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Oswals in Maharashtra

By Mr.  Mahavir Sanglikar, E-Mail : msanglikar@yahoo.com 

 

In Maharastra, there is presence of Oswal Jain community especially in Pune and Ahmed Nagar district. They are migrated from Marwad (Rajasthan) to Maharashtra in the period of last 150 years. Although their mother tounge is Marwadi language, they speak Marathi on large scale at home also. Some of them have changed their surnames to Marathi style surnames like Gugalia to Gugale, Pitlia to Pitale, Sisodiya to Sisode, Lunia to Lune etc.

This community is devided in four sects i.e. Shwetambar Sthanakwasis, Shwetambar Murtipujaks, Shwetambar Terapanthis and Digambars. Digambar Oswals are of two types : Those converted to Kanaji faith from Shwetambars. and those who are originally Digambars.

The Oswal Jain community of Maharashtra has given many great personalities to whole Jain community and to the entire Maharashtra/India. Those include Acharya Anand Rishiji, Pritisudhaji Maharaj, The great freedom fighter and industrialist Shri Navalmalji Firodiya, Social worker Shantilal Mutha and noted Marathi writer Shantilal Bhandari.

This community is basically a merchant community, but now they are in all fields of life. In Pune and Nagar district the medical field is dominated By Oswals. Many oswals have their own farms. The popular Marathi daily Lokamat is owned by an Oswal family. There are many educational institutions in Maharashtra runned by this community, and some Oswals have chosen teaching as a profession. They are also active in politics of Maharashtra. There are two Oswals Minister in Maharashtra Government.

 

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