RICH HISTORY: The first descendents of Asian origin to settle in Thika.
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Mepa Punja Shah during
the opening ceremony of their new construction in 1957.
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The earliest to settle in Thika – Shah Meghji Ladha and
Meghji Kanji – coming to the area in 1910.
Later some more Indians settled in Thika, near the present
day Blind School, with others settling in Makindi which was about 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.
They had a passion for business in their blood and soon
started small scale businesses after the First World War. In the old clock
tower still planted at the roundabout (Githaa-ini) on Kwame Nkrumah Road, stood
provisional and agricultural stores.
They later built shops and homes out of iron sheets. The
first shop in old town was started by Jamal Hirji Ojami in 1914.
Towards the end of the 19th century, outsiders
began to settle in this outpost as a convenient resting spot between Nairobi
and the upcountry highlands for British settlers.
Majority of the settlers who came to the area were of
British aristocracy, of British English Anglo-origin. By 1913, it was already a
favourite camp for big-game hunters and beyond it there was only bush and
plain.
Other whites came to Thika shortly after that and started
coffee plantations.
By 1933, the Asian population had grown to nearly 280. Premchand
Vrajpar, Meghji Kanji, Ladha Khimji, Vershi Mepa, Meghji Lakhamshi, Hemraj
Ladha and others got together and formed the Oshwal community.
With this, Shree Visa Oshwal Jain Gnati Mandal was
established in 1934 and the name was later changed to Shree Visa Oshwal Gnati.
They approached the then 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’.
(Related story: THE HISTORY OF THIKA TOWN)
On 18th February 1935, Hemraj Ladha laid the foundation stone for the buildings.
On 18th February 1935, Hemraj Ladha laid the foundation stone for the buildings.
Education at that time was at the Government Indian Primary
School (now Gatumaini Primary School) and for higher education, Oshwals had to
go to Nairobi where they stayed at the Oshwal boarding.
Most of these 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’, 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.
Shree Jain Youth League was established on 1st April
1941 under Shree Visa Oshwal Gnati. Its first chairman was Devshi Mepa Shah who
continued until his demise in 1960.
He was awarded the M.B.E by the Queen of England in
recognition of his social and charitable work. His secretary, Shree Keshavlal
Ladha Bid, 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.
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| Most of the Oshwals were in small retail businesses including garment manufacturing, but others were more enterprising and ventured into industry. |
By 1941, more than 100 businesses within Thika, 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 verandas.
In 1947, Hindi Mahila Mandal was inaugurated by Thika Gnati
to bring together our Oshwal ladies and other Hindu ladies.
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.
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 epi-centre 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.
By the time Kenya gained its independence on 12th
December 1963, the Oshwal population had reached about 1,000 people. All Jain
and Hindu religious functions were held with both communities together supporting
each other.
Between 1968 and 1972, most Oshwals closed down shop and
migrated to the United Kingdom (UK) for fear of a backlash after the Kenyan
government started introducing Kenyanisation in businesses owned by Asians of
British origin.
However, 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 Thika Shree Visa Oshwal Community held the
first Shah Free Eye Camp. 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 Thika’s 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.
(Info courtesy of Thika Oshwals website.)
They have done great work to the community . Even offering employment to our young Kenyans , no wonder why God has blessed them.
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