Jain Heritage and Beyond

Author(s): Shailesh Shah
Publisher: Oshwal Associations of The UK

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housed the Adminstration block, a small temple (Ghar Deraser) and facilities to organise small functions. The old stables and barns were removed and in its place now stand the two large assembly halls fronted by a large, well landscaped car park.
One of the other Area has the good fortune of having been able to have its own Mahajanwadi. The building in Croydon, Surrey was acquired by the Association to serve the needs of the people residing in the South Area. It too houses a Ghar Derasar where religious activites are organised on a regular basis.
The next phase of course in the development of Oshwal Centre was the construction of a Shikharbandhi Jain Deraser which will include a beatifully landscaped gardens.
The advancement of Oshwals in the U.K. has been remarkable. Today we have a large number of professionals in fields such as law, medicine, accountancy, pharmacy, engineering, banking, economics, science, information technology, commerce and many more.
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At this point we must also acknowledge the tremendous South London Mahajanwadi amount of hard work that has been put in by a large number of Oshwals who have over the years served in the Management Committees either at Area level or at Central Executive level. These pillars are our community who have worked through even in the face of adversity to ensure that the members of the Association are provided with the best service possible. One clear example of the Oshwal resolve to never retreat in any difficulty is the unquestionable generosity of twenty two Oshwals who gave their personal guarantees to the bank when the Association had to borrow money to develop Oshwal Centre. It is the iron will of such people that puts the element of greatness into the Halari Visa Oshwal Community,
The characteristics of hard work, thrift, honesty, prudence have served us well in the U.K. and the Oshwal settlement has flourished. Most of the first generation of Oshwals born in the U.K. are probably unaware of the struggles and formidable challenges that had been faced by their parents and grandparents in making a new home in a new country. However, through the auspices of the Oshwal Association of the U.K. and the activities run by the various Areas of the Association it is evident that the Oshwal Youth do respect and understand the need to have and maintain their unigue cultural identity. By further encouragement and invlovement the Oshwal Youth can play a very significant role in the development of the Oshwal Association in the years to come. They will and should make their own mark in the rich history of Oshwals and in particular the rich cultural heritage of the Halari Visa Oshwals.
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