnagar, India was employed.

In October 2007, Thika Gnati donated 200,000 Rupees to Aradhana Dham, India.

On 17/05/2009, a farewell lunch was held in honour of Motichand Hansraj Dodhia who left for Nairobi. He was Hon. Treasurer of our Community for a continuous period of 18 (Eighteen) years from 1980 to 1997.

Kalpesh Maganlal Hemraj Shah is the current chairman.