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Part IV. Rise and Glory
as a candidate for the local Municipal Council. One of his pet projects was to capture all the Jain temples and monuments on camera and get them printed in book form for the benefit of future generations. In spite of being so rich he was the most humble and kind person. He passed away in Nairobi in 1978 A.D.
Ratilal Chandaria: Ratilal Chandaria was born on 24 October 1922 in Kenya. He was instrumental in expanding the family business in other parts of world.
In 1972 A.D. he was a member of the welfare for evacuees committee of Uganda. He was founder chairman of the Asian Association UK; He was elected President of the Oshwal Association of UK and later on as the chairman of the Board of Trustees in 1978 A.D. In 1988 A.D. he served as the chairman of the Fund Raising Committee.
In 1972 A.D. he became a member of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan executive committee and later on was elected secretary. In 1982 A.D. he became a trustee of Bharatiya Gymkhana and in 1995 A.D. he was elected Chairman. He was a Trustee of the Asian Women's Association in 1982 A.D. In 1991 A.D. he served as a member of the Board of trustees of the Festival of India.
He founded the International Forum of Overseas Indians. He founded and served as a chairman of the Sports and Physical Education Foundation. He is a member of the boards of trustees of the International Literature Trust London and the Religious Guest House (yatrik grun) in Palitana India.
Somchand Premchand Shah: He was born in Nairobi on August 10, 1911. During his high school days he founded the Visa Oshwal Yuvak Mandal (Visa Oshwal Youth League) in Nairobi. He helped to start a monthly publication Aagal Dhaso (move forward). To acquire subscribers he traveled on foot from Thika to Muranga.