Over Four-decades in Dayton, Ohio ...

Over Four-decades in Dayton, Ohio: Few Personal Reflections

By Harish Trivedi
© 2010

Having been resident of our community for over four-decades I have had opportunity to watch the birth of the India Club of Dayton, Umang Gujarati Samaj, Hindu Community Organization, the activities of the Swaminarayan Group, the Jain Samaj - an organization dedicated to the followers of Jainism and the building of Jain, Hindu, and Swaminarayan temples. And last but not the least the creation of the India Foundation.

In addition to all these community organizations - and I am sure I have missed some other ones that are also active in our community, there are also trade and professional organizations such as Asian Indian American Business Group, the Physicians of Indian Origin group and so on…

From around early 60s when there was a small community consisting mainly students and few employed individuals or entrepreneurs, the Asian Indian community has grown and keeps growing.

1960s was a time when there was not a single Indian restaurant, a very few Chinese restaurants and Japanese or Korean restaurants were non-existent. There was only one Mexican restaurant – the famous and locally owned Elsa’s on Linden Avenue and there was not even one Indian grocery store in sight.

While every one from India knew every one else from India in our community, the India Club or an organization for Indian community members was still only a dream of a few community minded individuals or it just seemed that way.

Nationally known Patel Bros, Raj Bhog, Eros and Neha Entertainment, India Plaza, Shrimati’s and all assorted nationally known businesses that cater to the Indian Diaspora where still in the imagination of gutsy businessmen or students who turned in to businessmen. Canned and or frozen Indian food or some thing resembling it had yet to appear on the market. Commercially available films on Video were not imagined yet and availability of Indian movies on video was not even contemplated.

At that time, many of the relatives, friends and family members of those living in and around Dayton area did not have phones at their homes India. In some instances it was always a visit to a neighbor’s house next door where one could receive a phone call or make one to Dayton. Direct dialing to India was not available and every one seemed to be happy calling the ‘over-seas’ operator of AT & T. There was only one phone company!

Those were the days my friend…to borrow and paraphrase some famous lines from a song by Mary Hopkins – (mid to late 60s?)

Once upon a time, there was a tavern
Where we used to raise a glass or two
Remember how we laughed away the hours,
Think of all the great things we would do

Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we'd choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way

…Then, the busy years went rushing by us
We lost our starry notions on the way
If, by chance, we’d see each other,
We'd smile and we'd say

Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
…Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days

…Just tonight, I stood before the tavern
Nothing seemed the way it used to be
In the glass, I saw a strange reflection
Was that lonely man really me?

…Oh, my friend, we're older but no wiser
For in our hearts, the dreams are still the same

…Those were the days, my friend
(and) We thought they'd never end…

* * *

Raghu Bharadwaj, the first president of the India Club who left Dayton in mid-70s and Atamjit Sigh, became Raghu’s successor as a president of the India Club. He could still be seen around minding his own business and showing up at an event or two to surprise some old-timers. His successor to the India Club’s Presidency was Dr. K. S. Nagaraja… and the list has grown and keeps growing. The past history of the Indian community and its memories are disappearing fast or are forgotten. And sadly nobody seems to care about it!

Dr. Nagaraja was affectionately called the original settler or Adi Wasi. Among those original settlers one could count Krishan Joshi, Atamjit Singh, Dahyabhai Patel, Yud Vir Rajput, Parma Sinha, Ramesh Mehan, late Dr. Shib Chattoraj (who arrived in mid-50s) and Naren Patel – all have been in and around Dayton for nearly five-decades.

Along this long and memorable journey we have lost many friends and familiar faces.

Dr. Nagaraja, (former President of the India Club and a member of the first Board of Trustees of the India Foundation) is no more with us, the tragic death of Dr. Sukhdev Singla, the tragedy of accidental death of Mohan Joshi in an auto accident on a wintry night not too long ago and later one of the members of his family too died succumbing to injuries suffered in an auto accident… Yes, the auto accidents have taken many lives, lives of many of our friends from this community of ours. How can we or who can forget the passing away of Shardaben Chauhan, Govindbhai Patel and the tragedy suffered by the Kumbhani family? The passing away of Ike Beediwala and Satish Jandial (a past President of the India Club, a member of the first Board of Trustees of the India Foundation), Vasant Kamdar and many more – all real good old-timers, good friends and valued community members. All gone! Mourned and mostly forgotten by the community.

90s brought a new generation of immigrants from India to our community in Dayton. Some arrived from other cities and states in this country and some started to arrive as a result of the globalization process. Some of our close friends also moved away to various cities and states for greener pastures or in search of greener pastures!

Then we crossed the dreadful end of the 20th century, the fear of Y2K and suddenly we are in the 21st century!

Now as the first decade of the 21st century is approaching, the community can proudly look at three magnificent buildings that bear the name of Raj Soin and the Soin Family. The Raj Soin College of Business and Administration on the campus of the Wright State University, the Soin Emergency Care and Trauma Center at the Children’s Medical Center and soon to open Raj and Indu Soin Hospital in Beavercreek, Ohio. The Soin family’s munificent donation of land for the golf club in Beavercreek, their support to World A’Fair – the major multi-cultural ethnic fair in Dayton and the list can go on and on…

And who can forget the Krishan and Vicky Joshi Research Center on the campus of the Wright State University?

Then there are Parma and Chaitali Sinha, Ramesh and Rene Mehan and Naren and Pushpa Patel families (and perhaps many more) who in one way or other have made indelible impression on the community life in Dayton.

These individuals have done a lot for the community in India as well as for the people of Dayton and Miami Valley. There is nothing to compare with these individuals’ business acumen, sagacity, foresightedness, their self-sacrifice and their desire to succeed, their generosity of spirit and their dedication to the community… They and people like them inspire us and make us all proud. May their tribe multiply!

And so it goes. Life moves on and so does the cycles of births and deaths. New people arrive and some old ones move on or pass away and the Asian Indian community keeps growing, though long on ambition but sadly short on memory the community flourishes, new generation is growing up fast and the roots laid down by the first arrivals from India get deeper and stronger!

So here’s a personal salute to all the pioneer residents of Dayton, many of you are gone but not forgotten – at least not by this writer…