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Appendix 2. History of Halari Visa Oshwals in World
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yearly fees, ghee bolies (auctions) and donations from individuals in Nairobi and throughout the Central Province. Shortly afterwards Visa Oshwal Halari Mandal was constituted to manage activities which took place in the temple. Religious and the social organizations merged in mid-1930s.
1928 A.D.: Visa Oshwal Youth League was formed. At the same time a similar organization was started in Mombasa. In Nairobi the Youth League started extracurricular activities such as sports, exercises, debates, music and the like. They even started a monthly publication Agad Dhaso under the editorship of Amratlal Raishi in which revolutionary articles were published.
1935 A.D.: Jain Youth League was formed in Nairobi by Devchand Premchand Chandaria and other young people including Devchand Patani, Velji Gosar Maru, Velji Galaiya, Mulchand Somchand Khimasia, Lakhamshi Ranmal, Velji Khimchand, and Rupchand Hirji. They published a special Divali issue of a magazine called Jyotsna.
1936 A.D.: A killer famine struck the sub continent of India. Saurastra was badly affected. Meghji Pethraj Shah took the initiative and called a meeting held in the premises of the firm of Premchand Raichand & Co. The people in attendance included Premchand Vrajpal Shah, Bharmal Raishi, Popatlal Karman, Vershi Mepa, Somchand Meghji, Hemchand Meghji, Maganlal Popat Chandaria, Virji Narshi, Amratlal Bharmal and other community leaders. A formal community association called the Visa Oshwal Halari Mahajan Mandal was formed. Meghji Pethraj was elected as the president. A decision was made to establish a famine relief fund. A total of 175000 shillings was collected in the fund. A Committee was formed in Jamnagar to distribute the necessary help such as clothing, food, and money to the needy in Halar under the guidance of Halari Visa Oshwal Mandal. This was a timely help.
