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Chapter 23. Mombasa
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build a kitchen, dining hall and stores and a sixteen room residential block. In spite of the strained relations, in 1935 A.D. the Mombasa committee started the construction of the project. However they did not have enough money to go further and the construction was halted. The majority of the community people on both sides were interested in reconciliation. Some prominent community leaders worked as mediators. After hard work and continuous negotiations the dispute was settled. There was peace and harmony between the two groups. It was one united community again. After three years of standstill, the first phase consisting of the kitchen, dining hall and stores and the first nine rooms in the residential block was completed with an interest-free loan and funds from community members and officially opened in August 1938. After the loan and funds borrowed from the community members in 1935 A.D. were repaid, there was a surplus to carry out more development activities including completion of the residential block. In December 1946 seven additional rooms in the residential block, a three-room basement and a front veranda (porch) encompassing the whole 16-room block were completed and opened for community use.
The 16-room residential block was not enough to meet the need of the community. It was decided to build a five-story building (Oshwal Mansion). In August 1952 the construction was started and the work was finished by January 1954.
To meet the need for additional social facilities, a new dining hall and an out-house was added. The construction was started in August 1955 and was finished by March 1956. Soon after completion of the new facilities, an extension on the old dining hall was started and completed by February 1957.
The Golden Jubilee of the mahajanwadi was celebrated on September 29, 1978. At that time, the community
