If you would prefer to receive them electronically via email (which helps us out!), please send a message to newsletter@oshwal- The usa.org or visit our website at <www.oshwal-usa.org> Halar Oshwal Report A Newsletter by the Halari Visa Oshwals of America www.oshwal-usa.org Issue 6: Spring 2004 Executive Board Message from the President (2002-2003) Jai Jinedra, Next US - Canada Gather- Presi dent U.S. – Once again, it's my pleasure to update you on some of the ing; August 6-8, 2004; To- Manisha K. Shah key activities of Halari Visa Oshwals of America. ronto, Canada (845)-462-0321 Last year several State representatives had arranged picnics [email protected] and dinners. These gatherings were extremely successful. We would At the JAINA 2003 convention, prelimi- like to thank all the State representatives for arranging such gather- nary plans were announced for the next Vice President ings. We hope they will continue with similar activities this year US-Canada gathering to take place some Dinesh V. Shah – MN and invite others arrange similar gatherings in their States. time in Late Summer 2004, near Toronto, (952)-432-8390 Our traditional annual Oshwal gathering on the Thanksgiv- Ontario, Canada. [email protected] ing Day was also very successful. There was full participation by all the attendees in the activities and this made the whole evening very The plan is to hold the event during the Treasurer enjoyable for everyone. We thank all of the community members weekend of August 6-8, 2004, in Toronto, Tushar Shah for their participation in the evening’s program. We would like to Canada. Mark your calender! (201)-694-0517 encourage State representatives to arrange similar gatherings in their [email protected] region to develop closer contacts among Oshwals. Everyone had a great time last time we This year the Northeast annual picnic will be in Rockland, had our get-together in Rochester Assistant-Treasurer N.Y. on June 20th 2004. We would like to invite all Oshwals living Nimish J. Vora – VA in the Northeast region to this year’s picnic. We also whole- Check the website for more details soon at (818)-917-7245 www.oshwal-usa.org. [email protected] heartedly welcome Oshwals living in other regions. The Oshwal community of Canada will host the joint USA Secretary and Canada Oshwal biannual gathering in Toronto on August 6, Northest Regional Picnic Rajesh Shah – MA 7,and 8, 2004. Details will be posted on the Web site. The first such (978)-235-3323 gathering took place in Rochester, N.Y. in 2002. Although some of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut– [email protected] us were meeting each other for the first time, it seemed like we June 20, 2004 Assistant-Secretary knew each other for a life time. Smita Dipak Shah - IL A friendly reminder: Please make sure that you inform A picnic for the NY, NJ, CT Oshwals and (630)-960-2528 Surya and Satish Shah of Plano, TX of any changes or additions in their friends has been arranged for Sun- [email protected] the Oshwal directory by completing the form available on our web day, June 20, 2004, between site - www.oshwal-usa.org 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the Clark Recreation Webmaster On behalf of the Executive Committee, I would like to Ketan M. Dodhia - NY Center, in Suffern, New York. For more thank the editor of our Newsletter, Rajesh Shah of Massachusetts information, please contact Manisha Shah (845)-357-7808 for his hard working and dedication in ensuring timely publication [email protected] at (845)-462-0321 or of the Newsletter. To make the Newsletter more interesting, we [email protected] Assistant-Webmaster need your input. Please do not hesitate to contact Rajesh with any Chandulal L. Shah - NJ information that will be of interest to the community. Please provide We will post directions and times on the (973)-376-2651 us your comments and suggestions about the Newsletter. website at www.oshwal-usa.org very soon. [email protected] Most of our community news is regularly posted on our Web site: www.oshwal-usa.org. Our special thanks to Ketan Dod- Directory Maintainer hia, the webmaster, for keeping the site user-friendly and updating it OSHWALS - TEXAS AND Satish P. Shah - TX regularly. (972)-618-9509 OKLAHOMA We welcome suggestions and comments from you all to [email protected] serve our community better and we encourage you active participa- A picnic of Visa Oshwals and friends has tion in our activities. * * * been arranged for Sunday, May 16, 2004 Finally, I really appreciate the support and suggestions I at the Russell Creek Park Pavilion, 3500 Feel free to share ideas, am receiving from our community members and the Executive comments, or suggestions McDermott Road, Plano, TX between 3 committee. P.M. to 9 P.M. Please bring your own soft with any of us. drinks and finger food or snacks. We will Thank You. arrange for take-out pizzas for dinner. For further information, contact Surya or Sat- Manisha K. Shah,President ish Shah, Tel: 972 618 9509 Halari Visa Oshwals of America Tell your family & friends to visit www.oshwal-usa.org and update their Directory listing. 1 Regional - In 1966 Jain Center of America, NY was estab- History of Jains in North America: “Evolution” lished. Represent atives: According to Prof. Noel King of University of Maryland, Virginia, D.C. California and Dr. Surendra Singhvi of Cincinnati, - In 1969 Jain Center of Metropolitan Chicago was Niru Manu Shah “Jainas and Jaina Scholars did leave India’s shore established. [email protected] many times during the last 2000 years. In eight- Florida eenth and nineteenth century Jainism was some- - In 1971, Gurudev Chitrabhanu first visited the what known to the west from some of the Indian USA, the first Jain Monk to part with monastic Veni Shah, books which found their way to Europe and then traditions, to spread the message of Jainism and veni.sh [email protected] to New England in U.S.A. These were mostly non-violence. He permanently arrived to the USA North Carolina, South Caro- brought here by Christian Missionaries and schol- in 1974 and established Jain Meditation Interna- lina, Georgia ars.” tional Center. Nutan Anuj Malde [email protected] Our clear and documented story begins over 100 - In 1973 Jain Center of Greater Boston and Jain Southern California, Arizona years ago in 1893. A New York Times article in Society of Toronto were established. Nimish Vora September 1893 talked of dignitaries from India [email protected] who arrived in New York aboard the steam ship Jasvant Mehta, Chair, PARIS in transit to Chicago to attend the first Jaina History Executive Committee. Northe rn California, Hawaii Parliament of World’s Religions. Among them Jyotsn a Sudhir Shah was a Jaina, Virchand R. Gandhi who was de- This is an abbreviated version of the history jyo [email protected] scribed as a young man with heavy black mus- and proposal that can viewed at Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky tache. To Mr. Pipe, a reporter of the New York www.oshwal-usa.org. Smita Dipak Shah Times, Mr. Gandhi explained that Jaina faith was the oldest in the world and went on to state “I [email protected] come from India, the mother of religions. I repre- HALARI VISA OSHWALS OF AMERICA Mi ssouri, Iowa, Kansas sent Jainism, a faith older than Buddhism, similar AND CANADA Members Directory was distrib- Kiran Shah to, it in ethics, but different from it in its psychol- uted to all listed members in July, 2003. If you shahkir [email protected] ogy and professed by 1,500,000 of India’s most have not received your copy, please contact us at peaceful and law-abiding citizens”. Massachusetts, Rhode Island, the following address. New Hampshire We would appreciate it if you would keep your Many attempts have been made to capture the Ramila Vinod Shah listing up-to-date by completing the Directory Up- history of Jainism in North America, but “No se- [email protected] date form available at the following web site: rious attempts have been made to record the role www.oshwal-usa.org. Michigan of individual Jains in the developm ent of Jainism We are trying to get e-mail addresses of all mem- Jital Rahul Khimasia in North America.” Following are some of the bers so that it would be easy to contact members. [email protected] major events that took place in the last 50 years We request all those whose e-mail addresses are which have shaped and enriched our history: Minnesota, Wisconsin not listed in the directory to provide us their e-mail Hansa Dinesh Shah addresses. - Virchand Panchand Inc was established in 1944 [email protected] Surya and Satish Shah, Plano, TX. e- at 15 Park Raw, New York. In 1945/46, Jethalal Washington, Montana mail:[email protected] Khimchand Kachra Gudka came and lived in New Achal Shah York for three years. In 1948, 10 Jain students [email protected] arrived to USA for studies, one of them was Shri BBC launches Jainism website New Jersey, Pennsylvania Keshav Chandaria presently in Toronto, Canada, Champa Velji Bid Suresh Zaveri who currently lives in Honolulu, Link: www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/jainism [email protected] Jayantilal Nemchand Fulchand who currently lives in Nairobi, Kenya - but where are the others? BBC Religion and Ethics launched the Jainism Texas website on 7th December 2003 which communi- Satish Shah - In 1949, Dhirajlal Premchand Vrajpal came for cates the philosophy and culture of Jain Religion.