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Part IV. Rise and Glory
Oshwal Yuvak Sangh and Mahila Mandal (women's organization) are very active organizations and participate fully in all activities of the community.
The community started publication of a quarterly magazine Oshwal Darshan on March 29,1983. Vaghji Velji Gudka has edited it since its inception.
The community had acquired a parcel of land off Nyerere Avenue in January 1992. In 1996 construction of swimming pool was started on this land, which was completed by 1997.
Health Services: In 1946 A.D., the monk Pujya (revered) Yati Shri Hemchandraji arrived in Mombasa and he advised community leaders to start social projects, which would benefit the general public. Following his advice, the community opened a medical dispensary in mahajanwadi on December 26, 1946. This was fully staffed and treated as many as 500 patients a week, most of whom were Africans. Later, a maternity home was opened in 1954 A.D. using some rooms in the mahanjanwadi. In 1958 A.D. the community purchased land for a hospital and maternity home. The project failed as the city government refused to evict 36 squatters. Both the dispensary and maternity home were closed in 1969 A.D. as very few Oshwals were using the facilities and it was difficult to get staff to manage the facilities.
The Mombasa Oshwal community was the first Oshwal community in East Africa and probably in the world to start a health insurance plans for its members.
Commercial Activities: Being the gateway to Kenya and Uganda Mombasa was a very important seaport. Most of the Oshwals were in the import business importing mostly consumer goods for Kenyans and Ugandans. Oshwals began to branch out into industries in nineteen-sixties A.D. Prior to 1960 A.D., Oshwals owned two major
