Rise and Glory History of Halari Visa Oshwals

Author(s): Rati Dodhia
Publisher: Rati Dodhia

Page 8

PREFACE
In late 1970's Keshubhai Chandaria asked me to get the volume of postdoctoral thesis on Halari Visa Oshwals written by John Irwing Zarwal. It was very fascinating. First time I read the history of my community written in English by a foreigner.
I was born in Nairobi Kenya in 1936 AD. Reading the thesis made me realize that how ancient and rich culture my community represented. It made me proud to have such rich heritage and be part of the present evolution. Ever since it has become my passion to learn more about my roots. Over the years I have read many books, articles written in journals, the souvenirs published by my community on special occasions and stories told by elders. All these brought back to me my personal experiences while I was growing up in Kenya and while I was studying in India.
My community which in olden times exerted much influence and power in commerce and trade, occupied important administrative and military posts with many rulers and one time wrote authoritative books on grammar, mathematics and medicine had fallen down so low that often they did not have enough to eat and they were ridiculed by their own effluent brothers. Their contribution to the cultural heritage of India is immeasurable.
Most of the history of Halari Visa Oshwals, about their social structure, customs and religion in English is written by Western scholars, which are not easily available to a layperson.
Many people of my age are not aware of the true history. Most of the younger generation as they are not well versed in Gujarati or other Indian languages have very little or no knowledge of our history. I felt duty bound to write