Sha Ruaji Dhanaji, a Kapol Baniya has been rightly called the great grandfather of about two million Gujaratis living in Bombay today since he was the first Gujarati to set his foot on the island of Bombay in 1692 with a view to starting some business venture and his maiden journey by boat from Ghogha port in Saurashtra to Bombay was a saga in heroism.

         The Kapol is one of the sub-casts of Baniyas. Small as the Kapol caste is, it has carved out for itself a place of pride by its great contribution in the development of Bombay city. It is not easy to recognize Kapols from their surnames as they have varied surnames like Bhuta, Bhuva, Doshi, Gandhi, Goradia, Kanakia, Katakia, Mehta, Modi, Parekh, Sanghavi, Sheth, Valiya, and Vora.

      Since Kapols are Baniyas (Vaishnav Vanik), and basically business is their obvious forte. Business ingenuity is Kapols' biggest asset. Many Kapol personalities have made their mark in various business and commercial fields. The Kapols have generously donated to various welfare causes. There are hundreds of Kapol community buildings in Saurashtra and Bombay. Shri Mithibai College, the Madhav Bhaug and Harkishandas Hospital, and several Kapol Nivas and students boarding houses and sanitariums in and around Bombay are also Kapols creations.

In 1674 Shri Bhaiji Parekh, a Kapol was the first gentleman to start printing in the Devanagari script (the Sanskrit alphabets). Shri Karasandas Mulji, born in the middle half of the 19th century (1832-1871) was a noted journalist, writer, social reformer and an educationist. Another Kapol gentleman, Sir Mangaldas Nathubhai (1832-1890) played an important role in establishing the Royal Asiatic Society in 1852. He was also instrumental in setting up a number of hostels, schools and banks. In 1862 he founded a fellowship in Bombay University to allow graduates to spend some years in Europe. In 1872 he was made C.S.I., and in 1875 the dignity of Knight Bachelor was conferred on him.
    
         Shri Prataprai T. Mehta, a very learned gentleman was bestowed with the award of the 'Rajratna' by Shri Sayajirao Gaekwad of Baroda, Dr Jivaraj Mehta, the first Chief Minister of the state of Gujarat was also a Kapol. Shri Harkishandas A. Vora, a pioneer of small scale chemical industries and its association in Bombay, Mrs. Dina Pathak and Ms. Asha Parekh in the Bollywood film industry; Mrs. Hiraben Pathak, a noted poet, Shri Ramesh Parekh, a writer, Gujarati radio personality on the All India Radio, Dr. Dhairyabala Vora, Shri Harkishan Mehta, the editor of the 'Chitralekha', Dr. Dharmadas D. Vora, a noted cardiac physician, and Shri Chattrabhuj Doshi, a community worker and philanthropist, - are all Kapols. Many more Kapols personalities have earned a place of pride for the community and Gujarat in various fields in India, and abroad.