Ruparelia pariwar
Muthuradas Ruparelia 1896 to 1974
Bapuji (my grandfather) was a pioneer, he left a small town/village Keshod in India to Mombasa, Kenya in the early part of the 20th century in his teens and just newly married. This was to build up a new life for himself and baa (our grandmother). They had eight children (one girl and seven boys). Not only did he build up successful business in a new country to support his family, but also became well respected member of the Indian community in East Africa. Although the stories I heard from my father and my uncles that Bapuji was very strict when they were growing up, my early memories were that Bapuji was a very mild and kind man, but he was very disciplined in himself, I remember he would walk to and from the Mandir every day which was about 5/6 miles each way, even though we had transport. Bapuji, at Diwali time, would buy all the grandkids new outfits and also take my brother Harshad to buy fireworks. Then we would have a fireworks party in the courtyard of the house, amazing memories, thank you very much Bapuji. When we had to leave Kenya in 1973, Bapuji wanted to go back to his mother-India, but circumstances lead us to move to London UK. Bapuji sadly passed away a year later in 1974 in London. I always wonder if my grandfather hadn’t been a pioneer and a visionary, then perhaps our life would been so different and maybe we still would’ve been in a small village in India. I feel privileged and blessed by the opportunities that my grandfather (a great man) gave us.
Maniben Ruparelia 1906 to 1986
Baa (my grandmother) was an amazing woman, Baa got married to Bapuji in her teens and the young couple emigrated to Mombasa, Kenya. Baa was very supportive to Bapuji in their new venture and a very devoted wife. In those days we all lived under the same roof as an extended family and my early memories of Baa was well respected, liked, fair and regarded as the head of the extended family and Consul not only to her seven boys but also to all her daughters-in-law. Baa loved to entertain and often would have dinner parties, Diwali parties and being extended family, It was like party time every day, very fond memories in Mombasa. Baa adored all her grandchildren, especially her first grandson, my brother Harshad. I remember that we would massage her legs and she would to tell stories from the Ramayana and Bhagavad Gita. When we move to London UK, Harshad, my brother, lived with baa. Also, Baa would visit us most weekend as she was very fond of my dad. Baa, sadly passed away in 1986 and well missed by all of us, just a different and amazing generation.
Shashikant Ruparelia 1931 to 1987
Shashibapa (Bhugubapa) was a cricketer in his young age and played for his country. He also had a vision to build Jalaram mandir in a small town Keshod in gujarat India, which was the birthplace of his father and our grandfather Mathuradas (Bapuji) . This dream to build a mandir in keshod was fulfilled by his younger brother and our uncle Mukundkaka
Harjivan Chandarana (Thakar) to 1988
Sushilaben Ruparelia 1938 to 1989
In Loving Memory of the Late Sushilaben Ruparelia
Mum, you were our joy and your passing brought us great pain. But I give thanks for the time we did share together. Though I cannot see you, I know you are always there
Sushilaben was an inspiring and kind person. She was a great support to her husband, Rasiklal Ruparelia, and encouraged all her children to reach their full potential in life and purse their dreams. She would always say: ‘’I will support you and help you.’’ This gift that she has given us, has made us strong and able to face any challenges life gave us.
Her home was always open to all her family and friends, no matter what time of day they visited. She always welcomed everyone with open arms and food on the table. Recently, I met a family friend after 30 years of mum passing away. She, like most others, remembered her kindness and welcoming smile. She still wears the necklace mum made her whilst working in a jewellery factory. All her friends and family still have fond memories of her and remember her for the caring individual that she was.
Sushilaben was a great grandmother to Anisha, whom she adored dearly. At the end of her life, despite her illness, she was determined to visit her two-day old granddaughter, Reena, in hospital and made sure that the sixth day celebration to bless Reena went smoothly. Sadly, she passed away the next day. This is a testament to her great strength and character.
I am sure she is looking down on all of us with her great smile and giving her blessing to all her grandchildren that she did not meet: Sanjay, Akash, Avani, Ajay and Shivam. Lastly, she would have been so proud of her great- granddaughter, Ariana.
We miss you a lot Mum. I know you are still with us and guiding us as always in our lives. Always on my mind Forever in my heart Tiloma Ganesha
Rasiklal Ruparelia 1933 to 1990
In Loving Memory of the Late of Rasiklal Ruparelia.
Rasiklal Ruparelia (known fondly as Manubhai) was a very kindhearted sole. He was a man of very few words, but his great smile and laughter never failed to make us feel better when we were angry or sad.
He was a devoted husband to Sushilalben and missed her greatly when she passed away 15 months before he did. It was heart breaking to see him crying for the first time in my life when mum passed away. He wished he had taken mum on his travels.
In his younger days, he enjoyed playing snooker and riding his scooter with his white suit. He often used to take us riding in his scooter as children.
As the family business expanded in Mombasa and Kampala, Dad travelled frequently to Hongkong and Singapore to buy goods for the business. He would always bring gifts for all the family and even bought a diamond ring and earrings for his mum. My grandmother was very fond of him and would often visit us when we all moved to London. Baa would always say : ‘’Can we go to visit Manu.’’ He loved travelling to the Far East and had a great friend in Hongkong called Mr Lui which he kept in touch with all his life. Sadly, he lost his life in Thailand when he went on holiday with his daughter Sunita.
Like mum, he adored his grandchildren: Anisha, Reena and Sanjay. He loved taking Anisha for walks and they would play fight for Dad’s favourite chair.
I am sure just like Mum, that he too is looking down on us and giving his blessing to all his grandchildren that he did not meet: Akash, Avani, Ajay and Shivam. Lastly, he would have loved to meet his great- granddaughter, Ariana.
Losing our Dad just over a year after Mum was a poignant moment in our lives. We miss you more than ever. We know you are still watching us silently from above and guiding us in our lives. Always on my mind Forever in my heart Tiloma Ganesha
Shantaben Chandarana (Thahar) 1926 to 1992
Jayntilal Ruparelia 1929 to
Dhirajlal Ruparelia 1937 to
Kantaben Ruparelia
Jayaben Ruparelia 1947 to
Kamlaben Ruparelia to 2018
Kamlakaki was devoted wife to Mukundkaka, and helped Mukundkaka throughout they married life, Especially running and managing the Jalaram mandir. As the saying goes behind a successful man is a good woman. Kamlakaki was certainly that.
Mukundrai Ruparelia 1935 to 2019
Mukundkaka, although the fifth child of the Muthuradas (Bapuji). Bapuji saw Business talent in Mukundkaka and took him under his wings to run the family business in Mombasa. Mukundkaka was also very sporty and playing tennis in his younger days. Mukundkaka in his later years devoted himself to Jalaram mandir, keshod, Which he got built in 1992 and managed it for the next 25 years. Jalaram mandir does a lot of charity work including Eye-camp every year and during the coronavirus provided meals to the local community who were out of jobs.
Narenbhai Thakrar to 2019
Tejura pariwar
Liladher Tejura
Bapa came to Africa from India in early 1900, with his wife Jarauben (Khanderia) Tejura. They set up a business in kedowa and had six children. They called for many of their relatives from India and helped them settle in Kenya. He had shops, quarry and lease on part of the forest. He donated stones from the quarry to the kisumu kanya chatralay. He loved helping people less fortunate than himself. Sadly, when two of his daughters lost their husbands, he also supported them. Most of his grand children grew up in kedowa. When his elder son Rasiklal had his first child, a daughter he was over the moon and got a brand-new fiat car and travelled to Uganda with “aya”to get his granddaughter home. He was over the moon. Both grandparents never differentiated between boy or girl. Mumtod told me that he would say to “Ji” never mistreat your daughters in law as they are someone’s daughter. Not that “Ji” did but that was his thinking. He often bought presents of Gold for mum. He was known as “Simba”. He came to Kenya with his mum and had lost his dad as a child and so was an only child. His mum was known as Kesar Maa. He also helped Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, the father and first president of Kenya during the fight for independence, the “mau mau” as they were known. He gave them shelter and a place for the kanu office in kedowa. So, he played a part in the independence of Kenya. Jai shree Krishna, Shilpa Tejura Vithlani
Jardiben Tejura
Ji (as she was fondly known as to one and all) was widowed very young when Bapa passed in a car crash. She kept the business and house going like glue after losing Bapa. She worked very hard and kept the family business going. She continued to support her widowed daughters and their children also. What a great woman. After some years as kedowa became unsafe JI moved to Nairobi with her younger son and his family. She lived in Nairobi until 1978, when she passed away. Jai shree Krishna, Shilpa Tejura Vithlani
Rasiklal Tejura
Dad was the elder son of Bapa and Ji. He was a quiet man who did not interfere with anyone’s business. He studied in Uganda. He was very happy to see others progress in life. He married Sawitaben Kakkad daughter of Keshavjibhai and Radhaben Kakkad of Uganda. They had five daughters, Ashwina, Daksha, Nita, Shilpa and Seema. He loved and adored his daughters like sons. He moved to Nairobi in 1970 with his family. He than got his three daughters married. In 1983 unfortunately he passed away very young. Mum worked very hard all her life and never ever complained about anything and always had a smile on her face, something that I will treasure all my life. Mum became a father as well as a mother to us. Mum than moved to london in 1984 with two younger daughters, to be near her family and give Seema and me a better life. I recall that when we moved to the UK, Shushilaphai made sure we had everything we would need for us to be comfortable and every Friday phai would send Tila to pick us up and bring us to Hounslow for the weekend and Christmas. Phai came to us the day before she passed and asked mum to make kitchdi for her. Last time at her brothers. Mum settled here and married her two daughters, one in Malawi and other in UK. Mum was the glue that kept the family together. She sadly passed away in 2015 to be with her beloved. May Shri Hari rest all their Souls in peace. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti., Shilpa Tejura Vithlani
Pratap Tejura
Kantaben Sodha
Muktaben Vithlani
Champaben Sachdev