From humble beginnings in Ghed Bagasra, Saurashtra, the Chande diaspora today is thriving across five continents. On Sunday May 13, 2018, almost 100 descendants and extended family members of Velji Savji and Jiviben Chande gathered in London, UK. Relatives spanning five generations came together to distribute a recently written book that enumerates all descendants and compiles stories and photos from the past 150 years.
From humble beginnings in Ghed Bagasra, Saurashtra, the Chande diaspora today is thriving across five continents. On Sunday May 13, 2018, almost 100 descendants and extended family members of Velji Savji and Jiviben Chande gathered in London, UK. Relatives spanning five generations came together to distribute a recently written book that enumerates all descendants and compiles stories and photos from the past 150 years.
Juthalal Velji (JV), the eldest of Velji Savji Chande’s five children, left India for Africa in 1919 and his siblings and cousins soon followed. The book chronicles this migration and traces how the Chande family became a dominant force in commerce and community throughout East Africa. The business started as simple duhkans (stores) along the newly opened East African Railway, but with the dedication and entrepreneurialism typically associated with Gujarati’s, it grew significantly. At its peak, JV Group controlled global distribution rights for global brands, and maintained trading connections around the globe, accounting for over six percent of the total revenue of the railway line in Tanzania.
The book culminates with a series of maps that plot the reach of the diaspora today; a migration from Canada to China, necessitated by the political instability of the late 1960’s in East Africa. Reflective of the priority on education within the family, the next generation is replete with professionals such as Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers and Accountants.
Family members from different generations contributed to the book, resulting in a rich tapestry of perspectives from different vantages. It was funded privately, and donations are being collected to support charity work in Bagasra, India. Amee Chande, primary author and granddaughter of Velji Savji Chande said, “My hope was to not only capture the rich history of our family, but to inspire us to keep connected in the years to come.”
