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Part IV. Rise and Glory
had heard about Africa from members of other communities in Navanagar especially Khojas, Bhatiyas, Memons, and seafaring castes. However they preferred to go to Kenya. As Kenya, like India was also part of the British Empire people thought that they would receive favorable treatment there.
Four courageous sons of the Halari Oshwal community, Hirji Kara from Moti Rafudal, Popat Vershi from Ambla, Devji Hirji and Nathoo Devji from Dhunia in 1899 A.D. left their homeland took the arduous journey by Arab dhow from Porbunder to East Africa to escape poverty. They landed in Mombasa after several weeks of sea voyage. As there were no hotels they probably either stayed in rest houses (Hindu dharamshala) or some kind person's house.
Hirj Kara came from a relatively wealthy family. His father Kara Nathoo Malde ran a business in Moti Rafudal and owned a farm, which he ran by employing hired hands. Kara Nathoo and his wife Panchiben were well respected by people and they addressed them as Kara Seth and Panchi Sethani. Kara Seth was kind and caring person and was concerned about the poverty that prevailed in Halari Visa Oshwal community. He heard about the great opportunities and good prospects available in Africa from the people of other communities who had migrated there. He felt that migration to East Africa could be a way to alleviate the poverty and better lead to a better life for his community. He invited and held a meeting of the leaders of Oshwal community at his home. He told them about the opportunities available in Africa and at the same told them about his decision to send his eldest son Hirji to East Africa. The people who attended the meeting thought that this was an excellent suggestion and promised him that they would seriously consider about it. This apparently prompted the four youths from Halari Visa Oshwal community to go to East Africa. It is also said that Khojas from the village of Hirji Kara who had already settled down in East Africa persuaded him to come.
