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Chapter 32. Eminent Personalities
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an ordinary man. There are not enough words to describe his sacrifice.
There are very outstanding and extraordinary people who rose from poverty and became rich beyond their expectation and did so much for the community. Some of who are:
Premchand Vrajpal Shah: Premchandbhai was born in the village of Padana in 1897 A.D. He studied up to third grade in Gujarati. At the tender age of 14 he boarded the steamer from Porbunder and left for East Africa. In 1916 A.D. he settled down in Fort Hall (Muranga). He became a very successful businessman in a short span of time.
In 1924 A.D. he moved to Thika where he stayed until he returned to India in 1941 A.D. In Thika he started many businesses, industries, manufacturing plants and the like in partnership with others and became one of the richest men of the Oshwal community. He had reached the highest peak in the business field. His achievements and work in the social and political fields were no less.
He was an active member of the Kenya Indian National Congress. In 1924 A.D. during the conference of the Kenya Indian National Congress a resolution was passed to fight against the poll tax which every Asian of 18 years and older had to pay. Premchandbhai joined the fight. The government passed a law that any one who refused to pay the tax would be fined or put into jail. Premchandbhai elected to go to jail. In 1927 A.D. he was elected treasurer of the Indian National Congress Foundation Fund. He took a leading role in building the Desai Memorial Hall in Nairobi. He gave scholarships to native Africans to go for higher studies in India. He also gave generously financial aid and loans to native Africans in establishing businesses. He helped Peter Koinange in establishing an African school in Githunguri.
