So important and yet not known (Family History)
One is always shy talking about one's own family. But it is lakhs of people who have built this country and that history should be shared. This is why there are many professional agencies now in India that help work on important family histories.
Recently, on the 5th of April 2023, my uncle Devendra Oza (D.K.Oza) passed away and it was on the occasion of his memorial program, that I revisited my family history. And I realised that this family history is important as public history in shaping India. It covers the life and history of some of the princely states of Gujarat, like Junagadh, Wakaner, Lathi, Lahktar, Vallabhipur. It has history of the independence struggle and some of its Congress leaders, and it has the history of the efforts made by diverse people in building this country post India's Independence. I am grateful that my father Kanaiyalal.K.Oza (K.K.Oza) has penned this history and I share it here with photos.
.jpg "Keshavlal Karsanji Oza") |
| Keshavlal Karsanji Oza, Diwan of the Princely States of Lathi, Lakhtar and Vallabhipur in Gujarat |
About my Grandparents, Keshavlal Oza (K.K.Oza) and Savitri Oza, my father, Kanaiyalal Oza (also K.K.Oza) says the following: “Our Father Keshavlal Karsanji Oza was born in Wakaner in Vikram Samvat 1951 (17th Jan 1895) in the month of Posh. His father Karsanji Pranjeevan was a very religious, honest and simple person. He worked as a primary school teacher. He had from the very beginning joined the Junagadh State’s Education Department. He retired as a primary school teacher with a pension of Rs 40/-."
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| Karsanji Pranjeevan Oza and Dahiben Karsanji Oza (my great grand parents) |
There is little information of our
ancestors before him, but I have some idea that my great grandfather
Pranjeevan Vishveshwar Andarji Oza was a retail cloth trader in Wakaner. Most
of the cloth was sold on credit and this lead to many difficult times when
payment failed to come in. As per the information I have, he had to wind up the
business with a loss of Rs 1500/-. Karsanjidada took the responsibility of paying
up the debt of his father Pranjeevan dada. In return he was given the family
house, which was located at the corner of a lane called Oza Sheri (Oza Lane) in Wakaner. As the house was located at the corner of the lane, our family was
recognized as ‘Wakaneri Nakavala’.
On his 100th Birthday, it would be appropriate to remember and share Bapuji’s (Keshavlal Oza's) life. Though he was born into a simple Brahmin family with economic constraints, he continued his higher education. He completed his B A and also LLB. He was the first person in the whole family to study this far.
Bapuji told me that on the day he received
news of passing matriculation examination in the year 1914, he was taking the
family’s only buffalo to drink at the water hole. He took the news in his stride, as if it was nothing extraordinary and
resumed his task. To remain calm and composed no matter what was one of the
main characteristics of bapuji. We never saw him rejoicing too much with some
happy news or saddened with disappointments.
Karsanjidada had spent his entire life in the villages of Junagadh State and yet Bapuji started studying BA in Junagadh city’s Bahhuddin College.
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| Bahhudin College, Junagadh Photo: Bahhudin College Website. |
After passing
BA with honors, he could have got a very good job but he decided to study law.
At that time the only law college was in Mumbai and in spite of economic
constraint he went to Mumbai. At that time Karsanjidada sold off a small piece
of family land for Rs 100/- and helped Bapuji go to Mumbai. However, as Rs 100/- was not
sufficient to complete a two-year law degree in Mumbai, Bapuji started giving
tuitions to two boys of a Khoja family in Mumbai. By earning like this and some
such other work, he completed his law education in the year 1921.
It was in the same year that like
Karsanjidada, Bapuji too became the disciple of Shri Nathuram Sharma. This tradition continues in our family even now. He also started his
law practice in Junagadh the same year. After two years of practice, he decided
to be a magistrate in the State of Than-Lakhtar. One wonders why Bapuji left
his law practice to be a magistrate. As per bapuji, his average income during
the time of his independent practice was Rs 60/- a month. This was a very good
income at that time. However as a magistrate his income more than doubled and
became Rs 125. It was also prestigious to be a State employee. One may think
this to be the reason why he stopped his independent practice. Had he continued
to practice law, he could have continued to work for another 60 years at least
and would have been one of the top most lawyers in Saurashtra without doubt.
Bapuji worked as the chief magistrate at
Lakhtar for 4-5 years but one particular incident bothered him a lot. Bapuji
has never put this incident down in writing anywhere. It so happened that the
cook of a senior royal member of Lakhtar beat up one man severely. This case came
up before Bapuji in the Court. Bapuji was told in
private that he should let off the cook. At that time bapuji replied, ‘I will
do whatever is possible’. However the evidence against the cook was so clear
that he could not be acquitted. Bapuji firmly believed in due justice come what
may and sentenced the cook to three months in jail. The result was that the senior royal member stopped speaking with Bapuji altogether. In the evening when all the
State employees got together at the club, some members of the royal family refused to
acknowledge Bapuji’s greetings (Salam Jeelvi).
Bapuji used to go to the club regularly as he played tennis, but he
began to feel uncomfortable to go to the club due to this. At the time of sentencing the cook, Bapuji was aware that a situation like this
would develop but stood firm and fearless in delivering justice. The end result
was that he had to leave Lakhtar.
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| Lakhtar State Darbar Hall- Photo: Website of Indian Rajputs |
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| Wakaner Palace. Photo: Wikimedia |
During this period, the Thakore Saheb of the small State of Lathi in Gohilwad of Saurashtra and a minor was under administrative training with Wakaner Thakore Saheb. The British Government had appointed Wakaner Thakore Saheb as his Guardian. During his training period, the Lathi Thakore Saheb also spent two months with Bapuji in the treasury department. The British political agent took up the issue of handing over the throne of Lathi to Thakore Saheb once he came of age. As per the tradition, Lathi Thakore Saheb personally was responsible to appoint his Diwan. The chief administrator of Lathi had expressed his wish to resign once the agency administration (British) would come to an end in Lathi on handing over the State to Thakore Saheb. The Lathi Thakore Saheb discussed this matter with The Wakaner Thakore Saheb. And this is what Bapuji told me had happened in his own words:
' Thakore Saheb was given the responsibility of appointing his own Diwan (Chief Administrator of the State) and I was called personally and asked if I would accept the offer. I clearly refused to accept the offer, as I did not wish to move out of Wakaner. I wished to move ahead in Wakaner itself and requested the post of Chief justice. However Thakore Saheb pressurized me to accept the offer of Lathi Thakor Saheb. Lathi Thakore Saheb ascended the throne at Lathi, got married and I became the Diwan in 1931.'
Though lathi was a small State, it was prosperous and famous. It was famous also because it was the birthplace of the famed poet Kalapi (I believe he wrote one of the first environment - birds protection poems - તે પંખીની ઉપર પથરો ફેંકતા ફેફી દીધો,...લાગ્યા ઘાને વીસરી શકવા કાંઇ સામર્થ્ય ના છે. )
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| Kalapi, the famous poet of Gujarat (1874-1900), Photo: Wikipedia. |
There were also carriages driven by two horses, fine Arabian horses, police band, etc as in the case of bigger States even in Lathi. I elaborate on all this because I want to say that all of us brothers and sisters have grown up amidst this magnificence and horse riding, horse races, etc was not novel to us. A two horse driven carriage was specially kept aside for our use. We were familiar with the protocol to be followed in the State too from the early childhood.
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| Shri Keshavlal Oza in a state carriage. Photo: Oza Family Archives |
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| K.K.Oza, the Diwan of the State of Vallabhipur 5th from right. Photo: Oza Family Archives |
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| State Band of Princely State. Photo: Oza Family Archives |
Unfortunately there is always some conflict
among the royal families. Thakore Saheb’s uncle began interfering and wanted
changes in some of the decisions taken by Bapuji, his younger brothers too
started interfering. When such a situation developed around 1936, two incidents
happened. The Diwan of Bhavnagar Shri Prabhakar Patni while passing through the
railway station of Lathi called Bapuji and told him that if he would agree to
become the revenue commissioner of the State of Bhavnagar, he would speak with
the Maharaj Saheb of Bhavnagar. Bapuji agreed. Shri Patani promised to write
back on reaching Bhavnagar. But Shri Patni passed away of heart failure
immediately on reaching Bhavnagar and this matter ended there. However Bapuji
was not disturbed due to this unfortunate development-this being one of the
main qualities of his life.
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| Shri Prabhakar Patni, Diwan of Bhavnagar, Photo: Wikipedia |
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| Maharaja of Bhavnagar, Krishnakumar Singh Ji, Photo: Indian Rajputs website |
The second incident was that at that time, the people of the States of Mansa and Rajkot (details of Rajkot Satyagraha) were on satyagraha (struggle for truth) against the State. The farmers and people of these two states under the leadership of Sardar Patel were on Satyagraha (movement) on the issues of high land/farm/revenue taxes collected by the State.
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| Image of Mansa and Rajkot Satyagraha where people are behind bars. Photo: |
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| Public meeting in Rajkot Satyagraha. Photo: |
Mansa’s Thakore Saheb was the son in law
of Wakaner Thakore Saheb. At that time, the Diwan of Mansa, Shri Girdharbhai
had tried to repress severely the satyagrahis (participants in the Satyagraha)
and the public meetings and demonstrations of the satyagrahis were lathi
charged (canned). One of their senior leaders Gopalbhai Patel too was injured
in the lathi charge. The daughter of Wakaner immediately requested the Wakaner
State to control the situation. Girdharbhai was asked to leave immediately and
Bapuji was called upon by the Wakaner Thakore Saheb to take over the
administration of Mansa right away.
Bapuji too was keen to leave Lathi. The
Lathi Thakore Saheb accepted Bapuji’s resignation unwillingly. The eminent
people, farmers of Lathi when we left for Mansa, gave us a big farewell. We reached
Mansa at 10 am the next morning. Mansa was as big as a city but it did not have
a railway station. There was a railway station ten miles away at Makakhad. The
State police had come to receive us at the Station with the State car. We
followed the police escort as we entered Mansa through its main gate. I was
very eager to see the new town. However all the shops on the main road and the
bazaar were closed. We learnt later that the people had called ‘bandh’
(closure) in protest against the appointment of Bapuji and wanted him to know
the strength and unity of the people in their struggle against the State.
That same evening Bapuji invited the
leaders of the movement for a meeting in the porch of our new home. Gopal Patel
who was injured in the lathi charge too was present. In no time the debate
turned aggressive and the people declared that if the repression continued,
Raolji (Thakore Saheb) would have to leave the State…….., etc etc…...I was
sitting and listening to all this. It was the first time that I experienced
Bapuji being threatened so openly by the people and a total close down of a
town in protest of his appointment.
In spite of the tense atmosphere, Bapuji
calmly proceeded with the introduction and the meeting. He expressed sincere
concern and regret towards those injured. He also assured everyone that there
will no longer be any repression in the town or villages and that he had
already instructed the police department accordingly. This he said is necessary
because without goodwill between the people and the State, it was not possible
to run a State. He also assured that the State would accept the reasonable
demands of the people. He also told the people that mounted police had been
withdrawn. He also expressed faith in the people that they too would not wish
anything that would go against the interest of the State. At the same time he
firmly asserted that he would never allow anything that would adversely affect
the State. He insisted that differences could be resolved with discussions, and
that he has been appointed by the Wakaner and Lathi Thakore Sahebs to see that
the Satyagraha is withdrawn.
It is important to emphasize here that no
sooner was bapuji appointed the Diwan of Mansa that all the newspapers of
Gujarat highlighted this news extensively and prominently. Newspapers all over
Gujarat carried headlines like ‘ Mansa on fire handed over to Oza?’ Bapuji
immediately started the process of arbitration towards an amicable solution. It
was at this time that Sardar Patel called for Bapuji. Bapuji himself wanted
Sardar Patel to intervene in the matter and proceeded to Ahmedabad. It was
later that Bapuji narrated this incident to us, ‘During the discussion with
Sardar, he immediately threatened me and said- Keshavlal are you aware that I
could crush Mansa with my two fingers and in no time?’ In reply Bapuji said
sweetly but firmly, ‘Yes, I have no doubt in the matter; however, Mansa is a
very small State. If you could crush the State of Baroda, then that would be
something worthy of credit.’ An extremely intelligent Sardar instead of getting
angry, laughed/smiled and said, “Keshavlal, so you do dare say this to me!’
Without getting annoyed, Sardar intervened and the Satyagraha at Mansa was
withdrawn within six months.
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| Darbargadh Palace, Mansa, Photo: Bhole and Associates |
Though Mansa was a small State, the
satyagraha here made it a renowned place all over the country, especially in
Gujarat and along with it, Bapujni became a well-known figure and was
appreciated as an extremely efficient administrator. I have been personally a
witness to the accolades showered upon Bapuji for his intelligence, honesty,
simple nature, commitment, etc. These qualities of his were reported in the
newspapers frequently. But ultimately the disputes within the Royal family of
Mansa was the reason why Bapuji left after five years of service and moved to Wakaner where he was made officer on special duty till he was summoned by the
State of Lakhtar and ultimately became the Diwan of Vallabhipur. He remained in
Vallabhipur till all the States were unified after independence.
The Maharaja of Jaipur taking the oath of allegiance, 1948. Photo by Kulwant Roy (1914-1984) and photo credit : Indian Express and Aditya Arya Archives, Chairman & Trustee, India Photo Archive Foundation.
Two incidents during this period are worth
mentioning here. At that time, Gohilwad of Saurashtra constituted of the State
of Bhavnagar, Vala, Palitana and the Lathi States. At that time, Kathiawad
assembly used to be organized under the leadership of Balvantbhai Mehta. As the
State of Bhavnagar was strict with these congress activists, the congress
workers had Vala as their head quarters. Due to the people’s struggle under the
leadership of Gandhi, the British Empire became weak and it became clear that the days of British
Raj were numbered.
Balvant Mehta who later became the Chief Minister of Gujarat State
This incident is of the year 1945-46. The
congress president of the time Shri Uchharangrai Dhebar summoned Bapuji to meet
him at Dhola railway junction. Bapuji was aware that the days of the State too
were numbered and if a person like Dhebarbhai summoned him, he as the
representative of the State should meet him. Bapuji met Dhebarbhai. In the
first class compartment of the train Dhebarbhai was traveling in, he was
accompanied by one of the leading businessman of the region Mr Mohan Moti. It
was the wish of Dhebarbhai that Vala State which earned its revenue mainly from
the wheat crop, contribute 2000 maan of wheat (1 maan =20 kgs ) at Rs 8 per
maan to the Saurashtra development samiti (organization). This wheat was to be
distributed to the poor by the samiti at a lower price as the market price of
the wheat was Rs 16 a maan at the time. Bapuji accepted the demand of
Dhebarbhai immediately even without consulting the Thakore Saheb of Vala and
agreed to give 2000 maan of wheat to the Samiti (organization). But at the same
time Dhebarbhai placed one more demand before Bapuji, he asked Bapuji to give
2000 maan of wheat to the trader Mohan Moti at the same rate of Rs 8/- a maan.
Bapuji refused to accept this demand. Dhebarbhai in retaliation accused the
State of Vala of black-marketing of wheat.
Bapuji refuted this false allegation. Dhebarbhai also gave a veiled
threat to Bapuji and said, ‘it seems you do not fully understand the implication
of your refusal to give wheat.’ Bapuji replied calmly, ‘I know that within a
year or so you will become the Chief Minister of the Government of Saurashtra,
and at that time if the new Government of Saurashtra deems fit to employ me in
its service, I will serve the Government with the same loyalty as I am serving
the State now.” (Dheberbhai indeed became the Chief Minister of Saurashtra which saw many public protests under him. For details click here.
Shri U.N.Dhebar, President, All India Congress Party greeting Mr. Nobusuke Kishi the Japanese Prime Minister at the Banquet held in the latter’s honor by the Prime Minister of India, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on May 23, 1957. Source of caption and photo: http://photodivision.gov.in/IntroPhotodetails.asp?thisPage=1244
The matter was soon forgotten. The British
left and India became independent in 1947. All the princely States of
Saurashtra were unified as one democratic State of Saurashtra. The
administration of Vala was handed over to the Government of Saurashtra and
Bapuji became the employee of the Government of Saurashtra. He was responsible
for the administration of Muli and Sayla States till the process of their
unification was completed with the State of Saurashtra.
Before Bapuji handed over his
responsibilities at Vallabhipur, Vala Thakore Saheb told him to change the
entries in the book to show that he was drawing a salary of Rs 700/- for the
previous two years because otherwise, he would be given that kind of job that
would only commensurate with his salary. He also said that this was the
practice adopted by the States such as Bilkha, Manavadar, Vadia, etc. But
Bapuji refused to do so. At that time Bapuji had only about 3-4 years of
service left before retirement in 1953. Loyalty and honesty were the two basic
qualities with which he served and handled the administration of all States all
his life.
But soon the refusal to give 2000 maan of
wheat to Mohan Moti on the insistence of Dhebarbhai began to have its adverse implications
on Bapuji. His position as Diwan was deliberately ignored, moreover his
excellent performance in resolving the serious issues of the State of Mansa too
was overlooked and he was not given the post of a collector though he was
entitled for the same. He was instead made deputy collector at Surendranagar,
giving the excuse of the low salary he was drawing at Vallabhipur. Shri Bholanathbhai Thakore, the chief
magistrate of Wadhvan on having been treated in the same way, filed a case and
won. The Government had to pay damages worth Rs 18,000/- to him on court order.
But Bapuji refused to pursue this course of action against the injustice meted
out to him.
That the so called congress leaders were
actually so revengeful is clear from the fact that Bapuji was also deprived of
his pension on the grounds that his service in the State of Mansa was a break
from his continues service in Saurashtra and therefore not entitled to any
pension (Mansa was not a part of Saurashtra but was in Gujarat and so it was considered
that bapuji had a break of service from Saurashtra!). In spite of having served
all the States honestly and continually without a break, his pension was not
sanctioned. This was the result for having refused to black market wheat.
Bapuji retired in 1953 and passed away in the year 1986 – he was deprived of
his rightful pension for 33 years! And yet, he never thought of going to Court
against the State though Bholanathbhai had the same problem and had got a court
order in his favor.
There is another incident of the vengeance
and appalling behavior of the Khadi clad, white-capped congressmen. During the vacation of 1945-46, I had come to
Vallibhipur from Ahmedabad during vacation. One evening there was a public
meeting to be held in Vala and the congress leaders were to speak about the
exploitation of the people and misadministration by the States. It is important
to disclose here that one day I saw Bapuji engrossed in some deep thought. On
seeing him in such a thoughtful mood, I asked him if anything was wrong. He
said, “ Thakore saheb is insisting on buying the Humber car. This is a very
expensive car costing 16 to 17 thousand rupees where as hilman of the same
company is cheaper and costing Rs 5500/-.” Bapuji knew the congressmen for
years and was aware that no sooner would Thakore Saheb buy this car that there
would be protest rallies, demonstrations, etc. And yet due to Thakore Saheb’s
insistence, an order for Humber had to be placed.
I
was present at the public meeting mentioned above and actually there were
protest speeches against the purchase of such an expensive car. In fact, one of
the congressmen went to the extent of saying that those Diwans who advise the
Kings to live in luxury at the cost of poor people should be hanged. However, soon
I learnt about the dishonesty of these congressmen themselves. The congress
leaders had organized this meeting in order to get a contract of road building
from the State and for no other reason.
Further, once the State of Saurashtra was
unified and Shri Rasiklal Parikh became the chief minister of Saurashtra, Bapuji had
gone to meet him to resolve some matters concerning Vallabhipur ( Bapuji had
been appointed by the Thakore Saheb as his life time advisor.) When Bapuji
entered the CMs bungalow, he saw a brand new limousine imported from the USA
parked there. On further inquiry,
Bapuji learnt that three Limousines had been imported for three ministers. I was very saddened to see that the actions
and words of the congressmen did not match at all. After independence,
Gandhiji himself had advised dissolution of the Congress.
Rasiklal Parikh, Photo: Entrance India
One example of Bapuji’s selfless, honest
and simple life is worth mentioning here. As the Diwan (chief administrator) of
Vala he went to the office in a carriage driven by two horses and all along the
route people would greet him. He was in a position of power all his life but on
the day the States were unified and when he returned to Vala after retirement
he did not hesitate even for a minute to go buy vegetables as an ordinary
person. Simplicity, Loyalty and honesty are the three qualities that we all
brothers and sisters have learnt from him and this is why we have been able to
lead our lives happily."
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| Savitri Keshavlal Oza. Photo: Oza Family Archives |
About my Grandmother, my father, K.K.Oza says the following: "My mother too had completed matriculation in the year 1924. She was very knowledgeable in Sanskrit and had the whole of Geeta by heart. She could also interpret the Gitaji well. She left no stone unturned to see that all of us get the best of education and move ahead in life. This is why my younger brother became an MD in the year 1955 (Dr.M.K.Oza was among the first cardiologists our city of Bhavnagar had), second brother (D.K.Oza) cleared IAS (He rose to become the Chief Election Commissioner in the State of Tamil Nadu and was also the Vice Chancellor of Gandhi Gram University in Tamil Nadu), the third after having successfully attempted many examinations, decided to become a professor (of Economics at M.S. Univesity, Vadodara) as per his liking. I too (K.K.Oza) was sent to England to become a Barrister (My father became the general manager of one of the leading nationalized banks of Gujarat, the State Bank of Saurashtra and was instrumental in seeing that banking facilities reach the marginalized sections of the society). Baring my older sister, my other two sisters are postgraduates."
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| Nalini Nayar, taught in Kenya and Canada. Photo: Oza Family Archives |
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| Matu Oza in the center being sent to England for further study in medecine in the 1950s, R-L- C.M. Trivedi - public prosecutor Mumbai High Court, H.M.Trivedi, once a Minister of Shipping and transportation, Government of India, Kokila Dave also a post graduate, Dr. Jyotibe. On Trivedi, once the Vice Chancellor of SNDT University, K.K.Oza and Savitri Oza, Balaben C. Trivedi, my grand aunt. Photo: Trivedi Family Archives |
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| Kanu Oza (right) sailing to England in early 1950s to study law. Photo: Oza Family Archives. |
The role and inclination for good education on my maternal side family too had an important influence on us as far as our education is concerned. Both my mamas were barristers and my masi became a graduate when very few women in Gujarat studied at all. She also went to London University for further studies. My older masi was an eminent social worker and very well respected in Rajkot.
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| Dadima, Narmadaben Mulshanker Trivedi, my great godmother, the first feminist I know. Photo: Trivedi Family Archives |
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| Nani Mashi, my grand aunt was sent to England by my great grand mother Narmadaben when anyone crossing the seas was excommunicated from the communities they belonged to. Photo: Trivedi Family Archives. |
Dadima ( Narmada Mulshanker Trivedi) and both my mamas (H.M. Trivedi-Hariprasad and C.M. Trivedi- Chandrakant. H M. Trivedi was the minister of shipping and transport, Government of India and C.M. Trivedi, a public prosecutor and one of the famous cases he handled was that of Kawas Nanavati. For more about the case, click here. Film Rustom is based on this case. ) were very fond of
all of us and so the children of the entire family could study in the Ahmedabad
house, which was kept open forever for everyone to stay and study. We could
study without much expenditure because of this and all of us could pursue
higher studies. My mami’s (Dr Jyotiben Trivedi) contribution too is very valuable in this matter.
Doctor by profession, she also became the vice chancellor of SNDYT university.
Naturally, she was an inspiration to the rest of us. Mama and Mami’s
contribution in Devendra clearing IAS is also very significant.
In short, our
family has been very educated and all family members have either been judges,
doctors, professors, engineers, diwans, vice chancellors, economists, and in
the generation after us, there are two daughters who have even taken up social
service.
After retirement, Bapuji served Anand
Ashram Bilkha as the chief administrator for 33 years. He stayed in the ashram
for 20 years. My mother too spent all these years with him in the Ashram.
Bapuji reopened the Sanskrit Pathshala once again and today there are 29
students studying here.
Bapuji (Keshavlal.K.Oza) passed away at the age of 91 without
suffering any illness on 8th of April 1986 at Anand Ashram, Bilkha
at 7.30 in the evening. His wish to die within the premises of Gurudev came
true due to his deep faith and service of Gurudev. Press trust of India had
officially announced the news of Bapuji’s passing away and therefore carried by
all the newspapers of Gujarat. Ahmedabad and Baroda All India Radio too had
announced in their news bulletin the passing away of Bapuji. " K. K. Oza
I reproduce the family history here as it is interwoven with the political history of Saurashtra and Gujarat.
