Jain Digest 2015 06

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 46

JAIN DIGEST
Jains in UK
Written by Dr.Vinod Kapasi
UK comprises of England, Wales, Scotland and were brought here in separate pieces and were all Northern Ireland. The Jain population in the UK is assembled here by the Indian craftsmen. The mulmainly concentrated in the England. Most of the nayak is Mahavir Swami and there are other two Jains are in London, Leicester and Manchester city idols; Parshvanath Bhagvan and Aadinath Bhagvan. areas. Most of the Jains have arrived in late 1960s There are idols of Veer Manibhadra and Padmavati and early 1970s. People like me came to this country Devi. Outside the temple, one can see 24 idols of 24 on a 'Graduate Work Permit Visa'. At that time few Tirthankars and other beautifully carved structures of Jains gathered during Paryushan to celebrate their Samovasaran and Guru Gautam Swami. Oshwals holy days. The life was very different then and people have built 52 Otlas (seating platforms round a tree) could not meet very regularly.
commemorating the 52 villages in Jamnagar district.
Oshwal community migrated from these 52 villages. After 1970, the political climate in East Africa In the same large compound, there is a huge car-park worsened and people started leaving Kenya, Uganda and a magnificent hall which can be rented for social and Tanzania. In 1972, people were forced to leave activities. Uganda by Idi Amin. This way the Jain population in the UK increased. Even now 75% of the Jains here have come from East African countries. In this exodus from East Africa, large proportion of the Jains were from Oshwal community. They established their own Oshwal Association here. Non-Oshwal community was somewhat smaller and they were collectively known as Navnat people. When they came to England they established Navnat Vanik Association here. Today this two are the major organisations here. After the initial period, many other organizations were formed. Jain Samaj Europe was established in Leicester and has made a remarkable progress. In London, we have Institute of Jainology, Mahavir Foundation and other organisations.
At present there are approximately 35,000 Jains living in the UK. Out of this, more than 25,000 are in Greater Oshwal community has three more properties in the London area and some 4 to 5 thousand in Leicester greater London area. One in Kingsbury, the second and some 5,000 scattered at different places.
one in Croydon and the third one in Hounslow. The
Oshwals have established their roots very firmly in Details of Jain organisations
the UK and the Young Oshwals have made very good
progress in various fields. Oshwal Association: is the largest Jain organisation as there are more than 15,000 Oshwals here. The Navnat Vanik Association: Second largest main office is in Potters Bar (a small town situated organisation in the UK is NVA. It has got its own big about 15 miles from North-West London). Here property with 18 acres of land in Hayes area of London. Oshwals bought 84 acres of land in 1984. There is a Navnat Vanik has membership of mainly Jains, but beautiful community hall and a magnificent derasar. many non-Jains are also the members like Kapole, The derasar is built in a Jain architectural tradition Modh, Porwad and Khadayta Vanik). The hall is the and all the carved stones like pillars, torans and dome hub of Navnat's many activities. Navnats have also
46 I MAY-JUN 2015