| Khambhodar
is a small village between Porbandar
and Raval in
Saurashtra (India). Cotton and groundnuts are the main
crops besides other produce. For long Lohanas were the main traders
in Khambhodar, in such a trading family in 1906 Premjibhai was born.
His father Goganbhai Dattani in those
days valued the importance of education and admitted young Premjibhai
in a school to learn English besides Gujarati and other subjects.
After schooling, Premjibhai joined his family business and
began developing it. |
| In
1927 Premjibhai married to Nanduben from a Vaishnav Thakrar family
of Tarsai. One of the relatives of Premjibhai, Mr. Vallabhdas Purshottam
Kanabar who had already settled in Kenya, while visiting Khambhodar
(India) met young Premjibhai and invited him to come to Kenya. Premjibhai
being young and enthusiastic grabbed the opportunity and traveled
to Kenya and joined a reputed firm of Beliram Parimal in Nairobi.
Later he joined the firm of Harisinh
Gajabhai & Co. in Nakuru, where his wife Nanduben joined him.
New business opportunities opened in Western Kenya when gold was
found. Premjibhai was posted as a Branch manager and later as a
Partner at Kakamega in new venture of Harisinh Gajabhai.
|
| Premjibhai
developed the business and during his long stay in Kakamega earned
much respect from the local community and the Government.
During the war he served as a member on Trade Licensing Board, Maize
and Produce Board and School Committee. He played an important role
in the development of Gandhi Memorial Hall, Hindu Temple, Indian
School,. and many such projects at Kakamega.
After retiring from Harisinh Gajabhai, he started his own business
with his cousin brothers in the name of Dattani Brothers in Kakamega.
Meanwhile, Jinja in Uganda was developing as a town humming with
industries. So, while the Owen Falls Dam was being built on the
source of the River Nile, Premjibhai left Kakamega in 1950 and permanently
settled in Jinja setting up a supermarket.
Besides his multiple business commitments Premjibhai took active
part in Hindu Sabha, Lohana Boarding, Indian Association, Nursery
School, Jinja Library etc.
He died of heart attack on 30th January 1966 at Jinja. Public
paid a glowing tribute to him at a condolence meeting for his social
work.
Nanduben gave all the support to her husband
in his life as a dedicated wife. In 1972 during Ugandan
exodus she came to settle in U.K. with his family. She discharged
her family responsibility and got married all her children and laid
a good foundation for them in life. She
made a very generous donation towards the Temple in R.C.T. Center,
which she intended to dedicate to the memory of her late husband
Premjibhai. The law of nature is unpredictable and no
one can read his own future. Nanduben, in a short illness died in
November 1994 without being able to see her wish fulfilled.
The Temple is now dedicated to the cherished
memory of Premjibhai and Nanduben by Dattani Family.
|
