Comments on: Oshwal vs. Navnat

By: Heena Modi

Heena Modi — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 19:23:35 +0000

I agree
blind faith doesn’t necessarily work for me
History has its place
BUT being divided because of it is a shame. I guess some memories die hard

By: HARSHAD

HARSHAD — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 04:45:30 +0000

Time has come to save the next generation, rather than bicker about the historical differences. We are all followers of Mahaveer and we should unite to present His philosophy to our next generation in a language that they can comprehend with logical explanations, rather than faith driven ‘ASK NO QUESTIONS!’. If we fail in doing this duty, we shall have no one to blame except ourselves for the loss of our religion, culture and tradition.
I do not know who started this debate, but never mind. Let us stop this, once and for all. Let us pray to one and only Lord Mahaveer and settle all past differences.
Jay Jinendra, Jay Mahaveer.

By: Heena Modi

Heena Modi — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:53:35 +0000

Agreed!

By: Sandip

Sandip — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 01:19:55 +0000

Interesting read.

So there are all these different “groups” and “communities” of people, but yet they are all Jains.

As a young educated person and a Jain, I don’t see what benefits or need there is for having all these groups in this day and age. When we all are simply Jain?

Its fine to know about the history, and I think its best to leave that in the PAST?
So that we can get up to speed with the PRESENT,
to create a better FUTURE for all “groups” and “communities”.

By: Anon

Anon — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:20:14 +0000

You have not understood the facts.

There is no such sect as NAVNAT. This name was coined first in MOMBASA. As the Oshwal population was much larger than the rest of the VANIA put together, they formed their own community and excluded all others. Therefore we are NOT NAVNAT VANIA. Navnat includes 9 sects of VANIA excluding the Oshwals.

Jains are mostly migrants from Rajasthan. There is a town called OSSIA and those who came from there became OSHWAL. Another town is called SHRIMAL and those who came from here became SHRIMALI. We belong to the SHRIMALI group. Over a period of time, through differences of opinion, there were splits in these organisations and the numbers who grouped together gave a sub-sect name of VISA OSHWAL, DASA SHRIMALI, VISA SHRIMALI etc. So, rightly we are DASA SHRIMALI.

Originally, the OSHWALS who settled in the area of JAMNAGAR in over 50 villages were by profession FARMERS and not BUSINESSMEN.

Hence it is quite possible that they were not treated as BUSINESSMEN by the SHRIMALI community who were all businessmen.

This would include not allowing them to use our utensils to eat or drink from. THIS IS STILL APPLIED BY OSHWALS/ALL TO THE BLACKS IN KENYA! So, why if it is so offending?

Over the period, OSHWALs started moving from farming to business and uplifted their community to a HIGHER STATUS. Now they consider themselves higher than DASA SHRIMALI.

Most of OSHWALS are DERAVASI ~ MURTIPUJAK~ ICONIC in belief. DASA SHRIMALIs are STHANAKVASI~ aniconic in belief. STHANAKVASI have been named as DHUNDHIYA.

So they also call us that as a derogatory status. One must accept HISTORY as it was and not as it is!