Congratulations to Mayur and Jigna from Boston, MA, on their newborn baby boy, Dhruv.

Proud Uncle (Kaka) Hiren Gudka, Aunt (Faiba) Mijal Gudka, Grandma (Dadi) Kamala Gudka of Boxford, MA. Grand Parents (Nani and Nana) Gitaben and Ashokbhai Shah from London. Grand Uncle Veni Sumaria, Chandu Shah, and Grand Aunt Ratan Maru from Boston, MA.

Shree Tarachand Dharamshi Virji Malde (born in Mombasa, Kenya, in the late 1920s) passed away on Friday, 4th September, 2009, in Mombasa, Kenya, following severe heart disease.

Tarachand Bhai was the eldest son of Late Dharamshi Virji Rupa Malde (of Moti Rafudar in Halar, Gujarat) and Late Jiviben Dharamshi Virji Malde.

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This year during Paryushana in our small New Jersey Oshwal community we had six persons who completed Atthai Tapasya, and several others did various level of Tapasya.

Congratulations to following six Atthai tapasvis:

• Chiraag Galaiya (Long Valley, NJ),
• Jayanti Galaiya (Long Valley, NJ),
• Sushila Gudhka (Kinelon, NJ),
• Seema Maru (Hazlet, NJ),
• Meena Shah (Budd Lake, NJ),
• Nimish Vora (Princeton). Read the rest of this entry »

Please note that this charity is not sponsored by the Halari Visa Oshwals of America, and Mr. Mukundray Shah should be contacted for more information.

I am happy to provide information about the new project of GDShah High School www.gdshahschool.com being built at a cost of Rs. 2.5 Crore, under Hasmukhray Gokaldas Shah Memorial Trust, a public charitable trust established in 1968 in the memory of my younger brother who died in Air plane crash in 1966. Currently the school is located at Central Bank Road, Opp. Setawad, Jamnagar. But with the increase in number of students attending this school and need for up-to-date educational facilities, we have taken up the ambitious project to build a new High-School near Subhash Bridge, Jamnagar.The details of the new building project for which we are seeking donations for this public charitable project are as follows: Read the rest of this entry »

A very warm congratulations to Poonam and Ameet who got engaged on May 16, 2009. Poonam is the daughter of Kiran & Kundan Shah of St. Louis, MO, and Ameet is the son of Pradhuman and Shubhangi Mahale of Round Rock, TX. The engagement festivities were held in Texas and provided the two families a chance to celebrate and get to know each other better. Poonam and Ameet are really happy together and excited for their upcoming wedding festivities!

The JAINA 2009 Convention in Los Angeles received coverage in the Gujarat Times. Below is a copy of their convention report (in Gujarati).

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Congratulations to Bindi and Nipul (Karania) Shah, Long Valley, NJ on the recent birth of their daughter, Neeya. Proud grand aunt and uncle (Nani and Nana) Vijya and Jayanti Galaiya, Long Valley, NJ. Grand parents (Dadi and Dada) Kanchan and Ramesh Vrajpal (Karania) Shah of Eldoret and (Nani and Nana) Manjula and Kantilal Zaverchand (Galaiya) Shah of Bangalore.

Shwet Savla, son of Aruna and Pravin Govindji Savla of Nana Mandha, Halar, has successfully completed his Commercial Pilot Training course with flying colors from Palm Beach Flight Training Corp., in Lantana, Florida. He completed private pilot, instrumental rating & commercial pilot in the first attempts with high grades.

Our heartiest congratulations to Shelan (son of Rajnikant & Ranjan Shah of Bolingbrook , Illinois) and Tripti (daughter of Rohini & Nirmala Sharma of Denver, Colorado) on June 20, 2009 at the Summit Banquet Halls, in Aurora (Denver), Colorado. The wedding celebrations started on Friday with Mandovo, followed by lunch. In the evening, there was the Mehndi, social gathering, and dinner. Family and friends came from Kenya, UK and all over the USA. On Saturday, the Barat-groom party arrived at the the Summit Banquet Halls with the traditional processions with the groom on a horse. The traditional Hindu wedding ceremony took place, presided by priest. A very delicious lunch followed. The grand reception began at 6 pm. The evening was beautiful with everyone celebrating until midnight, with the Groom and Bride Party united on the dance floor. Everyone had a wonderful time.

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Chiraag (son of Jayanti and Vijya Galaiya, Long Valley, NJ) graduated with flying colors on 19th June 2009 with many awards and honors. Chiraag will be attending Princeton University, Princeton, NJ in Fall.

Our heartfelt condolences to the family of Hansraj Lakhamshi Dodhia (fondly known as Kaka) who passed away in Ilford, Essex, U.K., on June 5, 2009, after a short illness. He was 81 years old and was born in Navagam (Halar), Gujarat, India.

He was father of Niru Mansukh Gosar Shah of Hanover, Maryland; grandfather (Nana) of Raju Mansukh Shah of Silver Spring, Maryland; and Meena Mansukh Shah of Oakland, California. He is survived by his wife, Gunvantiben, son and daughter-in-law: Shailesh and Alpa; daughters and son-in-laws: Niru and Mansukh (Manu), Manjula and Mahesh, Prafula (Bena) and Vipul, Hasmita (Hasu) and Hitesh; several grandchildren and great grandchild.

May god rest his soul in eternal peace. Read the rest of this entry »

Sonam Dodhia (daughter of Pragna & Navin Dodhia) of Aurora, Illinois graduated from Waubonsie Valley High School in May 2009.

Awards, honors: Salutatorian, National Merit Commended Scholar, Illnois State Scholar, AP Scholar, three-time All-State musician, nominated for IHSA All-State Academic Team, and Daily Herald Academic Team honorable mention.

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Mr. Chhaganlal Meghji Virji Chheda passed away in Nairobi, Kenya, on May 14th, 2009. He was 93 years old. He had very peaceful life in Kenya for over 75 years. He was my wife, Smita’s, motabapa, and with whom she shared wonderful memories, when she went to Kenya to celebrate his 90th birthday in 2007. Read the rest of this entry »

Texas-Oklahoma Oshwal samaj organized a spring picnic on April 25th, 2009, at Russell Creek Park in Plano, Texas.
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As you all know that multicultural events are celebrated everywhere to bridge the gap between different cultures.  Such an event was celebrated in Meadowbrook Elementary School, Hillsdale, NJ.  I have been representing India past three years. Being offended and insulted after watching the movie Slumdog Millionaire, being a true Mumbaite and also as a tribute to my Mumbai, India. I took upon me to represent India the correct way and to remind everyone that India is the birthplace of Gautum Budhha, Mahavir and Mahatma Gandhi.  My daughter Chandni performed the classical Bharatnatyam dance, too. As usual being the show stopper India made its way into NJN Public Television. (The first year India made its way into the local newspaper and now it is the Television). The show will broadcast on TV on September 14 and 19 and October 19 and 24, 2009.