OMAN-INDIA TIES, ACROSS SEA AND SPACE

The Jerajani Family Gopalji Valji Jerajani started his business in Muscat and Muttrah with the export of khajur (dates), clothes, food items and pearls (moti) for which he set up a factory in the late 1800s.

As he was in good standing and had good relations with the ruling family, he was allowed to build the Motishwar Mahadeva temple (also named in recognition of his trade in ‘moti’, or pearl). The temple was built in the month of Magashar Samvat (the Hindu year) 1961; i.e. the temple was built in 1904 CE. The temple still exists today in Muscat.

Gopalji then brought Chhotalal Jerajani, his son to Muscat considering that his business was growing.

Vithaldas Jerajani, Gopali Valji Jerajani's brother’s son joined the Jerajani family business in Muscat and settled in Barkha and helped in the family business. But later, following Mahatma Gandhi’s call to join the freedom movement, Vithaldas returned to India. He was associated with Mahatma Gandhi’s freedom struggle in India against the British government.

Subsequently, he was wanted for political activism related to the freedom struggle. Later he was assigned by Mahatma Gandhi to help in the development of Khadi and village industries all over India which he continued until he died.

Meanwhile, Chhotalalbhai continued his business with Muscat. Chhotalal Jerajani’s son Navalbhai was born in Muscat in 1910.

Navalbhai also joined the freedom movement of India.

He, along with other members of Jerajani family, joined in the Salt Satyagrah movement of Gandhiji and was jailed with other leaders. He was involved with Khadi and village industries activity. He set up the biggest Khadi store in India which was originally owned by a British company. This Khadi Bhandar is at Fort in Mumbai. It exists even today. He died after the independence of India at the age of 44.

Vinodbhai, the son of Navalbhai and great-grandson of Gopalji Valji, came to Muscat in 1983. An engineer, he set up a switchgear assembly plant in Muscat under French collaboration to increase Oman’s self reliance. Later he joined as a GM of Asha Enterprises of the Ajit Khimji Group and retired to India in 2001. His wife, Pushpa, had joined various voluntary activities of the Oman women’s association and helped Omani women learn crafts and painting, interacting with women in villages like Bid Bid. Pushpa contributed to the temple and deity seva making jewellery, hindola, rangoli and training many ladies in Sri Krishna temple, along with their daughter Seema. Hiral Jerajani Kamath, daughter of Vinodbhai and Pushpa, is presently a radiologist, trained in London and has her own clinic in Muscat.

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