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Appendix 2. History of Halari Visa Oshwals in World
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Pandhurna
1937 A.D.: Narshi Lakhamshi Gudhka of the village of Gagva came to Pandhurna and opened a provision store named Shah Raishi Hirji & Company in partnership with his brother Fulchand Lakhamshi selling groceries.
1945 A.D.: Narshi Lakhamshi Gudhka started an oil mill. Many more Oshwals followed him and started their own private businesses. At present there are 27 Halari Oshwal families with population of around 145 people.
1980 A.D.: A formal association was formed called Shree Svetamber Murtipujak Jain Samaj with Ratilal Narshi Gudhka son of Narshi Lakhamshi Gudhka as the chairman.
1986 A.D.: When Narendra Raichand Gudhka was the chairman a decision to build a temple was made.
1987 A.D.: The Raichand Juthalal Dodhia family laid the foundation stone of the prayer hall on October 10.
1989 A.D.: The Keshavji Khachra Khimasia family (village Vasai laid the foundation stone of the Jain temple (ghar derasar). Later on same year when the construction of the temple was completed the installation ceremony of the images of Tirthankara was performed under the supervision of Acharya Shree Nardev Sagar Surishwarji. Three images were installed. The image of Lord Shitalnath as the principal deity (Mulnayak) in the middle was installed by the Raichand Narshi Gudhka family, the image of Lord Sambhavnath on the right was installed by the Raishi Haria family and image of Lord Malinath on the left by Dhanji Meghji Vora. In addition the Motiben Fulchand family also installed a metal image of Lord Shitalnath. In addition to the temple there are two general-purpose halls and three rooms built at the same time. Many families participated in this auspicious event. Maniben Meghji
