Oshwal Samachar September 2010 Newsletter

Transcription

Oshwal Samachar
Sports Edition
SEPTEMBER 2010
SHREE VISA OSHWAL COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER
P O BOX 40638 NAIROBI, Telephone 3744670, 3742030, Wireless: 020 2135914
FAX NO: 3742003 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.oshwalnairobi.org
INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS
CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
2
EDITORIAL
3
GAMES (CARROM & KABADDI)
4-6
INDIAN SPORTS (KHO KHO & WARI);
ALPINE ADVERT
6-8
E-SCHOOL & NAIROBI GREEN LINE 9
FIFA SONG & YOUTH SPORTS
10-12
SPORTS & MEMORIES OF THE
PLATINUM GAMES
12-14
PLATINUM STARS
14-16
FOND MEMORIES OF OSHWAL
SPORTS COMPLEX & OSHWAL
CHAMPS
17
SPORTS
18
ORGANIX ADVERT & TOUR
D’AFRIQUE
19-20
CRICKET LEGEND JAWAHIR & JAIN
FOOD HEALTH
20-22
RELIGIOUS CALENDAR
GUJARATI
ARUSHA
22
23-24
25
SATISFY CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS
& GLOBAL WARMING
26-27
ARE YOU A LEADER?
27
MAINTAINANCE COMMITTEE & EXPO
2010
28
VISA OSHWAL RESIDENCY; BOOK
REVIEW & GUINESS BOOK
29
QUIZ PAGE & MUMBAI ADVERT 30-31
NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE:
PRADIP SHAH
NIKUNJ SHAH
ANISH HARANIA
PRATIK SHAH
SHRUTI SHAH
MEENA MALDE
NARESH SHAH
HITEN SHAH
ELLA N. SHAH
Oshwal Samachar
Page 2 of 32
CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
I must thank you all profoundly for electing me as Chairman, my Office bearers and the Managing Committee to serve the
Community for another year.
We are focusing on the following areas to complete the tasks we had embarked upon
Religious Education Activities and Spiritual Activities
Sporting Activities and Upgrade of Oshwal Sports Complex
Healthcare
Welfare for the needy and elderly
Social and cultural activities
E School for community members
We are proud to report on the following initiatives:
Visa Oshwal Community will soon be embarking upon the biggest construction project undertaken in the history of the Community namely the Mahajanwadi Development Scheme. Presently the Design Concept, Geotech Study and Traffic Flow is
being finalized. The Fund Raising Committee for this project has been very active and so far pledges of Kshs 400 million
have been received. They shall be approaching Community members and your wholehearted support for this project is
appreciated.
In our effort to help Community Members address social, marital, family, children’s and financial challenges ( conflict resolution) – a task force has been created to deal with these matters and offer counseling services. VOC office should be
contacted whenever such services are required.
This issue of the magazine is devoted to Sports. Sports and health are an important part of ones life both for adults and
children in this day and age. Sporting activities provide one of the best solutions to deal with all the worries and stress of daily
life …….
At the Sports Complex facilities for Steam and Sauna have been installed, other facilities are being upgraded. A fully fledged
Gym is envisaged in the near future. For the younger persons, sports has become a profession in it self which can be very
lucrative and rewarding. Our next generation of Oshwals will certainly be looking at sporting as a career.
The enrollment for the 7th term of the Oshwal Medical Relief Scheme was quite encouraging. 1,605 members have been
enrolled. 974 (61%) members being above 50 & 60 years. Those who have not enrolled are requested to enroll. Anyone in
need of relief assistance or loan facilities should utilize the resources offered by the Oshwal Education and Relief Board.
The Constitution Review has been completed. The Office bearers are studying the document before it is presented to the
managing Committee and Community members for comments.
Later in the year it is envisaged Membership cards shall be issued to all Community Members soon an update for Members
data information shall be requested. Your immediate response to this matter shall be very much appreciated.
Again I wish to urge you to devote some time for Voluntary work for the Community. We still need young volunteers to come
forward and take the Community to greater heights as envisaged in our Vision.
JAI MAHAVIR
JAI OSHWAL
PRAFULCHANDRA KHETSHI CHANDARIA
CHAIRMAN - VISA OSHWAL COMMUNITY NAIROBI
Log on to: www.oshwalnairobi.org
Page 3 of 32
Oshwal Samachar
EDITORIAL : COME JOG WITH ME
Jai Jinendra,
When I am jogging, it is sometimes enjoyable, sometimes it
is tough and hard, but one continues because there is a goal
to reach-self improvement. So when I’m back in the shower
afterwards, I feel great because I know I have improved my
physical / mental condition. It is almost the same for one’s
health, sometimes it is good and enjoyable, and sometimes
it is tough and hard. We continue to be in good health so that
we enjoy the fruits of life. Where do you all come in as a
member of the Visa Oshwal Community? Please take part in
sports, whether it is for fun or as a professional it can indeed
help you to improve your health.
Let us start the conversation with the obvious-get up and do
something. Many of us are procrastinators when it comes to
our health.
As I work in my garden, lovingly enriching the soil, planting,
harvesting and recycling, I truly feel in tune with the seasons,
the weather, the soil, the vegetation and each and every
creature that dwells on the earth. I can take a small section
of the hard, unproductive earth and slowly transform if into
rich loam that will support life in many forms. Just as we
cultivate our gardens, we can cultivate our minds and bodies
to produce healthy, enriched living!
NUTRITION: One of the essentials to good health is learning
to provide quality nutrition for our bodies in the food we eat.
We overeat fatty, processed foods that are full of chemicals.
We support the food manufacturers at the expense of our
own health. We seem to have forgotten that the cells in our
bodies are living, and need living food to grow and reproduce. Life has already provided us with everything we need
to feed ourselves and to remain healthy. The simpler we eat,
the healthier we’ll be.
EXERCISE: Exercise is another component of maintaining
a healthy body. If we don’t exercise at all, then our bones
weaken, they require exercise to stay strong and young. It
doesn’t matter what kind of exercise we do. We can start
with just a walk around the block, and build up our strength
from there. We need to make exercise a regular part of our
lives to keep our bodies supple and our minds flexible.
POSITIVITY: The most important thing to remember in our
efforts to be good to our body is to remember to love it. In
order to heal ourselves, it is essential to remove the negative
beliefs that contribute to an unhealthy physical condition. We
need to look into our own eyes in the mirror and tell
ourselves how wonderful we are. We need to give ourselves
positive messages every time we see our reflection. We
don’t have to wait until we become thin or build our muscles
or lower our cholesterol or reduce our fat ratio. We need to
love ourselves right now and listen with love to the needs of
our bodies. We deserve to feel wonderful all the time!
THE WAY FORWARD: The Chinese have a famous
saying about, “A journey of thousand miles begins with a
single step.”
In the fitness arena, the challenge of transforming your
physical appearance can be such a daunting task as to
appear impossible but break it up into smaller tasks and
you have slain the monster. Start with smaller, more manageable goals like being able to jog for 20 minutes nonstop without feeling like you’re inducing a heart attack. Or
being able to crank out 15 push-ups, and full sit-ups everyday. When you think in smaller terms like this, the task
ahead seems more manageable and it sets you up for the
next little thing that counts-progression which is perhaps
one of the most important concepts when it comes to
ensuring a successful fitness programme. It can be
applied in a number of ways. For example, if you can only
do 10 push-ups on your knees, the progression would be
to get to a point where you can do 10 full push-ups. If you
can barely do lunges with your own bodyweight, the
progression would be to get to a point where you can do
them while holding a pair of dumb bells. The concept of
progression revolves around setting realistic fitness or
nutrition goals and then working towards achieving them
before starting on the next set of goals. This is a better way
of approaching your fitness goals, than trying to achieve it
all at once.
Your capacity to pay attention will be instrumental in
ensuring your success at anything related to fitness be it
building muscle, losing weight or managing a medical
condition like high blood pressure or diabetes.
As I said in the beginning, jogging is sometimes
enjoyable, sometimes tough and hard but begin today
by, “coming to jog with me”
JAI MAHAVIR
JAI OSHWAL
PRADIPBHAI HEMRAJ SHAH
COMMUNICATION & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
NAIROBI
P.S.- Your brain works better when your body feels good.
So why not try jogging or physical exercise today and feel
great.
Oshwal Samachar
Carrom is a family of tabletop games sharing a
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Carrom-men
similarity in that their mechanics lie somewhere
between billiards and table shuffleboard. The game has
various other names around the world, including
carrum, couronne, carum, karam, karom, karum and
finger billiards.
Carrom-men and two
strikers, arranged at
the start of a game
Origins
The origins of carrom are uncertain although western
sources suggest that the game is of India Pakistan
Bangladesh Portuguese colonial or Burmese origin.
Variations of the game played with a cue stick similar to
those used in billiards-type games may have independently developed in several cases as a mixture of
billiards and shuffleboard.
International Carrom Federation (ICF) formed for the
first time in the year 1988 in Madras. It was in the same
year the Laws for carom was codified. Carrom federation can be traced back to Madras a city in India.
The game is very popular in India, Bangladesh and
Pakistan. Similar games are played throughout the
world, and may or may not share common origins with
carrom. There is a carrom-like game also played with
cues in China. Games similar to carrom appear all over
Asia, for example vindi vindi in Fiji and szhe szhe in
Israel. Some variants make use of discarded objects
instead of fashioned playing pieces; bottle caps are
used for games similar to carrom in both Mexico and
Java. Various North American and European games
bear a resemblance to carrom, including crokinole,
pitchnut, pichenotte and novuss. The world carrom
champion is Indian striker Mr.Nataraj, Coimbatore,
Tamil Nadu State, India. The national competition
consists of over 10 million competitors.
Standardised equipment
The standardized Indian game is played on a board of
lacquered plywood, normally with a 29 inch (74 cm)
square playing surface. The edges of the playing
surface are bounded by bumpers of wood, and the
bottom of the board is covered by a net with a 10 cm2
or larger capacity. Instead of the balls of billiards
games, carrom uses disks. The object of the game is to
strike or flick with a finger a comparatively heavy disk
called a "striker" such that it contacts lighter object disks
called "carrom-men" and propels them into one of four
corner pockets.
A carrom-man (also carrom man, carromman, carroman; plural -men; sometimes abbreviated c/m; and
known by colloquial terms such as seed, coin, puck, or
goti) is a usually wooden (sometimes plastic), uniform
small disk used in playing carrom. The Carrom-men
have a smooth movement in a flat position on the
surface of the carrom board when hit by a striker of
standard specification.The carrom-men come in two
colors denoting the two players (or, in doubles play,
teams). Traditionally, these colors are white (or
unstained) and black. ICF-sanctioned pieces must have
a diameter of no more than 3.18 cm and no less than
3.02 cm, and must be between 7 mm and 9 mm thick,
with an edge that is round and plain, and a weight of
5–5.5 g.
The Queen
The red (or sometimes pink) queen
or "match-taker" coin/seed, is the
most powerful carrom piece. It is
placed at the center of the circle.
Under ICF rules, if a player wins the
board with the queen, this adds three
3 "queen points" to the player's total
score. A player has the right to pocket the queen and to
cover it provided a carrom-man of the player's own has
already been pocketed and if pockets opponents piece
then he looses. In other way, if a player sinks the opponents coin while trying to cover the queen, the queen
comes out and is placed on the center, the opponent's
coin stays down, and the player loses his turn. When
playing for accumulative point, the player must pocket a
white coin. Under ICF rules, the dimensions of the
queen must be the same as those of the other carrommen.
The striker
The striker is a larger, heavier piece, flicked with the
finger to hit the carrom-men and knock them into the
corner pockets or into each other. According to the laws
by ICF, the striker "shall be smooth and round, with a
diameter not more than 4.13 cm. Its weight should not
be more than 15 grams. Ivory and metal strikers are not
allowed in tournaments.
Powder
Fine-grained powder is used on the board to enable the
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Oshwal Samachar
pieces to slide easily. Boric acid powder is the most commonly used for this purpose.
In the UK, many players use a version of anti-set-off spray
powder from the printing industry which has specific electrostatic properties with particles of 50 micrometres in diameter.
The powder is made from pure, food-grade vegetable starch.
Standardised rules & regulations
Carrom board
International rules (sometimes called "the laws of carrom")
are promulgated by the ICF, the governing body of carrom.
The organisation also ranks players, sanctions tournaments
and presents awards, and has many national affiliates such
as the All-India Carrom Federation, Australian Carrom
Federation, UK Carrom Association and US Carrom Association. There is a penalty a person has to pay if his striker goes
in the hole. This term is referred to as deuce. The penalty is
usually 10.
The toss
Order of play is determined by the process of "calling the
carrom-men" or, simply, "the toss". Before the commencement of each match, in formal play, an umpire hides one black
and one white carrom-men in his hands and the players have
to guess which carrom-men are being held in each hand. The
player who wins the toss must either choose to strike first or
to change sides (from white to black) and give up the opening
break. No option to pass this decision to the other player is
available. If the player chooses to strike, the loser can change
sides, but if the winner chooses to change sides the loser
must strike first. In a doubles event, the team winning the toss
has the choice, as above. Once the toss-losers have sat
down, they may not interchange. This order of sitting continues throughout the match. Whoever plays first or breaks gets
white.
Shooting
The aim of the game is to pot one's own nine carrom men
before one's opponent pots his/hers. However, before sinking
one's final carrom man, the queen must be pocketed and then
"covered" by pocketing one of one's own carrom men on the
same or subsequent strike. Fouls, such as crossing the
diagonal lines on the board with any part of one's body, or
potting the striker, lead to carrom men being returned to the
board. The player is allowed to shoot with any finger, including the thumb (known as "thumbing" or a "thumb shot").
Point carrom
A variant often popular with children or an odd number of
players. Play is as above except that all players try to sink all
carrom men, regardless of colour. The nine carrom men of
one color are worth one point each and the nine carrom men
of the other color are worth two points each. The red queen is
worth five points and may only be captured by pocketing
another carrom man on the same or subsequent strike. A
player reaching 17 or more points is the winner, otherwise the
winner is the player with the most points after all carrom men
have been pocketed.When scores are tied in a point carrom
game there will be tie breaker, and there will be advantage for
the team which has pocketed the queen.
Board variations
Carrom boards come in various sizes, as do the corner pockets. Smaller boards, and boards with larger pockets, are often
employed by beginners for easier gameplay. On traditional
carrom boards the corner pockets are only slightly larger than
the carrom men, and smaller than the striker. On boards with
larger pockets, it is possible to sink the striker, resulting in a
"scratch shot" as in pool. This is called a "due". Typically on a
"due", one of your pocketed men come back into the table.
When scores are tied in a point carrom game there will be tie
breaker, and there will be no advantage for the team which
has pocketed the queen. (What ever be the fact Blue team
won the match)
Compiled by Meena Malde
Kabaddi
"Kabaddi, Kabaddi, Kabaddi, Kabaddi...."
Got a bunch of people,a big openspace and nothing else?
How about a round of Kabaddi?
Kabaddi is a game of speed,strength, strategy and, mostimportantly, lungpower.
First you’ll need twenty-four people split into two teams of
twelve. Only seven players per team are on the playing
field at the same time. The remaining teammates are
reserves that can "sub in" later. The two teams go to
opposite sides of the field, which is divided in two equalsections. Flip to see who goes first.That team starts out on
offense and the two teams alternate offense/defense
each turn until the game is over.
Here’s where it gets interesting. The offending team
sends out their "raider" to the enemy side of the field,
where he must try to touch as many opposing teammates
as possible before returning safely to his side of the court.
The catch? He must do all of this while yellin "Kabaddi,
Kabaddi, Kabaddi, Kabaddi..."repeatedly and in one long
breath.
And the best part is: we're not making this up! This is a
REAL SPORT!
Oshwal Samachar
Page 6 of 32
game and 3 are kept reserve. One team becomes the chasers and the other the defenders or runners. In the game, the
chaser pursues the runners; tags and touches them and
makes them out. Each team has to chase and defend for 9
minutes twice in a match.
Field
If he makes it back to safety in one breath, everyone he
tagged has to leave and the offense gets a point for each
of them. In addition, they may "revive" a teammate that
was previously tagged out for each enemy that gets the
boot. If the raider doesn’t make it back, the defending team
gets a point and the raider has to leave the field until he
can be "revived". If a team succeeds in getting the entire
other team out, they score a "lona" and get an extra two
points. Play then continues by putting all players on both
sides back on the field. The team with the most points after
two 20-minute rounds wins the game.
larger chaps are known as "stoppers". To make things
more interesting (and fair) each team can only have four
stoppers on the field at once, and onlyone stopper can try
to stop a raider at any give time.
Other current variations of the game thrive throughout the
world today, including a version called "Gaminee" where
players can’t be revived. Instead the game is over when
one of the teams is completely wiped out.
As for the game’s history? While there are no actual
records anywhere, there is apparently concrete evidence
somewhere that suggests Kabaddi was developed about
4000 years ago to help Indian soldiers develop their selfdefense skills (not to mention the pronunciation of the
word Kabaddi skills).
Today the game is played worldwide. (Yes, there’s an
American Kabaddi team.) There’s even an official Kabaddi
organization, the Kabaddi Federation of India (KFI),
founded in 1950 that regulates play and rules and keeps a
bunch of records and stuff. Not ready for the big leagues?
Try the Amateur Kabaddi Federation (AKFI).
INDIAN SPORTS
KHO KHO
Kho- Kho is an Indian game. It is popular in the whole of
India. It originated at Pune Gymkana in the state of Maharashtra. Its team in India is called Kho- Kho Federation of
India (K.K.F.I).
Kho- Kho is a game played in 2 innings by 12 nominated
players out of 15, on each side. Initially 9 players start the
The Kho- Kho playground is rectangular. It is 27 meters in
length and 15 meters in breadth. There are two rectangles
at the end. One side of the rectangle is 16 meter and the
other side is 2.70 meters. In the middle of these two
rectangles, there shall be two wooden poles. The central
lane is 21.60 meters long and 30cm X 30cm on the lane.
There are eight cross lanes which lie across the small
squares and each of it is 15 meters in length and 30cm in
breadth, at right angles to the central lane and divided
equally into two parts of 7.30m each by central lane. At the
end of central lane, two posts shall be fixed. They shall be
120cm above the ground and their circumference shall be
not less than 30cm and not more than 40cm. The post shall
be made of wooden poles which are smooth all over. The
posts shall be fixed firmly in the free zone tangent to the
post-line at a height between 120 to 125cm. The top of the
post shall be flat and free from any sharp edges.
Equipment
The equipments used in Kho- Kho are posts, strings, measuring tape (metallic), lime powder, wire nails, two watches,
two types of rings having inner circumference of 30cm and
40cm, score sheets and stationery to write results etc.
Game
The game starts with the spin of the coin. Referee shall call
both the captains for the spin of the coin. He shall instruct
one of them to call the choice of the side of the coin and
then declare the winner of the spin of the coin.
Any eight chasers shall sit on the square facing the side
lanes in such a way that no adjacent chasers face the same
side lane. The 9th active chaser shall stand in either of the
rectangles to start that pursuit.
After the commencement of the turn, no chaser shall leave
the square without getting 'Kho' or change the face of the
square. If he does so, he commits a foul and repetition of
the same will amount to misbehavior.
No part of the body of an active chaser shall touch the
ground of the central lane or beyond it. An active chaser
shall not cross the central lane from inside the posts. An
active chaser shall take the direction to which he turns his
shoulder line. When an active chaser, while going in a
particular direction, turns his shoulder line through more
Page 7 of 32
Oshwal Samachar
than a right angle to the direction which he has already
taken, it shall be a foul.
A defender shall not touch a sitting chaser. If he does so,
he shall be warned once. If he repeats the same, he shall
be declared out. A defender shall be declared out, if he is
touched by hand by an active chaser without violating any
rule or if he goes out of limits. He shall be declared out by
a short blow of the whistle.
Shoulder line
An imaginary line running through the centers of the shoulders of a player is known as shoulder line.
To recede
While going in a particular direction, when an active chaser
touches the ground which he/she had already covered,
he/she is said to have receded.
To leave the rectangle
When an active chaser lets go his contact of his feet with the
rectangle and comes in contact with the ground between the
post lines, he is said to have left the rectangle (Free zone).
To reach the rectangle
When an active chaser lets go his contact of his feet with the
ground between the post lines and comes in contact with the
ground of the rectangle, he is said to have reached the
rectangle.
Terms used in the game
Chaser
The players sitting in the squares are known as chasers.
An attacker (active chaser) is a player who pursues the
players of the opposite side (runners) with a view to tag
and touch them.
Runners
The players of the side other than the chasers side are
known as runners. The runners who are inside the limits
for their turn of running are known as defenders.
To give Kho
To give kho perfectly, an active chaser should touch the
sitting chaser by hand from behind and utter only the word
'KHO' loudly and distinctly. The feet of an active chaser
shall not go beyond the cross lane.
Foul
If a sitting or an active chaser violates or commits the
breach of any rule, it is known as a foul. A foul is to be
declared by a continuous 'short' whistle until the foul is
corrected.
To take a direction
If an active chaser goes from one post line to the other
post line and after getting a kho, he goes towards a
particular post line, he is said to have taken a direction.
Out of limits
If a defender loses his contact of the ground within the limits
and comes in contact with the ground outside the limits, he is
said to have gone out of limits.
Entry
A runner is said to have entered the limits as soon as he loses
the contact with the ground outside the limits with his feet and
comes in contact with the ground inside the field with his feet.
Scoring
The side of the chasers shall score one point, for each runner
out.
In the knock out system, the side that scores more points at
the end of match shall be declared as the winners. If the
points are equal, an additional inning shall be played as
follows. As soon as the first point is scored the turn shall be
closed by the referee. He shall stop the 'stop watch' with him
simultaneously. The time to put the first defenders shall thus
be noted. The side that has taken less time to score the first
point (minimum chase) shall be declared as winner of the
match. The process shall follow till the winner is decided.
If the points of a side starting the match as chasers exceed
the points of the other side by 9 or more points after the first
innings, the former side shall have the option of requiring the
latter side to follow on its turn as chasers, without forfeiting
their rights to take their innings as chasers afterwards in case
the other side exceeds their score.
Oshwal Samachar
Page 8 of 32
WARI
SKATING
THE RULES OF HOW TO PLAY THE GAME
WARI
Inline Skating or Roller Blading is an internationally recognized sport. Speed skating is a sport in the world championsips. Ice speed skating which uses the same technique is
part of the winter olmpic games.
A’s side
B’s
home pot
B’s side
Wari Game is commonly played by African’s/Warias. It is common
because no instruments, apparatuses or items are needed.
TO MAKE A WARI BOARD
Scoop holes on the ground: 12 Regular holes and 2 Home pots.
Then collect 48 Stones; 24 White and 24 Black.
HOW TO PLAY
1). 2 players are needed to play the game. Each will have 24
stones. Please count the No of your stones.
2). To start the game, each player puts 4 stones in each of the
6 hollows on his/her side of the board.
Players take their, “GO” by picking up all the stones (4) from
any one of the hollows on their side of the board and
dropping one into each of the consecutive hollows, moving
in clockwise direction.
3). At the end of the board each player has a “HOME POT”,
he/she also drops a stone into this if there are enough and
continues to drop stones in his/her opponent’s hollows.
4). If the last stone is dropped onto a player’s home pot, he/she
has another go; or if into an empty pot opposite a pot
containing stones, the player can pick up the stones in both
and drop them in his/her home pot.
Skating has been introduced in Nairobi and especially to the
Oshwal Academy Schools since 2009 by SK8INLINE.
SK8INLINE is a group of professional roller bladders who
have come together to teach children how to roller blade for
fun and competition safely. We teach children from the age of
3 when they can follow instructions. Skating helps with
balance which is very important for the development of
younger children. It increses physical fitness which is great for
older children and adults.
In Europe, America and Asia they have places where over the
weekend skaters can go and have fun. They have purpose
built tracks for this sport as well. As this sport is relative new
in Kenya we hope that in the near future such a place is introduced. Sk8inline has been holding races since last year to
make this sport more competitive and to spot talent. Our aim
is to take our children to the Junior World championship and
the Winter Olmpics. Since we stared teaching in schools in
2009 the children have improved tremendously. SK8INLINE
has also introduced dancing on blades and roller hockey for
the more experienced skaters.
SK8INLINE has introduced Roller Hockey which is also part of
the World Championships. We have a professional team and
a team in most of the schools we teach. The professional
team plays every weekend .
We currently teach at Oshwal Academy-Kindergarten,
primary and secondary, Premier Academy – Kindergarten
and primary, Kabete Junior Academy, Creche International
and Aga Khan Junior and Senior Academy.
5). The game ends when one side of the board is empty. Any
stones on the other side are added to the home pot of the
player with the empty side. The winner is the player with the
most stones in his/her home pot.
Looking for an exciting holiday in India?
We specialize in all kinds of tours and exciting
programs for India, from adventure to leisure and
religious pilgrimages too. Contact us for tailor made
itineraries too.
Visit us at:
Alpine Holidays ‛N‛ Adventures
www.alpineadventures.in
[email protected]
Tel: +44(0) 7981230418
Page 9 of 32
Oshwal Samachar
E-SCHOOL
The ICT Committee together with the OERB, Oshwal College
and the VOC Board has successfully rolled out the E-School
project.
E-School has been started to teach our community members
how to use computers and in particular learn use of the internet
for communication and research.
The classes have been held
successfully with lots of enthusiastic “pupils”. Lots of senior
citizens within the community
have attended the E-School and
managed to learn how to use the
internet for research and Email
for communication with their
children and grand children.
We have run two successful sessions and the third session is
under way – again with very enthusiastic learners. There have
been many requests for other schools – English School, Mobile
School. We are already looking and planning for these and will
be launching these as soon as the modalities have been worked
out.
The ICT Committee would like to thank the VOC Board to let us
hold this very important project, the OERB for the special subsidised rates and the 2 PCs they donated to the Senior Citizens
Lounge at the Mahajanwadi, the Oshwal College for the use of
the facilities and the teachers and the volunteers who have
helped us with the various sessions.
Our aim is to get all community
members young and old
conversant with the latest technology and means of communication to keep them alive and in
line with growing trends of this
modern world that we live in.
Learning is not only for the young but also for the elderly and
let’s learn and have fun at the same time be able to communicate better and learn more from the various resources in the
world that are open to us.
More on E-School can be found on our website –
www.oshwalnairobi.org
NAIROBI GREEN LINE
On 18th February 2010, the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) launched the Nairobi GreenLine Project in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and other corporate
organisations.
The Nairobi GreenLine is industry’s
response to the
challenges of urban
growth and industrialisation.
While
these are positive
developments, the
proximity of the Nairobi National Park to the City and
the industrial town of Athi River, compounded by
changing climatic conditions, has exposed this unique
animal sanctuary to negative environmental impacts
which, if left unchecked, will jeorpardise not only the
volume of tourism into the Park but also the survival of
this great national asset for our future generations.
Nairobi National Park was the first park to be gazetted
in Kenya in 1946. Measuring 117 square KMs, the park
is relatively small compared to the Tsavo’s of Kenya.
But its size belies its importance; located just 10 Kms
from the city centre, a visitor will be able to experience
nature at its best. The park hosts the big five with the
only exception being the elephant. It is also one of the
biggest rhino sanctuaries in Kenya and for that matter
the world hosting both the black and white rhinos.
The Nairobi National Park is besieged by land grabbers, human settlement, pollution and human invasion
through grazing and poaching. The Nairobi GreenLine
is a campaign to grow 250,000 trees from the Cheetah
Gate in Athi River to the Carnivore restaurant to protect
the Nairobi National Park from becoming extinct.
Oshwal Education and Relief Board has partnered with
the Nairobi Greenline as a Platinum Sponsor whereby
it will be allocated a 1 km long line within which 5000
trees indigenous trees will be planted. This site will
marked accordingly and our members will be welcome
to go to the site and check on the progress and also
help with the after care. We will also be allowed to put
up our own branded OERB benches within the 1km.
line. In a couple of years’ time, we will be standing tall
and proud under the trees that we will have planted
enjoying the shade and cool breeze.
On 5th June 2010 which
marks the World Environment Day, over 600
students and teachers
and staff from our
Oshwal Schools formed
a human line. By holding each other’s hands,
all present showed a sign of solidarity and to keep out
encroachers.
For the record, the average carbon footprint a human
being is 4 tons of CO2 per annum and one tree in its
lifetime absorbs 1 ton of CO2.
Website: www.nairobigreenline.com
Oshwal Samachar
Page 10 of 32
The FIFA World Cup is more than just a sporting event, it’s time to get ecstatic, it’s
time to go gaga, it’s our time to celebrate, Writes STEVENS MUENDO
Give me freedom, give me fire, give me reason, and take me higher
See the champions, take the field now, you define us, make us feel proud
In the streets are, exaliftin, as we lose our inhibition,
Celebration it’s around us, every nation, all around us
Singin forever young, singin songs underneath that sun
Let’s rejoice in the beautiful game.
And together at the end of the day.
We all say
When I get older I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom just like a wavin’flag
And then it goes back
k
’Naan’s World cup theme song Wavin’ Flag has probably encapsulated the mood of the world cup in South Africa. The
hit song has ruled music charts foe the last three months and speculations were high
Youth Sports
How important is winning?
The answer to this question depends upon who is
answering.
For most young children, the answer tends to be,
"NOT VERY." Younger children are more interested in
participation in sports. For them, they would rather
play many games (and spend more time playing) on a
losing team than be a substitute (or not play much) on
a winning team.
Although children do become more concerned about
winning as they get older, most would still rather have
more “game time”.
How often do we hear parents saying, “It’s not about
winning, it’s the taking part that counts?” Yet, how
often, do most parents really believe that? What are
the first questions asked to children when parents see
them after a match / competition? Usually, the questions are
“How was the match – did you win?”
“How many points / goals / runs did you score?”
“Did you win the trophy?”
“Who won the competition?”
When such parents are asked how important winning
is to their child's success in sports, most would
respond, "VERY!" Even when friendly games /
matches are played and for which results or won-lost
records do not matter, the parents know exactly what
the results are. For them, winning in youth games is
important no matter what the status.
If the final score is treated as the most important
outcome of sporting competitions or events, then this
will result in people developing a very narrow definition
of winning. This thinking will further result in mistaking
the winning or losing of sporting competitions with the
success or failure of the participants’.
Take for example the recently concluded ICC T20
Cricket World Cup. In the final, England very convincingly beat Australia. Does this mean that Australia (a
team that had won all their previous matches) had
become a bad team? Certainly Not! Similarly, at youth
level if a team / individual lose a game, have they
become bad players? Certainly Not!
The consequences of this way of thinking are potentially damaging to young children taking part in sport.
However, by changing the emphasis to the children
and their effort, winning is redefined in such a way that
it comes within the reach of all participants, no matter
what the outcome of the sporting event concerned.
Of course, effort should be defined in the context of
each individual sport. Scoring goals / points / runs,
improving on times, Running longer distances are
important as they show something about the effort
made. Also important should be learning and trying
new skills in the match, eg using the weaker foot,
making a better pass, improving consistency of play,
increasing the percentage of returns in etc, as these
also reflect greater effort made, and thus more
success.
Page 11 of 32
Oshwal Samachar
By defining success in terms of effort, measuring
success needs then to be done against a set of
goals or objectives. Meaningful and attainable
goals are essential to success in any activity, but
more so in youth sports. Children should have
clearly defined goals to work for and learn from.
They
also need to be intimately involved in establishing
these goals together with their coaches and / or
parents. The goals set allow each child to know
exactly what needs to be accomplished.
The benefits of sport (both a youth level and into adulthood) have always been strongly emphasized. Unfortunately for many children, youth sports can be a negative
experience that leaves them with little desire to continue
being active as adults.
With individual goals clearly defined, children
should expect to have their efforts measured
against reaching these goals. Reaching some of
these goals can only be done through learning and
improving on the basic but essential elements of
the sport in concern. Thus, the goals become the
means of measuring effort
Over the last few years, I have had many parents come up to
me to share their views or questions about their children and
their involvement in sport, some of which I have listed below.
Please note
Goals must be attainable to keep an
interest in meeting the challenge
Goals must be challenging so that an
extra effort is required.
Goals must be clear so that they can be
simply measurable against.
By setting realistic goals specific to each child, the
first questions asked to children when parents see
them after a match / competition will change to, for
example:
“Did you give it your best effort?”
“Did you try that new skill?”
“Did you use your weaker foot?”
“Did you bowl a better line?”
“Did you enjoy the game?”
When children meet their goals which are based on
effort, this will result in more “winners” and more
importantly, a better and more positive experience
for the child.
By redefining "winning" in terms of effort rather than
outcome, it will make youth sport more enjoyable
and meaningful for the participants and their
parents. By doing so, the correct answer to the
question "How important is winning?" will always be
"VERY!" no matter who (child, parent, guardian or
coach) is answering.
The most important goal of any youth sports organization should be that every single participant has a
fun and enjoyable time. Making youth sports fun
and a positive experience for the children helps to
encourage them on to a lifetime of physical activity.
Youth Sports
The role of parents/guardians
My child wants to play sports but I do not know what he
/ she should do?
There is so much choice of sports / activities that my
children can do – how do I decide what they should
do?
Is my child any good at this sport?
Is it worth him / her attending the classes?
My child does not win any prizes or medals – should he
/she really be playing this sport?
The children are good enough to win each game – why
don’t they?
I used to be so good at a certain sport, but my child has
no interest in it – what can I do to generate this interest?
I would like to spend more time with my child doing the
sport I love, however my child does not want to play
this sport. What can I do?
I would like to be more involved in the sports that my
children play, but I do not know how. The coach does
not know what he is doing – even I could do a better
job.
I have reflected on these comments and questions many
times, and would like to share a few tips (gained from my experience as both a coach and as a parent).
1. Ask your children if they are enjoying their participation in the sports they are playing. Do they want to
continue or try something else? Ultimately, you want
to make sure your children are having fun in their
chosen sport, for if they are, they will look to excel.
2. Encourage your children to take part in sports best
suited to them rather than forcing them into sports that
you prefer or those that are most popular. Remember
that children should be playing sports for themselves
not for you.
3. Help your children to set realistic goals for the sports
they play. Goals should be attainable but challenging
and, easily quantifiable thus measurable. Goals that
are performance directed rather than outcome
directed are likely to have a greater chance of being
successfully met.
4. Try to focus on the children’s efforts and performances rather than only on the outcome of a particular competition or match.
Oshwal Samachar
Thus
Let your children know that success also
means achieving their personal goals rather
than just winning a contest. “Success is a
progressive realisation of a worthy idea”
Give the children just as much praise for a
loss as you do for a win.
Whether the children win or lose (or play in a
winning or losing team), or whether they play
a lot or only a small part of a game, DO let the
children know that you love them unconditionally.
5.
6.
7.
Show respect for your children's coaching staff. If
you have concerns about the coach’s ability, or
coaching style, discuss your concerns with the
coach. Please do not coach your children from the
sidelines, as this will only serve to confuse the
children.
Show respect for officials/referees in charge of
competitions. Lead by example in showing that
without these people, the sport would not run properly and that they are very important.
Show support for your children and their teams by
Attending games, matches, competitions
Providing for your child / team equipment and
accessories necessary for successful participation
Cheering for all team members.
NOT expressing criticism towards coaches,
opponents or referees during competition.
8.
If you want to be more involved,
Find out more about and start using the
excellent sports facilities available at the
Oshwal Sports Complex and Oshwal Centre
Speak to coaches, clubs, schools to find out
how you can get involved
Play / practise with your children the sports
that they are involved in.
Sponsor / help find sponsors to help develop
coaches and better sports programmes.
I do hope that the above tips help in enhancing the
enjoyment the children and parents have in youth sport.
Most importantly, please remember to keep sports in
perspective - the purpose of sport for children is to create
an opportunity for fun and growth. All the highs and lows
are inherent in sport and these provide the children with
learning experiences that will develop them as they get
older.
I would like to wish you all (parents, grandparents,
guardians, coaches, and children) much success on all
aspects of your sporting quests.
Page 12 of 32
SPORTS
Friendship Games
NOT EVEN the almost-continuous rain could dampen the
spirits of the participants and spectators of the 2010 8-A-Side
Football Friendship Cup that was held at the expansive
grounds of the Nairobi School over the May day weekend.
Organised by the Festival of Friendship, a group of volunteers
from seven different communities in Nairobi, this tournament
was a prelude to the Football World Cup that will be held on
African ground for the first time in history.
A total of 102 teams took part in what was a fun-filled, yet
competitive football tournament that saw children and adults all
vying for the top spot, both in recreational and competitive
levels.
Teams were drawn in from clubs, schools, companies and
even just friends, like the Wazee’s.
Category C5, men’s competitive was boosted with the presence of Oshwal businesses including Tarpo FC and Bobmil
Bashers. Other teams in this category were Aga Khan Dar-esSalaam, Samba Boys, Total Disaster, Spartans, Memon Red,
Victoria Soccer Academy, RYA Nageya, Parklands Sports
Club, Memon Green, Beach Boys, Aga Khan Sports Club A,
Randon, Memon Blue, Punjabi FC, Madd FC, Nairobi Medics.
In the men’s recreational category C6, the team from the
Oshwals included Oshwal Rhinos, Victoria Warriors, Supa
Brite. Also competing for this category were Nairobi School,
Axis of Evil, Total Disaster Vets, Copy Cat, Gulf African Bank,
Tusker, Punjabi, Grant Thornton, Team Toyota, Memon Gold,
Japan FC, among others.
Nairobi School grounds (on Waiyaki Way) took on a carnival
atmosphere early on Saturday morning as all the teams gathered to commence the tournament. By the end of the day and
some very muddy finishes, a few teams had been eliminated
while others were still in the play-offs for Sunday.
Sunday morning looked dull, but the day brightened as the
teams tried to hold on to the position they were holding. It was
now ‘do or die’ in each of the 15-minute matches and the
stronger teams went ahead to the finals.
There was more rain and even more mud with the players
looking like mud-wrestlers. No amount of rain could deter
the lively DJ Rahim whose music kept everyone entertained
to the end, nor the food stalls that served out some delicious
snacks that kept everyone nourished.
Congratulations to all our winners and runners up below!
They did an amazing job! The final results were as follows:
Sujay Nalin Vora
Page 13 of 32
Congratulations to all our winners and runners up below!
They did an amazing job! The final results were as
follows:
FRIENDSHIP CUP 2010 WINNERS
CATEGORY 1: BOYS 9 to 12 YEARS
Winner...................JAGIET SCHOOL
Runner Up.............ESPRA
Golden Boot..........MUSA MASIKA
(JAGIET SCHOOL - 9 GOALS)
Oshwal Samachar
were told, against many protests that it was time to go
home.
The food stalls with many varieties of vegetarian food,
cakes, coffee, icecream and drinks had a rip-roaring trade
as did the henna artist and the gift item booth.
Memories of the Platinum Games
Harshvadan V Maroo
CATEGORY 2: GIRLS 9 to 12 YEARS
Winner...................AGA KHAN JUNIOR
ACADEMY
Runner Up.............OSHWAL GIRLS
Golden Boot..........ZHOREEN (AGA KHAN
JUNIOR ACADEMY - 8 GOALS)
The 18th Oshwal Games dubbed the Platinum Games,
were hosted in April 2003 by the Nairobi Oshwal Youth
League (OYL) celebrating 75 years since its inception in
1928 . Coincidentally, these Games hosted 18 different
games / sports - the highest number ever in any of the
Oshwal Games till then.
CATEGORY 3: GIRLS/LADIES 13 YEARS & OVER
Winner...................VAYRI CHOKRIS
Runner Up.............CUTCHI BENS
Golden Boot..........ANITA (CUTCHI BENS - 2
GOALS)
Golden Boot..........MISBAH (VAYRI CHOKRIS - 2
GOALS)
The Platinum Games are still memorable because they
gave a resounding ‘Salute To Our Forefathers’ - the few
who did so much, for so many, so long ago, and in an
unselfish manner. Our forefathers had terrific vision and
great community spirit and have left us a great legacy.
Unbelievable but true!
CATEGORY 4: BOYS 13 to 18 YEARS
Winner....................PAKO JUNIORS
Runner Up............JAGIET SCHOOL
Golden Boot...........SURAJ SHAH (OSHWAL TEAM
2 - 6 GOALS)
Golden Boot...........PATRICK MUGENDI (PAKO
JUNIORS- 6 GOALS)
CATEGORY 5: MENS COMPETITIVE 19 YEARS &
OVER
Winner....................MADD FC
RunnerUp...............DAR FC
Golden Boot...........SHABAAN LUNIA (DAR FC - 5
GOALS)
CATEGORY 6: MENS RECREATIONAL 19 YEARS &
OVER
Winner....................ATHI RIVER MINING 1
Runner Up..............ATHI RIVER MINING 2
Golden Boot...........MUJAHEED KHATAU
(FOURTEEN STARS - 5 GOALS)
Congratulations to the Sports committee for putting
together a brilliant tournament which attracted over 101
teams! Brilliant job guys! A big congratulations to all the
Oshwals who took place, and people that came to
support them.
There was also a social night held by the group on Saturday, May 1st at the Oshwal Centre. More than 1900
people attended the Safaricom Masti Nite which saw
dances range from Raas, Garba, Bhangra, hip hop to
music from Bhavna, Hanif, Jhankar Melodies and DJ
Amru. At about one a.m. in the morning, the revelers
Various activities make up the memories. One of them is
that we actually had people at these Games who were present when the OYL was first formed. Another is that the
younger members of the community were given key lead
roles before, during, and after the Platinum Games because
2003 / 2004 was also the Platinum Celebrations Year.
Thirdly and without a doubt, the Limuru Road Mahajanwadi
and MunisuvratSwami Derasar’s environment provided
constant inspiration and blessings in the planning and
execution of most non-sports related aspects of the Platinum Games. There was a spirited combination of positive
approach, hard work, focus, dedication and teamwork.
Opening Ceremony on Friday 18th April :
Following the National Anthem and NavkarMantra prayer,
the Platinum Torch was lit by Amubhai Raja from the
Derasar. It was then passed to the first torch-run bearer, a
young lady swimmer (Jaini Jayant). Next was a volleyball
player (the indomitable Dhirubhai Bhimji), followed by
badminton player (Anjali Kantilal), a young swimmer (Priyav
Dhirajlal), a top squash player (Amar Bhupendra), an
upcoming table tennis player (Harshil Mahesh), a visiting
Nairobian from Glasgow (Siddharth Sanjay), tennis playing
twins (Anika & Nikita Rohet), followed by Ravindu D.Shah
the Kenya opening batsman, and finally a chess player cum
coach in a wheelchair - Sandip Velji Raichand, who gave an
emotional speech of appreciation. The various torchbearers had gone past our various institutions on Wambugu
Road and back to Mahajanwadi. The torch stayed lit until
the end of the closing ceremony.
Each Centre’s team now paraded past the audience of
some 3000 people, with the ‘Chariots of Fire’ music tune
blaring in the background. This was followed by the parade
Oshwal Samachar
of the Platinum Brigadiers and Platinum Stars. As these
two groups paraded, the ‘Stand Up for the Champions’ tune
played in the background, to huge standing ovations, emotions, tears of happiness, and a sense of unity. The atmosphere was electrified .
The Platinum Brigadiers parade included over 150 senior
citizens, some were 80 years old, who paraded on the
catwalk. These included elderly ladies, many of whom held
hands and supported each other as they waved to the
crowds down the catwalk with delight, sporting Platinum
Brigadier T- shirts around their necks. Their comments
expressed elation and gratitude. A ‘Platinum Stars’ article
appears elsewhere in this newsletter.
Platinum Decades Dhamaka Competition Night Saturday 19th April:
Like the Opening Ceremony and the Closing Ceremony,
this evening provided entertainment of the highest quality.
Each centre was given a chance to choose a decade from
1920 to 2000, for the choice of their song, and which was to
be acted out. Unconventionally, it was planned to have a
shoeshine boy came onto the main stage to polish the
shoes of all the dignitaries to everyone’s shock and the
chief guests bewilderment . The idea came from thinking of
the film ‘Boot Polish’ starring bald David ! It set a blistering
pace for the evening’s fun. Infact, the chief guest joined in
and tipped the shoeshine (boot polish) boy.The ‘Lapak
Japak’ song skit from the film, was very well done. The song
depicted the oil ‘champi’ on balding heads in a prison cell.
Historical Turning Points Evening and Closing
Ceremony - Sunday 20th April
This was a climax to a great event over the previous days.
There was the joy, the elation, the fun, the history and the
prize giving in between the skits. The evening reminded all
of the great ‘Kraantikari’ (progressive) role of the youth
league over the years. A theme song throughout the
Games was ‘Kraantikari Oshwal Youth League Chhey’.
The various skits were acted out to demonstrate the historical turning points in our community’s development in
Kenya. This included OYL’s opposition to child marriages,
the printing of the first Oshwal communication publications like ‘Agad Daso’ and ‘Jyotsna’ and the setting up of
night schools and physical exercise activities in the 1930’s .
One could say that these exercise classes were the beginning of our community’s progress in sports. OYL’s formative
years helped in developing many community leaders. Over
the years, this organization became involved in social,
cultural and sports activities like the Oshwal Games, and so
on. The closing ceremony had invited everyone to come in
a fancy dress. At the start of the evening’s program, there
was commotion and some confusion as a procession of
some 30 Mombasa Oshwal men and women in fancy dress
mingled in the audience, danced and sang coastal wedding
songs – adding to the fun.
Page 14 of 32
And the Winners were ?
Participants had come from 15 different places, including
Tanzania, UK, Mauritius and all the centres in Kenya. A
record 1337 registered participants and over 350 volunteers took part in the Games. There were several events in
each type of game / sport, so that, indeed there were more
recipients of prizes (or ‘Plat - Enaams’) than ever before.
As a time saving measure, all prizes, except team prizes,
were distributed immediately after the events. The Games
were played in a competitive way with a high display of
sportsmanship, friendship and camaraderie.
So who won ? Well, the best teams or players won the
event(s), but Oshwals won the Platinum Games ! Somehow when it counts, we come together and work as one
community. Some of this must come from what the ‘youths’
of 1928 and beyond taught us. Some of it percolates from
our spiritual teachings. Some of it is due to the ultimate
realisation that winning is not everything in life.
Let us always keep up the spirit which the memorable Platinum Games strived for and lived upto.
Platinum Stars of Yesteryear
Unearthed & Recognised
Harshvadan V Maroo
On the opening day of the 2003 Platinum Games in Nairobi, there
was disbelief , pleasant surprise and pride as 194 Platinum Stars,
paraded in a line and walked on the catwalk at the Mahajanwadi,
to thunderous applause after receiving their individual Platinum
Star Certificates. These stars were our own Oshwals who had at
any time before, represented their country of residence anywhere
in the world, at a National level in any sport, or had won a National
Championship These included in Badminton 14 players, Bridge
20, Chess 5, Cricket 9, Cycling 1, Darts 2, Golf 6, Marathon 1,
Green Bowling 2, Motor Rallying 9, Scrabble 2, Shooting 3,
Snooker 3, Squash 13 , Swimming 61, Table Tennis 29,
Taekwando 5, and in Tennis 9. Certificates were even forwarded
to all identified Platinum Stars who lived abroad. When this
project was conceived, it was thought that there maybe some 40
or 50 Oshwals who would fit the above definition of a Platinum
Star. How wrong could one have been ! Unearthing the names
was a task but once the momentum set in, the names began to
roll in.
A Special Platinum Recognition Award was handed to stalwart
Harilal Raishi Rupshi Shah as an Oshwal for his 35 years of
unmatched service to Cricket for Kenya. He was Kenya team
Captain, then East Africa World Cup Team Captain (1975), also
once a Vice Chairman of Kenya Cricket Association, and past
active International Cricket Council (ICC) committee member. He
was a Treasurer of the ICC activities such as the development of
cricket in Kenya and working at getting Kenya Test status in
cricket. Jawahir Nathoo Shah, one of the finest and prolific
batsman Kenya has produced, was very happy to have been at
the Platinum Stars recognition ceremony.
Congratulations to our community for unearthing the Platinum
Stars, and giving them a well deserved public recognition as well
as documenting the list of their names. One star, Amar Ashwin
Shah went onto represent Kenya in swimming at the Olympics !
Another , Piyush Zaverchand Gudka (ex Mombasa) successfully
completed gruelling marathon runs in six continents within just
eleven months in late 1990’s ! Two stars – Ajay Anil Shah and
Page 17 of 32
Oshwal Samachar
FOND MEMORIES OF THE OSHWAL
SPORTS COMPLEX
The year is 1978. We were all 7 and 8 year old kids making our
first attempts at swimming. The excitement of floating unaided for
the first time is truly exhilarating and amazing. This is how we
knew of the sports complex and how we learnt so many new
sports, games and made so many friends. Those were the days
when Himat mama taught us swimming and after a work out and a
cold shower, we were treated to thikho mogo and makai. Manu
uncle was the tall giant who threw everybody in the pool. These
were the days when 50 of us would gather around the table tennis
tables for a game and we would do a round table draw to see who
played in what order. We played fun games like Dekha bhor, king,
dodge ball all around the pool. And when we were tired of all this,
Sandip bhai was there with his chess board. Kanti, Harsh,
Hasmukh and Vipul uncle then introduced us all to squash. During
the holiday, the complex was our home. Rameshbhai and Nemubhai both used to serve delicious meals and every once in a while
we would manage to treat ourselves. We used to sunbath for
hours on end without sunscreen. And then we started learning
snooker (illegally first as it was for “over 16s” and we were only 13
or 14) and we used to walk to the complex at night, climb the back
wall (it had just the right grooves to climb over and lucky for us no
electric fences and razor wires existed at that time) have a few
games of snooker, followed by a swim and then a quick escape
back home at 10 at night. Badminton at the girl’s school was part
of the time table and in time we used to also play team games like
soccer, basketball at the back of the girl’s school (Oshwal Senior
High of today). And this is how the many stars of yester years were
born. I know a lot of my generation will be able to relate to all this.
We recently relived one such morning when all of us, now in different parts of the world met up and remembered those truly great
times.
The Present
I am one of the lucky few who still get to use this great place
regularly. As part of the morning swimmers – we enjoy those great
jokes from the Kantibhais and Amubhais and Bharatbhais. We
regularly get a good laughing club simulation and catch up with the
latest from our one and only BBC. Every once in a while we get
Manubhai bringing fresh posho for everybody. And we also get a
few diehards who swim and shower in the freezing water even on
the coldest day of the year. And then we have the true veterans –
the 70 + age group who are still so energetic even at their age. A
truly amazing group. And then every once in a while we get treated
to a scrumptious breakfast. We want everybody’s help to create a
similar fun and play world for all our children at the complex. If you
are part of the solution, do please get in touch with Pooja at the
complex and let us know how you can help.
A healthy you:
- in this day and age, life has become extremely hectic, whether its
work or school; they demand a lot from you and there is not much
time for play. A combination of lack of exercise and fast food very
quickly catches up with one and are factors that are directly related to
heart disease, diabetes and obesity in later life. The sports complex
offers a variety of options for you that would help keep you fit and
healthy.
A safe environment:
- parents would rather know that their children are at a sports centre
than galavanting the streets of Nairobi. The sports complex provides
a safe environment for children to 'hang out'
Develop positive skills:
- a sporting environment brings the best out of your children. They
learn to compete in a healthy manner, they learn to work in teams and
develop social interaction skills.
The facilities
We have seen the complex evolve – from a simple pool to start with,
to a fully fledged sports centre offering – 2 amazing pools, 2 flood lit
tennis courts, an excellent flood lit volleyball court, 2 great squash
courts, Table tennis room with 4 tables, Pool, Darts and Snooker
games and also Bridge, Scrabble and Chess are played here every
once in a while. A fully fledged modern fitness centre will be up and
running at the sports complex before the end of the year with all the
latest machines from technogym.
The annexe to the sports complex is the Oshwal Sports Centre which
provides badminton facilities and the best part is the wonderful
ground with a walking / running trek around it. Flood lighting of the
Oshwal Centre field will be completed in the next few months. We will
then be catering for soccer as well as what we already offer. The turf
for cricket is also being ordered soon.
Regular coaching and classes of many of the above sports and
games is offered. For more information on the sports complex, do
please visit: http://www.oshwalnairobi.org
If you are not a member already, it is high time to become one – this
is probably among the best lifestyle choice you will make. And as an
Oshwal, I would encourage and ask all of you to get involved. We
need volunteers and help in getting our complex to World class. Be
Kind 2 VOC Kind.
Oshwal champs doing Kenya proud in Italy
VICTORS: Kenya junior tae kwondo team in Italy
Doing us proud all the way in Italy are our own Kenyan kids
from the Oshwal Academy Primary.
At the World All Style combat Organisation (WASCO), the kids
have won gold, silver and bronze medals in various tae kwondo,
knug fu, kick-boxing and karate competitions.
Around 20 countries including Uganda, Ethiopia and Algeria
participated in the event which concluded yesterday where
Divyan Shah, Kush Shah, Rusabh, Siddarth and Prithvi
of the Oshwal Academy Primary have scooped top awards.
Bravo and keep up kids! (Photos and information courtesy of
Nisha and Piyush Shah).
Oshwal Samachar
Page 18 of 32
Sports
"Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power
to unite in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a
language they understand. Sport can create hope where
once there was only despair. It is more powerful than
governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in
the face of all types of discrimination." – Nelson Mandela.
Sport ultimately unites us in numerous ways which include
socially, networking, forming and maintaining warm
relations. Agreed, sport can turn competitive and also
induces rivalry but this is healthy for exerting a clear focus,
drive and optimum performance. Almost every individual is
somehow a fan of any sport and this can be attributed to
the luxuries we posses of accessibility, live television and
the media in general. This creates fan bases which boil
down to common interests and long term friendship. An
example in this area is the IPL which has been running for
three years. It is absolutely fantastic to watch fans in India
and globally, coming together in large numbers to support
their States but on the whole, support the flourishing prospect of Indian cricketers. Similarly, there has been a craze
in the last few years over the English Premier League from
locals in Kenya. This trend been spurred by the coverage
of this league by the media and the same has gripped
Kenyans, created fan following, which have further
induced ‘game nights’, friendship and healthy rivalry for
conversation and argument sake. This is sport enthusiasm.
Sport begins at a young age and interest is generally inherited and adopted. A lot of facilities are available for coaching, training for all age groups and it is in our best interest
to exploit these and make full use wherever necessary or
applicable. It has been scientifically proven that sport
instills in every person a change of mind and attitude. Sport
develops leadership skills which are vital in the future of
every individual and at the same time it teaches us the
importance of team work and collective perceptions. This
gives us confidence and belief which lets us take up new
challenges without any fear.
To maintain a healthy lifestyle - activities and exercise is
necessary and there is no better way of obtaining this other
than active participation in sports. Developing a keen interest from a young age nurtures confidence, a strategic mind
set and interaction skills and these go a long way through
out ones schooling life and career. Research has revealed
that people who play sports regularly can deal with
stresses and strains in life in a better manner. This cannot
be emphasized more.
Sportsmen/women are practically always famous for all the
right reasons on the field. Off course there are always
going to be instances where off field behavior or activities
degrade their stature, but what put them into the limelight
in the first place is their excellence and dedication to the
particular sport. Such recent instances include Tiger
Woods and John Terry.
A perfect example of the ideal ‘role model’ is Sachin
Tendulkar who is arguably the greatest player to have
played cricket. He is second to none and is loved by more
than a billion people through out our universe. This man has
achieved what seems impossible and has ‘converted stones
into milestones’, yet he is as humble as a lamb and is
marked by meekness or modesty in behavior, attitude, spirit
and not arrogant or prideful. His life revolves around the
sport and this originates from dedication to the sport from a
young age and decent up bringing. The hard work put in, in
the form of training, practice and fitness is in direct correlation to the performance he presents on the field and how he
carries himself off the field. It is amazing how the mere fact
of this man taking the field erupts crowds in any stadium and
energizes countless fans through out the world with adrenalin that is unimaginable. Such is the beauty of sport.
In my opinion facilities that we are privileged with are not
being sufficiently used. We Oshwals, have a decent sports
complex and a large ground at the Oshwal Centre which can
be used for numerous sports such as football, netball,
rounders to name a few. Yet I do not see these facilities
being used after school hours. As a group we should work
towards getting the much younger generation into actively
using these facilities and arrange for coaching from a young
age. A price is always attached but the benefits can be
reaped throughout a lifetime. With the sort of infra structure
we have in place it is imperative that we improve and maintain courts, grounds, pools etc, in order to create awareness
and attract prospective members.
Sport is where an entire life can be compressed into a few
hours, where the emotions of a lifetime can be felt on an
acre or two of ground, where a person can suffer and die
and rise again on six miles of trails through a New York City
park. Sport is a theater where sinner can turn saint and a
common man become an uncommon hero, where the past
and the future can fuse with the present. Sport is singularly
able to give us peak experiences where we feel completely
one with the world and transcend all conflicts as we finally
become our own potential. - George A. Sheehan, he is best
known for his books and writings about the sport of running.
COME AND ENJOY THE BEST OF NAIROBI – Come and
jog / walk with us!!!
The best is often the simplest. A simple early morning walk
in nature gets really the best out of everyone. It revives you,
energizes you and gets you connected with an all powerful
energy. Golfers know all about this. The Oshwal Sports
Complex has organized regular monthly walks in the Karura
forest – a truly amazing forest, the biggest forest for any city
in the world, boasting of waterfalls and caves. This is a
simple walk on the 1st Sunday of every month from 7 to 9
am starting at the former BP and Shell Club. See
www.oshwalnairobi.org for further details on this activity
open to all at a nominal fee.
Page 19 of 32
Oshwal Samachar
I knew that I wanted to travel before starting work and a Dutch
traveller we met while hiking mentioned this tour.
an organic seaweed
extract to reduce
transplanting shock &
improve root systems
ABSORBER
a water retainer to
increase water holding
capacity & reduce leaching
EARTHLEE
humus for improving
soil structure
The Farmer’s Environmental Friend
P.O. Box 14494
Nairobi 00800 Kenya
Fax: +254 20 3742605
Tel: +254 20 3741482 / 3566241/2
Cell: +254 735 712090 / 720 937535
[email protected] www.organix-agro.com
Tour D’ Afrique
The Tour D'Afrique is a four month cycling challenge during which
about sixty riders cycle from Cairo to Cape Town. The total distance
comes up to just under 12,000 kilometres (or 7,500 miles) and
averages out to be 120 kilometres per riding day. The trip has been
run for 8 years now and is a supported tour.
As a kid, I was bad at sport - always the slow kid at the back of the
pack when running cross country and in the lowest set for P.E..
Cycling seemed to stick though and I started cycling seriously at the
age of 16 mainly because it was fun and enjoyable. I began by
cycling to school - seemingly a dangerous method of transport but a
cycle path along the busiest carriageway made it relatively safe. A
friend and I quickly became addicted and took several trips around
- cycling for a week in Northern France and mountain biking in
nearby forests.
At university this hobby continued and I was introduced to cross
country mountain bike racing when I joined the Cambridge University Cycling Club. By the second year, I used to spend every weekend cycling. Just as we began our third and final year at university,
It was easy enough to place a deposit on the trip - convincing
my parents that it was safe and suitable was much harder!
After they read many of the previous riders' blogs and new
articles, they were soundly onboard and similarly excited. I
spent as long preparing for the trip as actually on the trip - we
had to provide our own camping equipment (we slept in tents
every night) and own bicycle (with spares).
The bicycle was the most critical piece of equipment - we had
to find a bicycle that was suitable for the terrain (rough roads)
and reliable enough. In the end, with the help of the same
friend who I used to cycle with at school, we decided to build
a bicycle from scratch. This began by getting custom
measurements for the ideal bicycle frame to suit my body.
This frame drawing was sent to a factory in China who manufactured a one off frame and posted it back, a process that
took three months.
The rest we ordered from local retailers and put together in
my parent's living room over two days.
I arrived exhausted in Cairo four days before we departed having spent the previous few days hurriedly gathering items
and making sure my bicycle was ready. I met several other
riders in the early days - strange at first but we quickly grew to
know each other well. Our departure from Cairo was treated
with a worrying amount of press attention - it seems that we
didn't quite know what we were getting ourselves in for.
We passed through ten countries in total, travelling from
Egypt to Sudan, via ferry to Ethiopia and then to Kenya,
Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia before
arriving in South Africa. The days varied significantly from
short to long. I took part in the race, which began with 35
riders and ended with 25 riders (the other riders simply rode
the distance each day, not racing). The Tour D'Afrique is the
world's longest bicycle race - while it's not possible to race
every single day, most days were fast and intensive.
A typical riding day would consist of waking up at 5am (or
about an hour before sunrise). We'd pack up our tents,
possessions, load our bags into our lockers and eat breakfast. Soon after the sun rose, we'd depart. Lunch would be on
the road (out of the two supports trucks, one would drive to
the next camp to set up dinner and the other just over half way
to set up lunch). On short days we'd be eating lunch at 9am,
on longer days at 12pm!
The longest days by distance weren't always the toughest those where the road conditions were bad or the weather was
unfavourable would often push riders much harder. On our
second day out of Cairo, we experienced both a forceful
headwind (preventing many riders from reaching camp that
night; they had to be picked up by a support vehicle) and a
rainstorm (one of the first in the Egyptian desert for many
years)! On a day through a Sudanese national park, the road
conditions were much tougher than imagined and less than
fifteen riders finished the day. It took your author twelve hours
to get into camp and even that was just as the sun set.
Out of the many riders who started, almost all finished.
However, only thirteen managed to ride the entire way, attaining a coveted status known as E.F.I. (Every Fabulous Inch).
Besides being relatively quick, the key attribute that all
thirteen shared was a relentless determination to keep going.
It's easy to give up but much harder to continue onwards.
Many rode with illness, bike problems and whatever else the
world threw at them.
Oshwal Samachar
If you're thinking of doing something similar, a few tips: - Plan well
and in advance. You'll never miss out on your ideas if you plan well.
- Don't be afraid to ask for help or ideas.
- Stay optimistic.
- Keep going!
It's hard to summarise a four month trip in such a way
- if you'd like to read more about my experiences, I've written a fairly
comprehensive blog online at http://www.geekonabicycle.co.uk. The
Tour D'Afrique website is another excellent source of information at
http://www.tourdafrique.com. If you have any questions, please get
in touch!
Sunil Shah
07817 848501
[email protected] // [email protected]
ss21k.co.uk // hypedark.co.uk // geekonabicycle.co.uk
Page 20 of 32
Cricket Legend Jawahir
by Harilal Rashi Shah
Jawahir Nathoo Mepa Shah, ranks as one the best
batsman Kenya has ever produced. Jawahir went
onto become cricket captain for Kenya and East
Africa. I am happy to contribute this article as someone who has played the most cricket with him. Our
entry into cricket saw humble beginnings . My first
association with Jawahir was in 1952. We were living
in Parklands in Nairobi and were members of the
Oshwal Club which in those days was situated where
Central Park and Serena Hotel are today. We were
schoolboys playing cricket with bat and ball . I
remember the famous Don Pringle walking around
the Oshwal Club when Jawahir and I were playing
one pad on and a ball and bat. Don must have seen
promise in us and started to bowling to us. We were
naturally flattered than a bowler of Don Pringle’s
stature would bowl to us. Later, Oshwal was playing
Sikh Union Club in the Silver Jubilee tournament at
SVIG Club (Suleman Virjee Indian Gymkhana , presently Nairobi Gymkhana ). Jawahir had been chosen
to play as a leg spinner and took six wickets. Then
Oshwal Club moved to Thika Road near The Fox
Drive-In Cinema. This move almost killed cricket for
upcoming Oshwals. Jawahir gave up cricket for
football where he was a promising inside forward. I
joined Kathiawad Sport Club and played cricket for
this club. I recall telling Jawahir that he would get
more recognition by playing cricket than football. He
took my advice and when I went to England in 1961,
Jawahir joined SVIG . He played regularly for SVIG
and went onto to play for the annual ‘Kenya Asians
versus Kenya Europeans’ match and also the Kenya
team . Runs did not come his way in the first 20
matches . Then in 1967, he scored 134 and 96 runs
for Kenya in a match against India . This was the
moment when Jawahir etched his footprint in Kenyan
and East Africa cricket and went onto score centuries
against every visiting team to Kenya, with the late
Akhil Lakhani .
In 1971, Jawahir went to India with the Nairobi Gymkhana cricket team where he topped the batting averages, with me a
close second . Jawahir had scored three centuries and a 80 not out. Notably, Jawahir captained the Kenya cricket team from
1971 to 1974 . During this period he was also captain of an East African cricket team which went on a tour of England in 1972
. We were in the UK for 48 days and played a record 46 days of cricket – without the help of a physiotherapist ! Jawahir
scored 99 against Club Cricket Conference XI , 70 against Cambridge University and 60 against Hampshire XI. This was a
good tour and valuable lessons learnt and experience gained . In those days, there was a ‘Sir Menzies’ Trophy’ played out
competitively between four cricketing nations which made up ‘East Africa’ (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia ). As
young Oshwals, Jawahir and I were proud to be representing Kenya in this tournament. Later in 1975, I was privileged to
lead the East Africa Cricket team to the Prudential Cup - the First Cricket World Cup in England . Don Pringle who is mentioned in the first paragraph of this article, was part of the team which I captained ! I remember Jawahir playing a princely
knock against India at Leeds scoring 37 runs. Although we lost the match , Jawahir came very close to being named ‘Man
on the Match’ .
Jawahir not only played for Kenya and East Africa, but he played club cricket regularly and some of his finest innings have
been on his home ground on Forest Road in Nairobi . He was part of the Gymkhana team which won the KCA Senior
League. He was a hero in his days. He did a lot of coaching to bring in new cricketers including Jagoo Shah who later opened
batting for Kenya. Later in his career, he also bowled in club and league matches. But it will be for his prolific batting that
Page 21 of 32
Jawahir is and will be remembered. He normally batted No
4. On a hard, true wicket, runs flowed off his bat. He had
a slight build and no apparent great power in the wrist, but
his faultless timing made his batting look effortless. His
best cricket shot was the very elegant manner in which he
hit the on drive in the mid-wicket area. His cover drive was
also a model for any young player. Sachin Tendulkar is the
cricketing star on the world stage today. Jawahir was the
Kenya and East African run making ‘Tendulkar’ in the mid
60’s to 1980, I can conclude.
Oshwal Samachar
Finally, I want to record here that the first Oshwal to play a
high level cricket match - Kenya Asians Vs Kenya Europeans - was the late Vinaychand Malde (‘Dhanubhai’) of
Karman Mepa & Sons. That was way back in late 1930’s.
Dhanubhai was a fine batsman . In those days, the Kenya
Asians Vs Kenya Europeans annual matches were fiercely
played out with huge audiences. These annual duels
helped the formation of the first Kenyan cricket national
team when visiting sides began to come over from India,
Pakistan and the MCC.
JAWAHIR SHAH, considered to be
Kenya’s finest middle order batsman,
returned to form with 109 runs.
Jain Food and Health
The Importance of Food in our Lives
For the survival of every life (jiva), air, water and food are
essential. Animals and other forms of life simply eat what is
available to them for survival, but for human being food is
required for physical, mental and spiritual growth and progress. It is very difficult to attain a human birth and it is even
more difficult to be born in a human body with all five
senses fully functional. This body is an essential
pre-requisite for spiritual progress and the human body is a
home for the soul to progress from atma to permatma. It is
therefore our prime responsibility to take care of our
bodies.
Shree Mahavir Swami in his sermons has spoken about a
range of different topics and has also shed light on the kind
of food that should be consumed. The food that we
consume has a direct effect on our mind and on every part
of our body. All our thoughts manifest in our mind and the
nature and qualities of our mind are affected by what we
eat. The food we eat determines our thoughts, which determine our actions, which in turn determine our karmas. In
short we are what we eat.
In our modern day, fast faced lives, our standards of living
are increasing, but stress levels are also increasing. Hospitals, doctors, patients and diseases are all on the rise, as
are mental illnesses and the root cause of all of this is the
mind. According to Jainism our taste buds have a strong
influence on what we desire to eat and what we eat affects
our mind. If we can control our tastes we will be able to
conquer much illness without having to take medication. It
is therefore important to be aware of Jain food habits. The
food that we consume should involve a minimum degree of
violence, should not be harmful to the body and should
promote our spiritual growth.
Foods that should not be consumed (maha
vegaye)
Meat
In order to obtain meat, animals have to be slaughtered.
During the process animals feel a great sense of fear, this
triggers an adrenalin rush and their negative mentions mix
with their flesh. Some animals may also have certain
illnesses. The consumption of meat clouds the mind with
negative desires and passions. Heart attacks, kidney problems, gout, arthritis, mad cow diseases, and bird flu are
common amongst meat eaters. These diseases are less
common in vegetarians.
Oshwal Samachar
Page 22 of 32
Butter
Butter contains saturated cholesterol which causes high
blood pressure, heart attacks and kidney diseases.
Alcohol
Alcohol has a direct influence on the mind, which results
in a loss of control over the senses, violent behaviour,
accidents and quarrels. Regular consumption of alcohol
results in stomach ulcers, affects the liver and causes
various other diseases.
Stale food
When food becomes stale it looses its original look, taste,
smell, colour and feel. Stale food gives rise to the growth
of fungus and bacteria as well as insects. Consumption of
stale food can cause food poisoning and should therefore
be avoided.
Cold drinks
Consuming cold drinks weakens the digestive systems,
and can cause colds, coughs, sinus and tonsils.
Eating at night
Sunlight plays a big role in preserving the
quality of our food. After sunset cooked
food begins to spoil, the taste of the food
changes, bacteria start to form and insects
are attracted to the food. After sunset
digestion begins to slow down, and eating
at night, can cause acidity, indigestion and
ulcers. Eating before sunset and eating
after sunrise gives the digestive system
much needed rest.
Avoid eating green vegetables on
auspicious days
High and low ocean tides have a connection to the moon. On auspicious days
there is an attraction between the moon
and the earth and ocean tides are high and
turbulent. 70% of our bodies are comprised
of water; greens also contain a great deal
of water. Therefore eating greens, adds to
the water content in our bodies and minds.
On auspicious days if greens can be
avoided then the water level in the body is
controlled and the mind becomes calmer.
Fast food, junk food and tin food
Chemicals and preservatives used in fast
food/tin food can be highly damaging for
the body and can result in diseases related
to the liver, intestines, kidneys and skin. In
canned food the inner lining of the tin can,
can dissolve in the food, and consuming
this food can cause infertility. Chemicals
such as benzene acid, calcium citrate and
magnesium mixed with tin food can cause
damage to the eyes and kidneys.
Fasting and health
According to Jainism it is recommended that we fast for one
day in a fortnight. During the fast we are expected to drink
boiled water only. Drinking boiled water can help prevent
diseases such as typhoid and jaundice and can help boost
the digestive system. When we fast our digestive systems
receives a complete rest and our bodies become purer as
toxins are removed from the body. Fasting is a remedy for
colds, coughs, fever and the flu and prevents headaches,
joint pains and stomach ailments. During ayimbel we do not
consume milk, yoghurt, ghee, oil, sweetmeats and fried
food. Foods that do not contain the above are easier to
digest and the body becomes more energetic.
Conclusion
If we follow Tirthankar Bhagvan’s guidance relating to food
consumption, a great many diseases can be avoided and
our physical, mental and spiritual progress can be
enhanced.
RELIGIOUS CALANDER YEAR 2010
DATE
DAY
TITHI
DESCRIPTION
22/3/10
MONDAY
CHAITRI SUD 7
30/3/10
31/3/10
16/5/10
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
SUNDAY
CHAITRI POONAM
CHAITRI VAD -1
VAISHAKH SUD 3
5/6/10
SATURDAY
VAISHAKH VAD -8
6/6/10
SUNDAY
VAISHAKH VAD -9
24/7/10
24/8/10
SATURDAY
TUESDAY
ASHADH SUD 14
SHRAVAN SUD
POONAM
4/9/10
SATURDAY
SHRAVAN VAD 11
NAV PAD AMBEL OLI
STARTS
CHAITRI POONAM
AMBEL OLI PARNA
AKHATRIJ-VARSITAP
PARNA
MUNISUVRAT
SWAMI’S JANM
KALYANAK
MUNISUVRAT
SWAMI’S MOX
KALYANAK
CHOMASU STARTS
SHREE MUNISUVRAT
SWAMI’S CHYVAN
KALYANAK
PARYUSHAN STARTS
8/9/10
WEDNESDAY
SHRAVAN VAD AMAS
11/9/10
SATURDAY
BHADRVA SUD 4
26/9/10
SUNDAY
BHADRVA VAD -3
15/10/10 FRIDAY
AASO SUD 8
24/10/10 SUNDAY
AASO VAD 1
6/11/10
SATURDAY
AASO VAD 14/15
7/11/10
SUNDAY
KARTAK SUD 1
21/11/10 SUNDAY
KARTIKI SUD 15
SHREE MAHAVIR
JANAM VANCHAN
LAST DAY OF
PARYUSHANSAMVTSARI MAHA
PARVA
VOC’S-SAVANTSARI
JAMAN
NAV PAD AMBEL OLI
STARTS
AMBEL OLI’S
PARNA
DIWALI / SHARDA
POOJAN
NUTAN
VARSHABHINANDAN
HINDU NEW YEAR
Kartiki poonam
Siddhachal yatra
&SUKU BHATU
VIKRAM SAVANT 2065 / 2066
Page 23 of 32
Oshwal Samachar
Oshwal Samachar
Page 24 of 32
Page 25 of 32
Oshwal Samachar
Oshwal Samachar
SATISFY CUSTOMER
EXPECTATIONS
“Of all the things I’ve done, the most vital is coordinating the people who work with me and aiming their efforts
at a certain goal.” – Walt Disney
Customer service is what happens between the time the
customer determines his or her needs and receives the
desired benefits. The smoother we’re able to help the
customer navigate that path, the more satisfied we’ll
make him or her.
Customer service is really about gaining rapport.
Connection, Empathy, The more “connected” customers
feel with our company’s personnel, the higher they’ll
rank our service to them. Paradoxically, the more
connected our people become to the customer, the
better our service actually becomes. Here’s how to build
those connections:
1. Warm greeting. A sincere smile immediately
attracts and warms a customer. A relaxed, “How
may I help you today?” establishes that you are
there for him or her right now, for as long as it
takes to fulfill their needs. Why it works: people
are individuals, but have become used to
companies treating them as if they’re “the
masses.” Individuals deserve individual attention. Give it to them and they notice.
2. Listen. Truly listen. Lean forward as they
speak. Nod in agreement. Use understanding
facial expressions. Why it works: Good listenerstruly good listeners- account for only five percent
of the population. Being one of them commands
customers’ attentions by making them feel
special.
3. Ask sincere questions. Sincere questions
show a sincere desire to learn a customers’ true
needs so you can fill them to his or her exact
specifications. Why it works: Customers are tired
of companies “selling them.” They want to buy,
not “be sold.” When you question, they realize
you understand this need of theirs and will learn
exactly what they want.
4. Paraphrase. Repeating what a customer just
said in your own words tells him or her you
understand what he or she just said. Why it
works: this shows the depth of your listening
skills and allows the customer the opportunity to
clarify any points you’ve misunderstood. Start
sentences with “I understand. So what you’re
looking for is…”
Page 26 of 32
5.
Mirror them. Match customers’ communication
characteristics. If the pace of their conversation is
slow, answer in the same speed. If they lean
back in the chair, lean back in yours. If they sit
with one hand under their chin, lean on your chin.
Why it works: They won’t notice you copying
them on the conscious level. They’re too busy
living inside their own head. Yet they will notice at
a comfortable sub-conscious level. They’ll think,
“I like this person. They’re just like me.”
6. Use connection words. “Us” and “We” are
much more effective to building customer
connections than “I” and “You.” Why it works:
Language that amplifies working together not
only shows customers you’re there to help them,
it also reminds you of your role to do so… so you
will.
Global Warming
On January and March I interviewed two very important
people, Parita Shah and Hitesh Mehta on Global Warming.
They were very helpful to our school project on Global
warming. These are a few things they said about Global
warming.
What is Global Warming?
Global warming is when the earth’s temperature is rising.
The ozone layer is depleting and allowing more of the sun’s
rays to heat up the earth. The green house gas layer is
becoming thicker and trapping the heat instead of letting it
be reflected back.
Some people argue - Is global warming really happening?
Global warming is happening. There is dramatic climate
change in our world – Dubai gets flooded and Nairobi
residents don’t get natural water due to drought. The earth’s
temperature is rising at a tremendous rate compared to at
any other time in history. If we go at this rate, earth’s
temperature will not sustain human life in another fifty years.
There are 8 types of green house gases. The worst ones
are carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and methane. These
are necessary in small concentrations to keep earth warm
but in excess quantities it keeps the earth too warm to
survive in.
The Earth is warming up because of many factors. The
main cause of global warming is manufacturing. Manufacturing causes 70% of global warming by emitting green
house gases, producing excess heat and pollution. The
other main cause of global warming is cows and other farm
animals. They cause at least 15% of the green house gases
because they produce methane while removing gas. 5% of
global warming is caused because of cars and all modes of
transport. The other 10% is by daily use of things in houses
like perfume and air fresheners (which deplete the ozone
layer).
Page 27 of 32
Oshwal Samachar
The solutions to global warming are:
1) Ensuring manufacturers and
manufacturing nations pay
for their contribution to
global warming. Carbon
trading could be an answer
if it is fully 100% enforced
and everybody agrees to it.
Carbon Trading is when an
industry that is polluting a lot
and causing a lot of global
warming has to pay an
amount to the world but
countries like china have not
agreed to this. This is sad
because they pollute the
most. Slowly this would then
translate the cost of all new
products to the actual cost
(which may actually be
double of what it is now or
even more) and in this way
encourage more recycling
and less consumption of all
items which cause global
warming. And this amount is
then given to people / countries / projects which are
doing things to reduce this
gases and global warming in
general (like planting trees
which and plans which use
reduce carbon dioxide etc.).
This solution is indeed very
painful and a global recession would happen as we
move away from excessive
consumption
(which
currently is keeping the
economy working). A major
paradigm shift in our thinking and lifestyles would be
needed
and
educating
people would be needed to
get this done. We need a
messiah,
a
mahatma
Gandhi to get this done.
ones on this earth and they can do anything with nature but at the end the law of
karma always applies.
3). The easiest ways we can help are:
Turn off extra lights.
Car pooling with some body to school and back home and to everywhere.
Use solar, hydro and wind energy where possible battery instead of energy
produced through the burning of fossil fuels.
Use energy saving bulbs.
Take shorter showers.
Use solar heating instead of electricity.
Walking to school or other places instead of using a car.
Plant trees when you get the chance to do so.
Don’t buy excessive things and make sure that you use every thing you have.
A big lesson here for everybody – If we do all the above, we are then following
unconsciously the Jain principles of living and the Mahatma Gandhi way of living.
Let us start now or face extinction!
By Fiya Shah
ARE YOU A LEADER?
How do you measure up against these leadership standards set forth by Robert Townsend,
author of the classic Further up the
2). To address the next major
cause of global warming, we
need to encourage as little as
possible consumption of
animal products. A Vegan
lifestyle is the ideal one and
we then reduce global warming by 15% or more. People
have to start thinking in a
different way. This has to
happen very fast. Humans
think that they are the only
Leaders are coaches appealing to the best in their people; they’re problem solvers,
advice givers, cheerleaders, and their doors are always open. Nonleaders are invisible;
they give orders to staﬀ and expect them to be carried out.
Leaders are more focused on company goals; they think of ways to make people more
and how to reward them. Nonleaders think only of personal rewards, status,
and how they look to outsiders.
Leaders manage by wandering around; nonleaders don’t.
Leaders arrive early and stay late. Nonleaders get in late and usually leave on me.
Leaders have the common touch. Nonleaders do not; they feel strained when in the
company of blue-collar workers.
Leaders are good listeners. Nonleaders are good talkers.
Leaders are available. Nonleaders are hard to reach.
Leaders are fair. Nonleaders are fair to the top brass, but they exploit the rest.
and consultants.
Leaders are decisive. Nonleaders use
Leaders are humble. Nonleaders are arrogant.
Leaders are tough; they confront nasty problems. Nonleaders are elusive; they’re
dodgers.
Leaders are available.
Leaders are tolerant of open disagreement. Nonleaders are intolerant of such
disagreement.
Leaders know the names of people. Nonleaders don’t.
Leaders have strong
Nonleaders vacillate when decision is needed.
Leaders do dog work when necessary. Nonleaders are above dog work.
Leaders trust people. Nonleaders trust only words and numbers on paper.
Leaders delegate whole important
PageSamachar
28 of 24
Oshwal
Page 29 of 32
VISA OSHWAL COMMUNITY NAIROBI
proposed
visa oshwal
residency
Visa Oshwal Residency has been
planned at the Visa Oshwal
Mahajanwadi – Limuru Road, Nairobi.
OBJECTIVES
To provide subsidised housing to
the members of our community
who cannot afford high rents of
Parklands/Westlands area.
To accommodate elderly
members of our community who
wish to stay in a `society’ type of
environment amongst their age
group close to the Derasar.
To accommodate Oshwal visitors
from upcountry and overseas on
short/long lets
To create a vibrant Oshwal
society around the existing
Derasar.
To create increased Religion
activities by improving
supporting facilities.
PROJECT OUTLINE
260 + one/two bedroomed
apartments
2 large function halls
2 small function halls
500 parking spaces
Amenities for welfare for
The cost of this project is
estimated at K. Shs 1.2Billion
A “Naam Karan” Takhti scheme
has been set up as follows:
For each tower – Shs. 50million
For each floor of 1*4 flats (2 bed) Shs. 24 Million
DESIGN – SCOPE OF WORKS
For each floor of 1*4 flats (1 bed) Shs. 20 Million
For each 2 bedroom flat Shs. 6 Million
For each 1 bedroom flat Shs. 5 Million
For each Studio flat - Shs. 4million
For each Large Function Hall Shs. 25 Million
For each Small Function Hall Shs. 15 Million
For each lift - Shs. 10 Million
For each parking slot - Shs. 100,000
The following facilities will be considered
in the overall design.
Apartments for short/long term
tenants – mix between Two
bedroom/One Bedroom/Studio
Function halls, 2N0.
Kitchen facilities
Parking facilities
Special facilities for
Handicapped and Elderly
Care Home for Elderly
Day lounge with support
facilities (lounge/dining/library
etc)
Recreational facilities
Classrooms for music / religious
classes
Traffic circulation both
pedestrian and vehicular
Landscaping
Walking/jogging paths
Playground area for children
Storage
Office for the administration
Meeting Room / Facility for our
sister institutions
Medical clinic
Water storage & Borehole
Security – Boundary walls,
electric fences.
BOOK REVIEW
We will appreciate your
maximum support. Kindly donate
generously for the largest project
undertaken by Visa Oshwal
Community, Nairobi.
For any enquiries, kindly contact
the VISA OSHWAL COMMUNITY
Office – Nairobi.
Rupal H Shah
P.O. Box 40638 – 00100,
Nairobi, Kenya.
Tel: +254 20 3742030 /
3744670
Cell: +254 722 339801 / 733
469517
E-Mail:
[email protected]
Website:
Guinness World Records Sports
The 3 Mistakes of My Life – Chetan Bhagat
A story based on real events, “ The three mistakes of my
life” is a story of three young men and their determination
on how well to grow in a business they own. Cricket is
their passion, and they have a dream to own a cricket
shop and be the biggest suppliers in cricket equipment.
But to them, life takes a different twist and they struggle
despite all the natural calamities, politics and above all
their own mistakes. Govind being the smartest of the
three had great aspirations and wanted to succeed, his
friends Ish and Omi were his great partners. Ali came into
their lives, who was gifted with a natural talent, the sport
they loved most cricket. This led to a conflict and they got
caught up in the game of politics that changed it all. Will
they make it?
Does a few mistake in our life, teach us more and makes
us go ahead or does it lay us down? A must read for all
ages, 8 to 80 years.
by Shreena Deepak Shah
Ball Control, Football
- Most Touches in 1
Minute - Female
WHO:
Chloe Hegland
WHAT:
339
WHERE:
Beijing, China
WHEN:
November 3, 2007
Ball Control, Football - Healing
WHO:
Tomas Lundman
WHAT:
8 hr 32 min 3 sec
WHERE:
Gångsatrahallen, Lidingo, Sweden
WHEN:
February 27, 2004
Oshwal Samachar
Page 30 of 32
QUIZ PAGE:
Logic Problem:
One night, five friends got into a discussion about their
favourite sports. They discovered that in the same five
sports, each had different favorites to play and to watch, as
well as a least favourite sport. Using the clues and grid
below, determine the full name of each friend, what each
favorite sport to play and each favorite sport to watch was
(each is different), and what each least favorite sport was
(each is different).
hockey. Jack didn’t watch boxing.
4. The man who watched basketball didn’t like boxing. Dan’s last
name wasn’t Mason. Mr. Anderson watched baseball.
5. The five friends are represented by: Ted, the one who watched
hockey, Mr. Barr, Jack, and the one who played basketball.
6. Fred Sampson didn’t like basketball. Ted Daily didn't play football.
Table of Results.
HINT:
For each person the sports that they liked to play, to watch,
and their least favourite were always three different sports.
1. Mr. Daily, who didn’t watch football, didn’t like hockey.
Jack, whose last name isn’t Anderson, didn’t watch basketball.
2. Mr. Sampson played football but the man who played
basketball didn’t like football and the one who loved watching football didn’t like baseball.
3. Tom, whose last name isn’t Sampson, loved to play
HOW TO PLAY:
SOLUTION
GRID:
This logic puzzle has two parts; the grid is
to help you solve the puzzle and the table
is for your final answers.
The Grid
This grid is provided to help you solve the
logic problem. This grid can be used in
the traditional method, using dots and x's.
Filling in the Grid
You can either put an x in the square or put a red ball on
any cell in the grid.
Suggestions for Filling in the Grid
Fill the cell with an x when you determine that the combnation in that cell is false.
Fill the cell with a red ball when you determine that the combination in that
cell is true.
Leave the cell blank if you're not sure whether the combination is true or
false.
Table of Results
Use this table to keep track of your answers. When the table is filled in, the puzzle will tell
you if you solved it correctly (See table above).
Table Lists
Below each column of the table is a list of the variables that may be entered into that column. You cannot enter any variable
into any column. Only the items directly underneath the column may be entered into that particular column.
Moving Items
If you have entered an item into the table, but put it in the wrong row, it can be moved. Simply erase the item and then move
it to the new cell location.
Solving the Puzzle
Every row of the table makes a complete set of matches according to the clues. When all the rows of the table are completed
correctly, you have solved the logic puzzle – Congratulations !!
PageSamachar
28 of 24
Oshwal
Page 31 of 32
LAST NEWSLETTER QUIZ ANSWERS:
First Quiz answer is:
Second Quiz Answer is:
ANSWER:
a.
Turn on TWO of the switches and wait for 15 minutes…
b.
Turn off ONE of the switches and go down to the basement….
c.
The bulb that is lit matches to the switch that you left on….
d.
The bulb that is off and WARM matches up to the switch that was
initially turned on, but was then turned off.
e.
The bulb that is off and cold matches up to the switch that was never
touched.
P.O. BOX 40638
NAIROBI
Telephone: 744670,
3742030
FAX: NO: 3742003
E-mail:
[email protected]
We’re on the web!
See us at:
We hope you have enjoyed our newsletter. Do please
send us your positive criticism. We also need letters to the
Editor, Achievement by Oshwals, Book and video reviews
and all other articles of interest. Last but not least we need
advertisments from all for our forthcoming issues. Over
3000 copies of this newsletter are circulated and it is a
very good way to reach a great community. Our indicative
advertising rates per issue are as follows:
Front inside cover page
Back inside cover page
Back outside cover page
Full inside page
Half inside page
Quarter inside page
- Kshs 40000/=
- Kshs 40000/=
- Kshs 50000/=
- Kshs 25000/=
- Kshs 15000/=
- Kshs 8000/=
Do contact Rupal H Shah at the VOC Office at Oshwal
Centre to book your advertisements and send in your
articles / contributions to: [email protected]
This newsletter will be available at our website www.oshwalnairobi.org
Jai Jinendra.
as an oshwal member
always first consider hiring facilities at oshwal centre
or visa oshwal mahajanwadi
for
WEDDINGS – PARTIES – FUNCTIONS
DANCES – MEETINGS – EXPOS ETC.
please note discounted rates are available as follows:*maximum 250 guests - kshs.15, 000 per meal all inclusive
*maximum 500 guests - kshs.30, 000 per meal all inclusive
*Terms & Cond ons apply.
let’s grow & make oshwals grow!!

Oshwal Samachar September 2010 Newsletter

Transcription

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