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CHAPTER 27
ACTIVITIES IN INDIA
Jamnagar
In Jamnagar young people, encouraged by youth activities in East Africa, formed an association called Visa Oshwal Yuvak Mitra Mandal. They were also much concerned to change the old customs of child marriage, mis-match marriages (old men marrying young girls), selling girls for marriages (kanya vikray), and so on. The movement started bringing about changes slowly but surely.
Jamnagar was a main stop for travelers. The number of travelers was increasing but there were no facilities for them to stay. The Yuvak Mandal rented two rooms outside Khambhalia Gate, which was used as a rest house for travelers. The villagers had no or very little excess to health care system. A small fund was collected and an agreement was made with Irving Hospital to provide health care to sick people, which became very successful.
Mahajanwadi: The hard work of Yuvak Mandal paid up. The attitude of the community leaders changed. A generous gentleman Ratanshi Rajpal of Dhinchada, who has a successful business in Arvi, Madhya Pradesh, was impressed and pledged a donation of a thousand Rupees towards the project for a rest house for travelers. They were so much encouraged that they went around and got pledges of seven to eight thousand more rupees. This was still not enough. Meanwhile an active community leader from Mombasa, Kanji Meghji Malde, of the village of Changa, was visiting Jamnagar with his family for personal business. He sought accommodation in Cutchhi Rest House. He was refused as the caretaker was given specific instructions not to give accommodations to Halari
