________________
164
Part IV. Rise and Glory
Many professionals (mainly doctors and engineers) from East Africa and India started migrating to the USA after 1965 A.D., as it was easy to get permanent settlement visas. Also, as Oshwals became interested in higher education, many started coming to the USA for specialized training in fields such as computer science and they stayed, as there was a demand for their skills. Some came specifically for investment purposes. Since 1970 A.D. a large number of Oshwals who came to the USA for settlement have been relatives of Oshwals already residing in the USA, just as in Kenya and the United Kingdom, Oshwals already living in the USA supported them whenever help was needed.
At present the total Oshwal population of the USA is estimated to be about 1,500 people. There is an active Halari Visa Oshwals Association of America. During a Christmas gathering in 1985 at Venilal Sumaria's home the Oshwal group from New England decided to start an association. The Oshwals from the North East, including Champa and Velji Bid of Livingston, New Jersey, gave their full support. The first meeting was held in Massachusetts in 1987 A.D. The association was officially formed. Gulabchand Khimchand Raishi was elected as the president and Venilal Sumaria as the secretary. The association elects an executive committee every two years. It publishes a newsletter regularly. Surya and Satish Panachand Shah of Texas publish a Members Directory every three to four years jointly with Oshwals in Canada. The association has a web site, probably the only Halari Oshwal web site. Ketan Dodhia of Suffern, New York, updates it regularly. For the last several years women have been elected as the president and they have done a wonderful job. These are Dr. Vibha Mukesh Shah (19971999), Pooni daughter of Champu and Velji Bid (19992001) and Manisha Kantilal Shah (2001-2005). This is probably the only Oshwal Association with women as presidents.
