|
1. Where does the word “Oshwal” originate from?
The community originates from a town located 32 miles from Jodhpur in Rajasthan in India called “Ossiya” or “Oshwalia” which existed in 457 BC. A hindu warrior caste called the Kshatriyas were around this time converted to Jainism around 70 years after Lord Mahavir’s Nirvana.
2. Where else in the world is our community thriving?
Oshwals due to their innate quality of hard work, commitment and entrepreneurial focus can be found in various parts of the world including Hong Kong, Vietnam and Cambodia; however our principal centers besides Jamnagar and Gujerat are Mumbai and other cities of India, East Africa, United Kingdom. More recent migration has been towards Canada and the United States of America, and Australia.
3. What is the purpose behind the enumeration of members?
For a community to share its strengths and interact and integrate, it requires a strong central body. Before that can be done, it requires listing of members and their contact details. A visible list and a thriving community would attract potential migrants from other parts of the world.
4. Which areas of Australia is it intended to cover?
It is intended to cover each of the states and cities and towns that make up the Commonwealth of Australia. The primary intention is to identify and reach out to all oshwals across every corner of the country and in the process obtain participation of all oshwals in Australia. The possibilities through a web-site link are limitless and we wish to take advantage of the full networking capacity available.
5. Will it ultimately result in the formation of a national body catering for our members?
In Kenya the establishment of the national body did not proceed until well after the individual towns had enough members and their own bodies had been firmly in place. With the growth in information and communication technology, it is expected that physical barriers or distances between the states in Australia will not hold back the formation of the national body. It is up to the members to decide how fast and in what form this will progress.
6. What would be the purpose of such a body?
The purpose would be to create an Oshwal bond and provide a sense of identity and thus to share information, encourage member interaction, the development of mutual strengths, attract and provide support to migrants from other countries, and promulgate cultural and religious bonding and establish places or worship. It is expected that such a society would identify with local environmental and animal and human rights issues. It would also facilitate the exchange of business information.
7. Are Oshwals affiliated to any specific religion?
The very name “Oshwal” and its origination from “Ossiya” are based on congregation of a community into a peaceful way of life “Jainism” as reformed by its 24th tirthankar Lord Mahavir.
8. What are the main tenets of this religion?
Jainism is known as the religion of Ahimsa (non-violence). In Jainism, "our beliefs in Ahimsa” supersedes all concepts, ideologies, rules, customs and practices, traditional or modern, eastern or western, political or economical, self-centered or social" (quoted by Jain scholar Dr. Nat Mall Tatty, Jain Study Circular, January 1991). Ahimsa (non-violence), Anekantväd (multiplicity of views) and Aparigraha (non-possessiveness) are the cardinal principles (main requirements) of Jainism. Without Aparigraha one cannot practice complete Ahimsa. Similarly, without proper understanding and application of Anekantväd, one cannot completely be non-violent because the practice of Anekantväd stops the violence of thoughts and speech. Therefore, Anekantväd is an intelligent expression of the Ahimsa. Ahimsa is dependent on the practice of Aparigraha. If one refrains parigraha (possessiveness), he/she will be able to refrain from himsa. If you practice aparigraha (non-possessiveness), you will automatically practice ahimsa (non-violence). Non-violence in the center is guarded by truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy (or faithfulness to own spouse) and non-possessiveness.
9. Would the proposed body insist on members following this religion?
Jainism is a way of life. Different members of the community worldwide apply it to different extents in their daily lives; some equate vergetarianism with Jainism. They are following the principle of Ahimsa. Some are able to divest themselves from their daily routines periodically and go for a “Yatra” to our sites in India. The principle of Anekantvad – acceptance of diversity of views – makes Jainism a practical religion which allows a “Live and Let Live” attitude to prevail. A body like the Oshwal Community would want all its members to understand Jainism; it is on its interpretation of this basis that it will conduct its community functions; it will however not force members to follow this religion; it is up to the members themselves to understand the benefits of Jainism and imbibe them in their daily lives.
10. Approximately how many Oshwal families are there in Australia?
This will only be possible to know this after we have enumerated all the members; at this stage it’s fair to say that there are at least 500 families residing in the different states that make up the Commonwealth of Australia.
11. Would this body maintain strong links with Oshwal bodies overseas?
Yes – it is expected that world-wide inter-regional communications will be maintained; this is to ensure our core focus of attracting prospective migrants to Australia but also to facilitate exchange of visits; however initially our primary focus is to consolidate as a national body.
12. Would we be affiliated with or represented on the local Gujarat Samaj?
Our representatives here have been active is the Samaj; we need to understand how the community bodies formally take up membership of the Samaj and also the newly revived Hindu Council.
13. Are regular gatherings of members in the pipeline?
This will be defined by the members; in Western Australia a monthly gathering has facilitated a lot of inter-action and interest from the international community members.
14. Are there available resources for religious teaching for our children?
There are members who have the necessary depth of knowledge for this purpose. Due to the long distances within Sydney, it has not been possible to have a regular “Path-Shala”. This can be looked at only if members show an active interest; it is important for parents, especially mothers, to have knowledge of our religion in order to motivate their children in this direction. A lot of information about our religion is available on the internet. We would also endeavour to obtain and distribute text books on Jainism both within our community and to the local universities and libraries. Likewise it is equally important for us to be able to read, write and converse in our mother tongue, Gujerati. It is only such factors which give us a “cultural” identity that is currently recognized as the basis of a culturally-diverse Australia.
15. How would we maintain inter-state liaison with our members in Australia?
At this stage our idea is to come up with a comprehensive web-site with particular emphasis on the listing of our members. It would then be possible to look up anyone on this site and contact him/her. After this, state bodies would be formed which would then be members of a national body. A basis of electing officers to these bodies would need to be arrived at. At the end of it, all this can only come about if there are enough members who are actively promoting the community interests and functions.
16. Would we maintain liaison with other religious organizations?
We will maintain liaison with the local chapters of the Gujerat Samaj and Hindu Council at this stage as an Oshwal institution. We would emphasize that we intend, for the moment, to promote this more as a social and communal institution and do not foresee links with religious organizations locally in the immediate future.
17. Will we have a “Derasar” in Australia in the near future?
A “Derasar” has already been established in Melbourne, Victoria under the auspices of the Melbourne Shwetambar Jain Sangh. The Pratishtha Mahotsav for this was held from 25th to 28th April, 2008. Their website link is http://www.melbournejainsangh.org/. Their physical contact address is as below:
3 Rice Street, Moorabbin, Vic - 3189, Australia.
Phone: +61 3 9555 2439
18. Will the personal information of the members in the web-site be available to the general public?
We propose to make available specified information (like names/addresses) of all members to the members themselves(accessible through a password) and to community institutions abroad. However there will be a lot of general information; above all of this there is expected to be a very active exchange of articles of interest, views, information, proposals, etc.
19. Are there any membership fees?
None at this stage; however an Institution would not survive without resources and collections would be introduced on approval of members in a general forum.
20. Who would qualify to be a member?
A member of any oshwal community worldwide; a person who is married to or a child of an oshwal member; all interpretations would refrain from restricting membership. A committee would be put in place to assess all applications. 21. Eligibility for Membership ?
Any person with origins from a cluster of about fifty four villages of the Halar District of Jamnagar, in Gujarat, India and having any one of the family surnames (called "Nukh" or "Atak" in the Gujarati Language) such as BID, CHANDARIA, CHHEDA, DHANANI, DODHIA (may also be sometimes spelt as DEDHIA), GADA, GALA, GALAIYA (may also be sometimes spelt as GALAYA), GOSRANI (may also be sometimes spelt as GOSHRANI), GUDKA (may also be sometimes spelt as GUDHKA), HARANIA, HARIA, KARANIA, KHIMASIA, MALDE, MARU, NAGARIA, NAGDA, PATANI, PETHAD, RAJA, SARMATYA (may also be sometimes spelt as SARMATIYA), SAVLA, SHETHIA, SUMARIA, VIRANI, VIRPARIA, VISARIA, VORA, ZANKHARIA (may also be sometimes spelt as JAKHARIA or JANKHARIA) is an Oshwal.. Such person would, in most cases, be also using the surname SHAH in his or her daily life. Any person descended from, married to or adopted by an Oshwal as defined above will also be considered to be an Oshwal. 22. Who can attend Oshwal functions ?
At present only Oshwal members can attend functions organized by this Association. This will be revisited when a formal organization is formed. 23. What and when are our religious functions/events in 2008?
Ayembel 12th to 20th April
Varshitap Parna 8th May
Paryushan 27th August to 3rd September
Ayembel 6th October to 14th October
Diwali 28th October
24. Do you intend to lease premises for our events?
Yes, when and if necessary and with consent from a majority of the members.
25. Will there be any food restrictions at our events?
Vegetarian food only will be served. Alcohol would not be permitted.
26. What is your mission for the next five years?
To take our rightful place in the Australian community as has been done in other centers of the world
27. What are your plans to help students/families coming for settlement from overseas?
Our intention is provide orientation from an oshwal perspective. They will be advised of the government infrastructure and formalities required to have a smooth settling-in. They will be advised of feasible settlement location options. They will be advised as to how to proceed with their academic/employment/business search. They will be further introduced to other members at the next regular function. Initially, and for a limited period, they may be provided residential facilities while they establish their own home. Advice will start prior to their arrival in Australia so that they make the necessary arrangements. The membership web-site will provide access to the full membership for information. Additionally there will be dedicated committees in each state for this purpose.
28. How do propose to increase migratory and settlement interest in Australia?
Through our experiences in East Africa, we have noted that the fastest route to promote our initiative is through word-of-mouth; however access to information on a web-site allows potential migrants to understand the perspective at the click of a button. In addition to this we shall formally advise all the source country communities of our facilitative and pro-active direction towards increasing the migrant numbers. We shall also work with selected migration agents to make information available to our target market, based on the various political and economic developments in our source countries. Additionally our members traveling overseas will go armed with information and host forums in the various countries/cities organized through their local community bodies. Generally a lot of information on Australia is already available through the internet.
|