Book Title: Rise and Glory History of Halari Visa Oshwals
Author(s): Rati Dodhia
Publisher: Rati Dodhia

Previous | Next

Page 213
________________ Chapter 32. Eminent Personalities 197 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.

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287