Baladians migrated to U.K after a long historical journey from Kutch to Africa. It is very important to know how our Baladians along with others have finally paved their way to Europe, USA, Australia and other parts of the world.

Beyond East Africa Roots

The history of the long journey was made by a Kutchi by the name Mr. Kanji Malam who encouraged Kutchi people to follow his footsteps and to settle down in East Africa in search of their livelihood. Mr. Kanji Malam knew the sea route from Kutch to Africa (history says that he also guided Vasco De Gama from Malindi to Calicut). Having heard of Mr. Kanji Malam’s journey to East Africa, Mr. Alladina Vishram an Ismaili Kutchi came to East Africa and settled. The world began to become smaller; people began to settle in Africa, mainly at the port of Mombasa, Zanzibar (then Jangbar), Tanga, Dar-es-salaam and Malindi. The first Kutchi landed in Mombasa in 1889 and others followed.

Even though today we are living in the age of World Wide Web (WWW) and internet world, we should know the path where our elders have passed through.

Baladians started migrating around 1915 using dhows from the port of Mandvi, Mundra, Kandla and later from Mumbai with the expectation to reach their destination depending on the direction of wind and facing all the difficulties of rough sea with minimum food and water during their travel. They left their Kin’s behind with an intention to create better prospects in the years to come. Some reached Mombasa, Zanzibar (Jangbar), Tanga, Dar-es-salaam, Malindi and thereafter to their final destination. In the year 1943 during World War II, two of these passenger boats were destroyed by Japanese navy, there were large numbers of our elders on board. Some managed to survive with the help of floating planks and eventually reached the shore while others were lost at sea never to be found and presumed dead. One of the boats even today is famously known as BUTANI BOAT in which a member of Butani family was travelling. The first important and note worthy part played by some of the Baladians was in rendering services with other Asians in the Construction of Mombasa – Nairobi railway line. This was really a matter of great pride and honour for them. During this project, some sacrificed their lives to death by man eater animals.

Baladians arrived mainly in Mombasa, Nairobi and Kampala as ordinary labourers and Artisans and with time began to settle also in remote areas.

The mind of our Baladians turned to trade in Business. Their main occupation became building construction and stone / aggregate quarries.

Our migration to Europe, USA and the rest part of the world is deeply connected to our being in Africa and our progressive activities in various businesses owned by our people of Baladia and the second important and note worthy part played by our Baladians was in rendering voluntary services to our Community as well as other Indian Communities in East Africa.

In Business people of Baladia till today have remained leaders in Building Construction, stone and aggregate quarry owners in Kenya.

We always must remember and salute the great elders of Baladia who have tirelessly served Kanbis (People of Chowisi) without whom probably the entire Kutchi Leva Patel Community would have missed an opportunity of being progressive:

1. Late Devshibhai Dhanji Vekaria – who served as the then president of Kutchi Leva Patel Samaj, Nairobi. 1953 – 1976 who is known as the longest serving president. He also served as Chairman of East Africa Satsang Mandal, The first Swaminarayan Temple out of India. Devshibhai Dhanji memorial hall in Nairobi Samaj stands as his services rendered to our community.
   
2. Late Karsan Gopal Jesani – served as the then president of Shree Kutch Satsang Swaminarayan Temple, Nairobi who always remained a well wisher of all Kanbis (People of Chowisi). He made his dreams true by acquiring a rest house for Kanbis in the year 1971 in Gamdevi Mumbai. Karsan Gopal Memorial Hospital in Baladia will remain forever serving the people. Karsan Gopal Jeshani – a great hearted personality served the community as advisor of Nairobi Samaj in 1946 – 1950 and as the Hon. Secretary 1950/1

It is very important to know what we (People of Baladia) have rendered services to others, here are some memorable events and efforts made by our elders.

1. Late Karsan Devraj Vekaria – Elected as the First President of Nairobi Samaj 1946 – 1950.
   
2. Late Devshi Dhanji Vekaria – Longest serving President of the Community 1953 – 1976.
   
3. Fund raising towards construction of Nairobi Samaj in 1952 raised by the Baladians Kshs. 56,177/= and the rest of the Kutchi Leva Patel Community raised Kshs. 118,826/= thus Baladians raised one third of the total fund raised. Since then it’s commonly said Baladians are rich.
   
4. Late Naran Jadva Vekaria is the very first person of our Community to arrive in U.K in 1949 for study and is also the first in the entire Community to be qualified as an Architect. He designed water supply project in 1970 and later a Hostel block at Baladia Chhatry.
   
5. Mr. Dhanji Shamji Pindoria (D.S) – qualified as the first Engineer. He is also a Great Donor of religious, educational and medical institutions.
   
6. Mr. Lalji Ratna Raghwani – qualified as the first lawyer in the entire community.
   
7. Late Devshibhai Dhanji Vekaria – on behalf of the Asian Community welcomed in Nairobi H. E the Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain in 1959.
   
8. Late Lalji Meghji Vekaria served the community under his Chairmanship of Swaminarayan Temple in Nairobi.
   
9. Late Manji Dhanji Raghwani served the community as the Vice President, Auditor and Treasurer of Nairobi Samaj between 1959 – 1969 and people of Kenya at his capacity as a senior staff of Kenya Commercial Bank.
   
10. Late Kanji Bhimji Ramji Raghwani – served the community as the first Hon. Secretary, Treasurer of Nairobi Samaj 1953 – 1964.
    
11. Late Gopal Kanji Garara – served the community as Treasurer and Auditor of Nairobi Samaj between 1951 – 1963.
    
12. Late Karsan Harji Vekaria – served the community as Internal Auditor of Nairobi Samaj in 1961, 1963 and treasurer in 1965/66, he also served as president of Shree Kutch Leva Patel Samaj – Bhuj.
    
13. Mr. Ramji Devshi Vekaria – served as a well wisher of the entire community as the Chairman of Nairobi Samaj in 1982 – 1988, 1990-1993 and 2008. He also took major roll in Lion club eye hospital and elected as Governor of Lions club International. He served people of Kenya in General, for a long period, he was honored as S.S and M.M by the then president of Kenya H. E Daniel Arap Moi.
    
14. Mr. Laxman Devshi Raghwani served as treasurer of Nairobi Samaj and leaded Samaj Swayam Sevak Dal of Samaj in 1969/70. As a member of DAL he welcomed the then Prime Minister of India Mrs. Indira Gandhi and Sarvapali Dr. Radha Krishnan the then Vice President of India during their state visit to Kenya.
    
15. Late Jadavji Harji Vekaria – served the community as Hon. Treasurer in 1946 – 1950.
    
16. Late Khimji Ramji Vekaria – served the community as the Vice President of Nairobi Samaj in 1950 – 1951 Khimji Ramji and Bhimji Ramji donated Kshs. 21,000/= to Nairobi Samaj in memorial of their father Ramji Parbat Vekaria for the opening of Nairobi Samaj main entrance on 26/12/1954. Khimji Ramji Vekaria has served the Community as a Trustee of Bhuj Samaj in the late sixties and remained pioneer in putting up Tanzania Satsang Mandal (temple) Dar-es-salaam.
    
17. Late Jina Ramji Jeshani served our people for many years as leader of Swaminarayan Siddhant Sajivan Mandal temple – Nairobi.
    
18. Late Devshi Jadva Vekaria worked in Standard Bank, also served the Community as Hon. Secretary, Treasurer and Vice President of Nairobi Samaj between 1950 – 1951.
    
19. Late Ramji Kunverji Raghwani – served the community as Vice President of Nairobi Samaj in 1956 / 1957 and donated Kshs 17,000/- for opening Samaj Meeting hall on 26/12/1954.
    
20. Late Jina Ratna Jeshani – served the community as a leader and remained a well wisher in the Community.
    
21. Mr. Laxman Bhimji Raghwani – with his full dedication built Nairobi Samaj hall and New Temple in Nairobi. He is one of the Current Trustees of Nairobi. Samaj and a Leading Contractor in Kenya, U.K and Seychelles. He also put a lot of efforts to bring Narmada water to Kutch. He is the Current Chairman of E. A. S. S. Mandir in Nairobi and a great donor of religious Centers.
    
22. Late Ramji Kanji Vekaria & Virji Vishram Vekaria – served the Community as Nairobi Samaj committee members till late sixties.
    
23. Late Kurji Manji Vekaria – served the Community as a Treasurer of Mombasa Samaj.
    
24. Mr. Valji Murji Mandani – served the Community as Chairman, Treasure, and Hon Secretary of Mombasa Samaj between 1958 – 1967.
    
25. Late Khimji Devji Halai (KD) – served the Community as Chairman, Treasure, and Secretary of Mombasa Samaj between 1966 – 1976.
    
26. Mr. Devshi Kunverji Garara – Served the people of Kenya as a senior staff of Standard Bank of Kenya and served the Community as a Chairman of E.A.S.S. Temple and Treasurer of Nairobi Samaj.
    
27. Mr. Kurji Manji Kerai – remained a well wisher to the entire Community and serving as a Chairman of S.K.S.S Temple.
    
28. Mr. Naran Manji Kerai – remains a great donor to Religious and sports centre.
    
29. Late Kurji Kachra Bhojani – Served the Community as a Trustee of Nairobi Samaj.
    
30. Mr. Harji Ramji Raghwani – Served the Community as Hon. Secretary of Nairobi Samaj between 1998 – 2000 and as Chairman in 2001 – 2003. Golden Jubilee Celebration of Nairobi Samaj took place under his Chairmanship. He has also served the Community as a Trustee of Nairobi Samaj Charitable Trust.
    
31. Mr. Manji Kanji Raghwani served the Community as a Vice Chairman of Nairobi Samaj in 1991 – 1994 and is the Current Chairman of Nairobi Samaj.
    
32. Mr. Bhimji Laxman Raghwani – served the Community as a leader of Youth League of Nairobi Samaj and is Current Vice Chairman of Nairobi Samaj. He has also served the Community as a Trustee of Nairobi Samaj Charitable Trust. He has also served people of Baladia in Nairobi as a Chairman of Baladia Leva Patel Community, Kenya, he remained an active member of Jaycee Club.
    
33. Mr. Vinod Ramji Ladha – served the community as a Vice Chairman of Nairobi Samaj in 1994 – 1998 and Siddhant Sajivan Mandal, Nairobi.
    
34. Mr. Premji Ramji Raghwani (P. R) served the Community as Hon. Secretary of E.A.S.S.Temple and Vice Chairman of Nairobi Samaj in 2000 – 2001 and as a Trustee of Nairobi Samaj Charitable Trust. In 1963 he was elected as Second Sarpanch of Baladia at the age of 21 years and was recorded as the youngest SARPANCH IN KUTCH. Currently residing in Baladia and serving people in General.
    
35. Late Bhimji Ramji Vekaria – Served the community as president of Bhuj Samaj in 1968 and remained pioneer in putting up Tanzania Satsang Mandal (temple) Dar-es-salaam.
    
36. Mr. Kalyan Kurji Rabadia originally from Kenya migrated to Mauritius. He is the leading contractor in Mauritius. He was honoured by the president of Mauritius and named Sir Kalyan; he is the first KANBI to be named “SIR” by the president of Mauritius. On 16th October 2004 he was awarded the RAJIV GANDHI FOUNDATION – INDIAN OCEAN CHAPTER LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2003 in the Seychelles. On 18 June 2004 he was awarded the KUTCH – SHAKTI NATIONAL AWARD, the SAMAJ RATNA AWARD (meaning JEWEL OF THE SOCIETY) in Mumbai. On 17th June 2010 he was appointed by the Seychelles Government as the SEYCHELLES TOURISM AMBASSADOR TO MAURITIUS.
    
37. Mr. Premji Valji Varsani always remained a leading building contractor in Dar-es-salaam who with his full dedication worked as the Chairman of Tanzania Satsang Mandal, he also served the entire Hindus as an active member of Hindu Temple Dar-es-salaam.
    
38. Mr. Premji Jina Jeshani (P.J) served the community as Chairman of S.K.S.S Temple – Nairobi for a long term.
    
39. Baladians in Kampala who served the Community as Committee members of Shree Kutchi Leva Patel Samaj – Kampala are Mr. Mulji Govind Sonara, Late Mavjibhai Jadva Vekaria, Mr. Laljibhai Premji Vekaria, Late Murjibhai Devji Vekaria, Mr. Devjibhai Murji Mandani in 1968 – 1971.
    
40. Mr. Karsan Kanji Raghwani serves the entire Community as a President of S.C.L.P Samaj, Amdavad.
    
41. Mr. Premji Keshra Raghwani – serves our Community, he is the only Baladian contractor in Mumbai, he is currently the Treasurer of Swaminarayan Mandir, Bhuj.
    
42. Mr. Parbat Premji Vekaria has served the Community as Vice – Chairman of Shree Kutch Satsang Swaminarayan Temple, Nairobi.
    
43. Mr. Premji Meghji Patel serves the Community as the Trustee of  Shree Kutch Satsang Swaminarayan Temple, Nairobi.
    
44. Late Gopal Devshi Raghwani served the Community as a Treasurer of E.A.S.M. Temple, Nairobi.
    
45. Mr. Gopal Shivi Hirani has served Nairobi Samaj as a member of First Board of Governors of Nairobi Samaj School.
    
46. Mr. Ratna Manji Hirani was graduated as Structural Engineer in mid seventies, he served our Community as a member of First Board of Governors of Nairobi Samaj School. He has also served the entire Hindu Community as a Vice Chairman of Kalaniketan Shishukunj, Nairobi.
    
47. Late Ravji Meghji Vekaria has served the entire Community as a Trustee of S.C.L.P. Samaj – Bhuj.
    
48. Mr. Naran Lalji Kerai has served the entire Community as a Vice President of S.C.L.P. Samaj – Bhuj.

In view of this great history in brief we are proud to be serving the entire community as well as other people in Kenya and India and our source of being in UK and other parts of the world is East Africa.

Migration from East Africa to Europe

After the Independence of Many African countries, political and social situation changed dramatically and we began to migrate to Europe.

First Migration in mass to UK

In the year 1968, Kenya Government introduced work permit and all Non Citizens were required to have work permit to work in Kenya. Baladians together with others who were Citizens of UK chose to migrate to UK, thus migration of our people to UK took place in mass. Upon arrival to UK most people were kept in temporary camps.

2nd Migration in mass

In the year 1972 the then President of Uganda Mr. IDI AMIN dreamed to expel all Indian Nationals and announced to leave the country within 90 days. Our people who were British Nationals chose to go to UK and the rest back to Motherland.

Photo of Baladians taken in Kenya on 11-08-1944

Baladia gaam’s Jagir (land-lord), Aayas Shree Nath Sampdray Bawa, the owner of the estate of Baladia, was given the estate by the Kutch maharao as a gesture of goodwill. The Aayas Shree Nath Sampdray Bawa were known as ‘kaan phata jogi’ because of the infamous slot they had in their ear lobe, where they used to adorn a round hoop earring. The Jagir used to control all of Baladia, including all residential homes and farming land. Not much history about Aayas Shree Nath Jogi is known, however, there is a resting place in Fuleshwer Mahadev and for this reason we assume Aayas Shree Nath Jogi was the first in line.

Baldeshwar Mahadev

There is a Baldeshwar Mahadev temple on a beautiful hill just outside of our village and for this reason our village is known as Baladia. On the left hand side of Shivalay, there is a beautiful resting place carved out of stone which we assume belong to Jagirdar, the people who own the estate. Next to this there are two more resting places which belong to Ratannath Bawaji and the other one is Aayas Shree Balnath Bawaji. There is also a small beautiful resting place carved out of stone which belongs to Aayas Shree Umarnath Bawaji. In the culture of the Jagir’s, when they passed away they used to lay to rest the deceased in a sitting down position. When a Jagirdar passed away they would get their burial place on Baldeshwar Mahadev hill and their family members would build a tomb like shrine on their resting place called a Chhatedi. There were quite a few small burial places surrounding Shivalay. Over the years, as time passed, many of these small burial places have been removed in order to improve and enhance the Shivalay garden, which have been landscape in a nice way.

History As We Know It

Since a lot of this history has been passed through the generations and not recorded, it is from our elders that we have obtained the information we now have. However, after Fulnath Bawajis, there is little knowledge of the Bawajis that followed and we know some of the names, Shevanath, Ratannath, Balnath, Umarnath and Kanhaiyanath who is still with us and you will often see in Baladia in their traditional dress, which is typical a jobho dhoti and a pagri, (turban).All these jogi bawajis (the individual people who owned the estate), used to live like bachelors but kept mistresses. They did not have children but they used to have disciples, which were given to them as adopted boys from a young age. These boys were given to them at the age of five to the Jagirdar of the time. They would then provide the child with a good education and prepare and train them to look after the Jagir. Of all the adopted children, the brightest was nominated as the new ruler of the Jagir. At the age of twenty, they were initiated with a ceremony for the cut ear, so they could wear the hoop earring within the slot in the ear lobe. They used to believe in Shankar, Guruji and Aaashapura Mataji and they did puja for all of them.

Life as vegetarians

They lived their life as vegetarians and were very good horse riders and hunters. In recent times, they had stuffed a tiger’s head in their residential quarters, which they had hunted down in a river near Mahadev. It was like a jungle before Vikram Samvat 1996, which is approximately 80 years ago when the year was known as chhanvo, because of the memorable drought. They used to possess a range of weapons and there was a small army who used to take care of the village and all the farmland which was in their estate. In their army they had some Shidi, a tribe, original from Africa. The Jagirdar used to take one sixth of a farmers annual income if the farm was within their estate. This was known as Bhog or Lagaan. Every house and house holder had to pay their Lagaan, much like council tax. After India’s Independence in 1947 all this authority was taken away from all the Jagirdars.

Sixty two years ago, the people of our community were hardly educated at all and they did not understand that education would be any good for them. In those days, to study in one’s hometown was hard, but to even dream to study in other countries was impossible.

The Legend

A few months after the Independence of India, a youngster of our village Baladia, called Mr Naran Jadva Murji Vekaria, with his ambitions, set on a Dhow (a low sided sailing ship) to London, arriving on the 2nd of September 1948. He was the first Kanbi to set foot in England and was also the first one from our village. Upon arriving in London, he joined the Polytechnic School of Architecture and studied there from 14th September 1948 until 16th January 1950. Thereafter, he went to study at The Liverpool School of Architecture from the 2nd October 1951 until July 1955, where he gained his degree in Architecture.

He became the first Kanbi to achieve an Architectural degree and the first of any kind outside of India. To gain his experience whilst studying, and even after achieving his degree, he worked at Gunton & Gunton Architects and Surveyors from September 1954 until December 1955. Thereafter, in January 1956, with his educational achievements and skills, he left for India.

He was a very kind, humble and religious person and was always willing to give his service to his community. He designed the Shree Karsan Gopal Jesani Hospital, the Shree Baladia Kumar and Kanya School, the great Sabha Mandap of Shree Abjibapa Shree Ni Chhatri (without any steel columns 40 years ago) and the water supply project for Shree Baladia Vikaas Samiti, which all withstood the major earthquake of 2001.

We, as Baladians, honour the warm-hearted Mr Naran Jadva Murji Vekaria for all his great efforts and services to all his fellow Kanbis.