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FOREWORD
This book," History of Halari Visa Oshwals " in English by Dr. Ratilal Dodhia, provides information about our origin, hardships our ancestors faced and how they overcame them, migration to various places, entrepreneurship and traditions. Many people have written about our origin, settlement in Halar and migration to East Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America and Canada, but this is the first comprehensive document in English. It is divided in four parts: Part I deals with the origin of Oshwals in Rajasthan, India; Part II deals with the migration of Oshwals in Cutchh; Part III deals with the migration of Oshwals from Cutchh to Halar region of Jamnagar District of State of Gujarat, India, and Part IV deals with rise and glory of Halari Oshwals since the beginning of 20th century.
The Oshwal community was founded 70 years after Lord Mahavir's nirvana (i.e. Vikram Savant 400 or 457 BC) in the city of Osiya (the name 'Oshwal is derived from the name of the city), which is located about 32 miles from Jodhpur in State of Rajasthan, when some people from a warrior caste (Kashtriya) were converted to Jainism. Because of religious and political persecutions, and difficult economic conditions, a large contingent of Oshwals moved from Rajasthan to Sindh (which is now in Pakistan) around tenth century while some moved to Punjab and Cutchh. Again the conditions in Sindh became hostile for Oshwals so a mass migration of Oshwals from Sindh to Cutchh took place in sixteenth and seventeenth century. Some of them, after a stay of merely 25 years, moved to Halar with Jam Rawal. The families of Jam Rawal and Rao Khengarji who had Kingdoms in Cutchh were feuding and to avoid more blood shed, Jam Rawal moved to Kathiawad/ Saurastra in circa 1520 AD. Some Oshwals joined him because they were afraid that Rao Khengarji would not treat them well. Because of very short stay in Cutchh, not much information about the Oshwals who first settled in Cutchh and later moved to Halar is available.
