Wikipedia
The Navnat (Nav = nine, nat = nyat or jnati) Jain community emerged as a result of blending of several smaller Jain communities in Gujarat in East Africa as well as in Gujarat itself in the early 20th century.
The original communities included: Dasha Shrimal, Visha Shrimal, Dasha Sorathia, Visha Sorathia, Modh, Khadayata, Porvad, Kapol (or Kandol) and Shrimali Soni Mahajan. Historically several occurred several centuries ago, largely due to regional differences.
The Navnat Vanik Association of UK was founded in 1971. The term Vanik means merchant.
The social interaction of Jain communities has long been recognized. The "sadhe-barah" (12 and 1/2) nyat cluster concept is mentioned in texts like Vardhamana Purana of Navalsah Chanderia written in 1769 AD. There are several historical examples of Vaishnav communities merging (as well as splitting). The emergence Oswal community itself can be considered to be a unitification movement among the Jain communities.