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Introductory issue of Cultural Magazine off Cutchi memons

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Published by Dr. JMI Sait, 2020-01-22 15:03:55

Cutchi Memon Digest January 2015

Introductory issue of Cultural Magazine off Cutchi memons

Keywords: Cutchi Memon,Cutchi,Memon,Cutch,Kutch,Kutchi,Cutchi Jamaths,JMI,J.M.I. Sait,J. M. I.Sait,Earthquakes

E- Books on Cutchi Memon Culture and
Language available on this BookCase

Forgotten Cutchi Memon Customs of Bygone Years
Introductory Power Point Presentation
Full volume Flip book

Teach Yourself Cutchi in English, Malayalam, Hindi
Cutchi Qayado: Full volume with English, Hindi,
Malayalam, Gujarathi and Sindhi rendering.
Cutchi Memon Digest Volumes I to IV
SpecialFeatures :
I: January 2015 : Introductory Issue
II. February 2015 : Earthquakes in Cutch
III March 2015 L egal Issues : Waqf
IV April 2015 : Special Kochi Edition

2

JANUARY 2015
An Exclusive Magazine

For Cutchi Memons
Who Care For Their
Composite Culture

3

CUTCHI MEMON DIGEST
JANUARY 2015

NO.1/1

© All Rights Reserved

2020-2030
Dr. J.M.I. Sait

And
Young Men’s Cutchi Muslim Association

Thiruvananthapuram
Editor:
Dr. J.M.I.Sait
KRA 50, Kamaleswaram
Manacaud,
Thiruvananthapuram 695009

4

CMDigest 1: PREVIEW

EDITORIAL

The Cutchi Memon Community has a unique cultural
background and historical relevance. The community is
widely spread in various cities and towns in the country.
Though much influenced by the cultures of the places of their
abode, a strong thread of their especial cutchi culture remains
unbroken. When Cutchi Memon Federation was constituted
four decades ago we had hoped to see a national level
organization of all Cutchi Memons …………………….

ORIGIN OF CUTCHI
MEMONS
The Cutchi Memon commun-ity
is more than six hundred years
old. There are various theo-ries
about its origin. The generally
accepted story runs as follows: In the year 512 AH, (Around
1404 AD) some 700 persons belonging to the Lohana
community of Thatta in the Sindh region accepted Islam from
Pir Yusufuddin Qadri, a disciple of Pir Abdul Qadir Gilani of
Baghdad.(According to another theory the conversion took

5

place in 1422.) They were invited by the ruler of Cutch to
stay in his kingdom. The newly made Muslims were called
“Mumins”…………….

HISTORY OF CUTCHI MEMONS IN
KERALA

Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the
Prince Royal of Venad, a land mass between
Kanyakumari on the Indian Ocean in the
south and the hillock of Varkala in the north
extending to the coast of Arabian sea in the
west and Sahya mountain terrain in the east,
had annexed the principalities upto the north
boundary of Aluva, excluding the territory of Cochin and the
British occupied land of Fort Kochi to form a wider state of
Thiruvithamkoor (Travancore). .............

ALL INDIA FDERATION OF CUTCHI MEMON
JAMATHS

With faith, simplicity, hard work,
good character and truthfulness
as their basic principles of life,
Cutchi Memons
were prompted by a desire to live
together in an organized society.
This led to the formation of their
"association" or Jamat. In fact,

6

wherever Cutchi Memons settled down, they invariably got
together to form "Jamats" which was one of the greatest
contributions of our forefathers to the fraternity.................

OUR LEADERS

Haji Abdul Sathar Ishaq Sait

Born in 1896 in Talasserry, Malabar in the
erstwhile Madras Province (now in
Kannur District, Kerala). The four storey
building where he was born is still in good
shape at Wadhyar Peedika, Thalassery. His
father was Haji Ishaq Haji Ayub Sait and
mother Fathima Bai. He married Asia Bai, daughter of Abdul
Sattar Omar Hashmani of Thiruvananthapuram. (Step sister
of Abdul Rahman Abdul Sathar Sait and Joonus Abdul Sathar
Sait) Asia Bai died without any issues and he then married
Halima Bai of Bangalore, who was reportedly assasinated by
burglers in the early 1980s, while in Karachi…..

CM JAMATH ALAPPUZHA

A few Cutchi Memon families
from Cutch and Bombay (now
Mumbai) came to Alleppey in
the early part of the 19th century.
The illustrious and famous
Dewan of Travancore State, Raja Kesava Dasa, invited them
to establish trade and business in Alleppey, then a developing

7

port. A few Gujarati and Parsi families were also invited.
Traditionally a business community, Cutchi Memons found
Alleppey to have all facilities business, and migrated in large
numbers. Prospering in business and making good
fortunes,………………..

CM JAMATH BHUJ,
CUTCH

Bhuj is the capital city of the
Kuchch District of Gujarat. It is
an irony that Cutchi Memons
who left Cutch have prospered
wherever they went. But Cutch remains undeveloped and
Cutchi Memons mostly poor, not withstanding the fact that
around 200 Cutchi Memons are involved in various business
ventures such as wholesale of grains, fruits and vegetables,

cloth merchandising, grocery (kirana), mobile retailing,
electronics sales, property sales, and buying and selling of
new and used cars as well as commercial vehicles, running of
panullas and bidi shops included…………..

CM JAMATH MUMBAI

Cutchi Memons came to Mumbai
sometime between 1813 and
1816 as they were attracted by its
business opportunities. After
settling down, they organized
themselves into a Jamat. In 1898,
they got together under the leadership of prominent members

8

known as Patels. These persons had unquestionable authority
over matters relating to the affairs of their
brethren……………..

CUTCHI MEMON JAMATH
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Cutchi Memons began to settle
in Travancore from The
beginning of the 19th century. A
few Cutchi Memons were invited
from Bombay by the then Dewan of Travancore, Raja Kesava
Dasa. These families settled first in Alappuzha and
Arattupuzha, then very important ports on the west coast of
the former Travancore state. They were encouraged to settle
in Travancore with a view to increasing its export trade.

GANDHIJI AND DADA
ABDULLA SETH JHAVERI

Luis Fischer, the author of “The
Life of Mahatma Gandhi”, one of
the well known biographies of
Gandhiji, writes that when
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
returned from England after
doing his law in London, he
started practice in Rajkot with the help of his elder
brother. “But Mohandas was a complete failure as a lawyer in
Rajkot as well as in Bombay when he could not utter a word

9

during petty cases in court”. At this juncture, a Memon from
..........

A MARITIME ADVENTURE

An adventure story related to the migration to Arattupuzha
was narrated by Rabia Bai (d. 1951 aged 90) wife of Abdul
Sathar Omar Hashmani. Rabia Bai‟s father and uncles were
good navigators and she was also familiar with the sea. She,
with her father set out from Mandvi in Cutch in a sail boat
towards what they called, Malabar. For them the entire
Arabian Sea coast from Beckal (Kannur) down to Kolachal
(Kanya Kumari) was Malabar...........................

CUTCHI MEMON CLANS

Following the trade or profession in which the Cutchi
Memons were engaged they were recognized as different
households or families known as „Nukh‟ in Cutchi or class.
Thus families who were primarily providing services in the
mosques were designated Zikriya; professionals in tailoring
as Sui, masons as Selat, carpenters as Vaaddow; traders in
grains as Peediya, ghee as Ghet, potatoes as Bhatda,
vegetables as Bakalo and so on. Some Cutchi Memons in
Mumbai adopted their professional titles ........

EVOLUTION OF A STYLE

Cutchi Memons migrated from Cutch at the beginning of the
19th century and settled down as traders mainly in port
towns. Some even went to other places in Africa and the
Middle East. Their honesty, hard work and charitable nature

10

resulted in enormous prosperity in business. They became so
well known in main trading centers of coastal India that the
words “Cutchi Memon” meant “businessman”. The local
people were so impressed by their generous nature that
almost every Cutchi Memon was greeted ..........

QAYDO CUTCHI JO

Cutchi can claim to be older than
Sanskrit. It belongs to the ancient
group of Prakrit languages, the fore
runners of Sanskrit. They were the
spoken languages of the common
people. Sindhi was the language of the
people south of Persia reaching up to
the banks of River Sindhu (Indus).
Cutchi is a variant of Sindhi differing only in intonation

PANJO CUTCHI RASODO

Kutchi cuisine is relatively simple. It consists of Khichdi, the
main dish eaten with Kadhi - a savoury curry made of
yoghurt using curry patta, ginger, chillies and finely chopped
vegetables as garnishing - onions and pickles. Some common
dishes include Khaman Dhokla, a salty steamed cake; Doodh-
pak, a sweet, thickened milk confectionary

11

January 2015‎> ‎

Editorial

‫ﺒﺴﻢ ﷲ ﺍﻠﺮﺤﻣݧ ﺍﻠﺮﺤﻴﻢ‬
Dear Brethren,
‫ﺁﻠﺴﻶﻡ ﻋﻠﻳﻜﻡ ﺮﺤﻣﺔ ﷲ ﻭ ﺒﺮﮐﺁﺗﮥ‬
The Cutchi Memon Community has a unique cultural
background and historical relevance. The community is widely
spread in various cities and towns in the country. Though
much influenced by the cultures of the places of their abode, a
strong thread of their especial cutchi culture remains
unbroken. When the Cutchi Memon Federation was constituted
four decades ago we had hoped to see a national level
organization of all Cutchi Memons that would enable a
dialogue and mutual understanding among the members of

12

the Cutchi Memon Community and establish a platform for a
cultural reunion. Sadly, this expectation was not realized for
various reasons. The more disappointing factor was the lack of
interaction among the various organizations of our community
even within Kerala, in spite of the fact that it has a well knit
fabric of filial and matrimonial relationships.

The need for a common forum and a mode of deeper
cooperation to undertake meaningful developmental activities
among brethren by pooling their skills and resources was
strongly felt by a number of brethren. This CUTCHI MEMON
DIGEST is the result of this longing. To begin with it will
provide vital information about the community and its
members. You as readers of the bulletin shall decide what its
contents should be for the future benefit of the members.

Two important columns proposed for the Digest are the
Regional News and Community Profile. The former one is
meant to carry the news of important events occurring at
various places where the community members live. This may
include events like marriages, death, educational and other
achievements as well as the leadership changes. The latter will

13

provide a profile of the community and its members in terms
of their professions, occupations etc. An added feature will be
a tutorial for learning the Cutchi Language. Brethren will agree
with me that many of our brethren did not have the
opportunity to learn the language properly. The words and
intonations are highly influenced by the local languages to
such an extent that the very use of the language has been
declining to the extent of extinction. It has already happened
in some states where Cutchi language is totally out of use and
forgotten. A modest effort is made to revive the language.

Information regarding various Jamats in India and abroad are
collected from the reports published in the Souvenir of the All
India Cutchi Memon Federation‘s World Conference, 1993 and
updates by Jb. Arif G. Kadwani (2009, 2013), Cutchi Memon
Jamath of North America, which is gratefully
acknowledged. This article provides only part of the story
known to the editor. Readers may have more extensive and
intensive knowledge about the migration and settlement of
their families and fore fathers which will be an asset worth
preserving.Please send to me any available details for
updating and correcting this article.- The Editor]

14

Brethren, the success and usefulness of this venture depends
on your interest and cooperation. I, therefore, request you to
assist me with your comments, data, articles and news items
to enrich its pages and for assuring a viable platform for
information and dialogue and eventually to serve as inputs for
the history of Cutchi Memon Community..

‫ﻭ ﺁﻠﺴﻶﻡ‬

J.M.I. Sait , Editor

ALL INDIA CUTCHI
MEMON
FEDERATION

With faith, simplicity, hard work, good character and
truthfulness as their basic principles of life, Cutchi Memons
were prompted by a desire to live together in an organized
society. This led to the formation of their "association" or
Jamat. In fact, wherever Cutchi Memons settled down, they

15

invariably got together to form "Jamats" which was one of
the greatest contributions of forefathers to the fraternity.
This established the foundation of an organization based
on the principles of unity and brotherhood, ideals so very
essential for the social, cultural and economic progress
and prosperity of any society.

Just as an organization must have a leader to manage the
affairs, Cutchi Memons and their Jamat had a 'SAIT"! The
office of the Sait, the head of the Jamat, was supposed to
be the most dignified, and a prominent and influential
person was selected to fill the position. The Sait so
selected by the consensus of the elders in the community,
commanded the love, honor and respect of all the
members of the Jamat, and was held in high esteem by
them. The Sait's word was the law! His duties were to
guide members in all aspects of their lives, and to attend
their social and cultural events. The Sait's decisions were
accepted by one and all without demur. Although there
was neither any written set of rules and regulations nor a
committee to assist him, the Sait never misused his
powers. As a matter of fact, the Sait was responsible for
fostering unity among all members of the Jamat, and

16

promoting the social and cultural welfare of all. In course
of time, the office of the Sait became hereditary, yet
maintaining its dignity, power and members‘ obedience.

By the close of the 19th century, Jamats were formed in
most of the places where Cutchi Memons had settled. By
the start of the 20th century Cutchi Memon elders started
thinking about the unity of the community on a larger
scale. This feeling of unity with a general awakening under
the leadership of Sait Haji Yusuf Haji Ismail Ahmedabadi,
Sait Yusuf Sobani and Sait Usman Hasan Japanwala made
people think of holding an All India Cutchi Memon
Conference. Janab Japanwala, Editor and Publisher of the
Gujarati periodical ―Memon Mitra‖ published an article in
1908 requesting the community leaders to organize an All
India Cutchi Memon Conference. The idea did not
materialize due to unfavorable circumstances and lack of
initiative on the part of the leaders. The second, similarly
futile, attempt was made by Sir Ibrahim Haroon and Khan
Bahadur Mohammed Hashim Moledina of Pune.
Mohammed Ebrahim Wadiwala, the President of the
Bombay Cutchi Memon Jamat, made the next attempt in
1952. In 1954, the Cutchi Memon Jamat of Bombay passed

17

a resolution and appointed a Committee for the purpose of
arranging and organizing a Conference of Cutchi Memon
Jamats in India. The main object of the conference was to
chalk out a program for the economic, educational and
social progress of the community, and for all Jamats in
India to work together towards achieving these objectives.
Janab Wadiwala was so much interested in holding the
Conference that he himself visited various cities to discuss
with Jamat officials there. Almost all the Jamats appreciated
the idea and promised cooperation. As though of bad
luck, the project was shelved after he resigned as
President.

G. M. Banatwala, the Editor of the Urdu periodical, ―Memon
Review‖, followed up Wadiwala‘s dream. In the periodical‘s
May 15, 1957, issue dated Banatwala appealed to the
Managing Committee of the Cutchi Memon Jamat of
Bombay to take steps for implementing the 1954
resolution. This led to the formation of a new Conference
Committee under the chairmanship of the then President,
A.A. Oomer. Though the arangements were finalized for
holding the Conference in December 1957, the project
once again failed to see the light of the day. A.R. Sulaiman

18

Sait, the then President of the Cutchi Memon Jamat of
Alleppey, and some other members of various Cutchi
Memon Jamats in India were also anxious to see that the
All India Cutchi Memon Conference was held at the earliest.

Federation being formed

Finally, in April 1971, the dream turned into reality. The
credit for this goes to the Managing Committee of the
Cutchi Memon Jamat of Bombay under the dynamic
leadership of Haroon S. Kably. Arrangements were made to
hold an All India Cutchi Memon Conference on April 26 and
27, 1971 during the weeklong celebrations of the Golden
Jubilee of the Constitution of the Cutchi Memon Jamat of
Bombay. About a hundred delegates representing several
Cutchi Memon Jamats in India participated in the
Conference. A resolution was passed for the formation of
the All India Cutchi Memon Federation.

The Cutchi Memon Jamat of Bombay undertook the
responsibility for completing the formalities for the
formation of the Federation. It took almost two years to
complete the formalities and on March 4, 1973 H.R.
Gokhale, Minister of Law and Company Affairs,

19

Government of India inaugurated the All India Cutchi
Memon Federation with Haroon S. Kably, as Founder
President, Ibrahim Sulaiman Sait and Azeez Sait as Vice
Presidents, and Abdul Qader Moosa Dadani as Secretary-
General. A World Cutchi Memon Conference was to be
organized by the All India Cutchi Memon Federation on
January 15 to 17 in Mumbai. But Because of the communal
strife, riots and the bomb blasts which occurred in
Mumbai, the Conference was postponed. It was held later
at Udhagamandalam (Ooty), on April 19, 1993.

The office bearers at that time were:
Haroon S Kably, President
Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait & H.Y. Cassim Sait, Vice Presidents
Dr. Ebrahim Gaya, Secretary General
Ebrahim Ismail Aibani & Abdul Latheef Sait, Jt. Secretaries
A.S. Phudinawala, and J. Essof Sait, Jt. Treasurers
A.S. Akbani, Cutch Office in Charge
Prof. G. S. Hamlani, Bombay Office in Charge

The following were co-opted as members of the Managing
Council:

20

Dr. M.A. Memon, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
A. Kareem Allarakha of Ajmer, Rajasthan
H. Essa Ayub Sait, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
A. Sattar A. Kader, Bhusawal, Maharashtra
Rahim Adam Sait, Cochin, Kerala
Azeez Sait, Mysore, Karnataka
Anees Ahmed, Nagpur, Maharashtra
M.S. Memon, Palanpur, Gujarat
A. Latif Ali Mohamad, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh and
Dr. J.M. Ismail Sait, Trivandrum, Kerala

History of Cutchi Memons in Kerala

Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the
Prince Royal of Venad, a land mass
between Kanyakumari on the Indian Ocean
in the south and the hillock of Varkala in
the north extending to the coast of Arabian
sea in the west and Sahya mountain terrain
in the east, had annexed the principalities
upto the north boundary of Aluva,
excluding the territory of Cochin and the British occupied

21

land piece of Fort Kochi to form a wider state of
Thiruvithamkoor (Travancore). After his death Karthika
Thirunal Rama Varma ascended the throne. Being keen on
developing the trade and industry in the state he decided
to invite people already in the field from various other
states. Raja Kesava Dasan, his prime minister, accordingly
invited four families from Bombay to establish supply
centres in and around the capital city of Thiruvanantha-
puram (formerly Trivandrum) and export units for coir
ropes at Arattupuzha. The four businessmen who arrived
here at the recommendation of the British Resident and on
the invitation of Raja Kesava Dasan were: (1) Amu Korai, (2)
Habeeb Peediya, (3) Mammu Selat and (4) Omar Hashmani.
Amu Korai had establishments at Arattupuzha on the coast
of Kayamkulam Kayal and at Thiruvananthapuram, while
others established themselves in Thiruvananthapuram.

The Peediyas were entrusted with the import of rice from
Burma and other essential goods from Mumbai. Abdul
Raheem Peediya went all the way by sea to Rangoon to buy
rice, which became a boon for the famine stricken people
of Thiruvithamkoor. For this courageous and timely act he
was awarded a Veerachangala (a gold ornament worn by

22

men on the upper arm) and a pair of porcelain elephants
superscribed with the State Court of Arms, Shanghu and
Tuskers by the Maharaja.

The Selat family was engaged in procurement and supply
of material for the construction of palaces and houses for
the royal family and the rulers‘ concubines. This business
was shared with the Peediyas. A large piece of land,
approximately 20 hectares, was given them (Selats and
Peediyas) free of cost and taxes to put up their houses and
warehouses. The extent of the land, in terms of present
land marks, comprised of the area between Chalai mosque
and Putharikandam Maidanam (now city bus station)
reaching upto Attakulangara junction and then down upto
the Attakulangara Mosque on the NH Bypass.

The Hashmanis were more specifically required to organize
the local people in the large scale manufacture of
accessories like bamboo, reed and creaper baskets,
bamboo and palmyrah leaf mats required for construction
work and supply them to the work sites. The Korai family
had wider contacts in Mumbai especially in the shipping
sector This sector was depending on imported sisal and

23

Google Map of Arattupuzha

24

other ropes and steel wires for various uses on the ships.
The Korais suggested manufacture of coir ropes for export
to Mumbai and Kolkata. They were, therefore, engaged to
train the coir spinners in and around Arattupuzha in
making heavy ropes (Vadam) and to carry out the export.
They were allotted about 500 acres of land adjoining
Arattupuzha Boat Jetty The business flourished with
Arattupuzha becoming a prosperous export zone. The
Korais constructed a beautiful mosque in that area.
Unfortunately, there occurred a strong Sunami which
swallowed more than half the land together with the
mosque and the rope making equipment.

By then a large number of Memon families had migrated,
following the four invited families, into Travancore, most of
them to Arattupuzha. After the Sunami most of the Cutchi
Memons in Arattupuzha moved to Kayamkulam and later to
Kollam and Alappuzha when the Alappuzha port was
established. Until the advent of Cochin Port and the decline
of Alappuzha they lived there in high prosperity and then
migrated to Kochi. A further movement occurred thereafter
towards Chennai (Madras), Ooty and Bengaluru mostly for
business purposes and by way of marriages. However,

25

assimilation with the Cutchi Memons already in those new
destinations has not taken place even though this
immigration process has started almost 60 years ago.

Arattupuzha Boat Jetty
The Arattupuzha village in Kerala's Alleppey district, which
was one of the worst hit by the December 26, 2004
"Tsunami" waves disaster, has lost almost half of its land
due to sea erosion in the last 100 years. It had earlier lost
half of its original land mass in the previous century. The

26

geographical shape of the 14-kilometre long village is
itself a proof of the havoc wreaked by the sea waves here -
Tsunamis and otherwise. The breadth of the village which
is a narrow strip of land lying between the Kayamkulam
lake and the Arabian sea is only 50 metres at some places.
Several residents of the village sold their land and migrated
to the neighbouring villages of Muthukulam and
Kandaloor. in the last few decades. It is mainly fishermen
who reside on the land who never want to leave this place
and have had to bear the brunt of the fury of the sea. The
two the last Cutchi Memon families to dispose off their
land pieces in the area were of Moosa Abdul Rahman Sait
and Abdul Karim Sait, the Bachus, after having held them
for over a century.

Map of
Cutch

27

CUTCH

Cutch (also spelt as Kutch or Kachch) is a district of
Gujarat State in western India. Covering an area of 45,612
km², it is the largest district in the state and the second
largest district of India after Leh. Kachchh literally means
something which intermittently becomes wet and dry; large
part of this district known as Rann of Kachch is shallow
wet-land which submerges in water during the rainy
season and becomes dry during other seasons. The same
word is also used in the languages of Sanskrit origin for a
tortoise (Kachwa) and garments to be worn while having a
bath. It is interesting to note that when its map is viewed
upside down, it resembles a tortoise. The word Kutchch
could be the equivalent of the Sanskrit word Kaksh
meaning arm pit. The land mass of Cutch lies in between
the mainland Saurashtra and the upper coastline, the two
making an armpit like shape. Possibly that could be
another interpretation.

Kachchh District is surrounded by the Gulf of Kachchh and
the Arabian Sea in south and west, while northern and
eastern parts are surrounded by the Great and Small

28

Ranns (seasonal wetlands) of Kachchh. When there were
not many dams built on its rivers,the Rann of Kachchh
remained wetlands for a large part of the year. Even today,
the region remains wet for a significant part of the year.

Origin of Cutchi Memons

Ruins of Thatta (Courtesy :Trip Adviser) The Cutchi Memon
community is more than six hundred years old. There are
various theories about its origin. The generally accepted
story runs as follows: In the year 512 The Cutchi Memon
community is more than six hundred years old. There are
various theories about its origin. The generally accepted

29

story runs as follows: In the year 512 AH, (Around 1404
AD) some 700 persons belonging to the Lohana
community of Thatta in the Sindh region accepted Islam
from Pir Yusufuddin Qadri, a disciple of Pir Abdul Qadir
Gilani of Baghdad. (According to another theory the
conversion took place in 1422.) They were invited by the
ruler of Cutch to stay in his kingdom. The newly made
Muslims were called ―Mumins‖. This word got corrupted
into a title ―Memons‖. [A recent study claims that they were
Mehmans (Guests) of the Raw (Raja) of Cutch and Meyman
became Memon- No doubt, Memons were highly honoured
and were members of the RoyalCourt]

Another version claims that the sub community or caste
they belonged to was engaged in retail trade as street
vendors who used a kind of weighing scales called
―meimon‖ and came to be known as ―Memons‖, the users
of weighing scale. Yet another story is that the youngest
son of the ruler of a principality under the Makli kingdom
in Sindh, Sunderji, accepted Islam and was banished from
his abode in Thatta along with his family members and
followers numbering around 700. He was given the name

30

Adam by Pir Yusufuddin, his guru. Makli kingdom
extended upto the edge of the desert, Rann of Cutch, in
the south. His brother-in-law Jarejho Raa Khangar (1548-
1584), the Raa (King or Ruler) of Cutch was a generous
person who revered and tolerated all beliefs. He invited
Adam to come and live in Cutch with his followers.
Memons made a Hijra into the territory of Cutch under the
guidance of their Imam Ruknuddin, deputed by Peer
Yusufuddin. They crossed the Rann, the wild marshy
desert, with great difficulty. They were received by the Raa
at the border. This story has been handed down generation
by generation of the migrant Memons. It is still a part of
the folklore among the present day Muslim population in
Thatta, now called Jahangir Thatta, and the last generation
in Trivandrum and Alappuzha

Some of the recent historians have, however, other
thoughts in the matter. According to the theory of Karim
Baksh Khalid, a Sindhi Memon Scholar, Arabs of Qatif near
Taif who were weavers came to Sindh along with
Muhammed Bin Qasim . They belonged to a tribe of Banu
Tasmim and constituted the right wing of his army – which
in Arabic is known as ―Mymenah‖ – the right wingers. They

31

settled in Sindh and later on came to be known as

Memons. If this theory is accepted, then the Memons were

originally Arabs. This view is apparently supported by the

history of Jusbanis, who later became known as Venjaras,

and whose maternal ancestors are claimed to be Arab

disciples of Abdul Qadir Gilaani. However, a more reliable

version, which alludes to historical evidences is available

on the website of Cutchi Memon Jamat of North America at

http://cutchimemon.org/history_of_cutchi_memons .

Memons enjoyed a prestigious position in the court of the
Raa. There was at least one minister in his council
belonging to the community until 1950 when it became
part of the Bombay State and later, of the State of Gujarat.
Members of the community flourished under the patronage
of the Raa. They became a prosperous community. Groups
of Memons migrated further down to the Saurashtra part of
Gujarat and settled down in various parts of the princely
states such as Surat, Kathiavar, Halar etc. Though they had
originally talked Sindhi, they soon acquired the slightly
varied dialect of Cutch. The migrants to Surat became
known as Surati Memons. Those who settled in Halar
became Halari or Halai Memons. They called themselves

32

simply as Memons as were the other migrants to
Saurashtra. Memons in Cutch peninsula found homes in
the capital city of Bhuj and the rural areas of Abdasa,
Anjar, Khavda, Mandvi etc. They established many
mosques and waqfs in the localities of their settlement.
Later on there were further migrations to Mumbai, Karachi,
Malabar (Travancore) Kolkata, Madras and Hyderabad and
from there to many interior towns.

The present population of Memon community according to
a rough estimate is one million, 500,000 in India, 400,000
in Pakistan and 100,000 in the rest of the World including
South Africa, U.K., U.S.A., Canada and U.A.E

Hajee Sir IsmailSait Masjid, Bengaluru

33

Our Leaders

Haji Abdul Sathar Ishaq Sait

Born in 1896 in Talasserry, Malabar in
the erstwhile Madras Province (now in
Kannur District, Kerala). The four storey
building where he was born is still in
good shape at Wadhyar Peedika,
Thalassery. His father was Haji Ishaq Haji Ayub Sait and
mother Fathima Bai. He married Asia Bai, daughter of
Abdul Sattar Omar Hashmani of Thiruvananthapuram. (Step
sister of Abdul Rahman Abdul Sathar Sait and Joonus Abdul
Sathar Sait) Asia Bai died without any issues and he then
married Halima Bai of Bangalore, who was reportedly
assasinated by burglers in the early 1980s, while in
Karachi.
Haji Abdul Sathar Sait was a prominent political figure in
India and was the President of Muslim League in Malabar.
He was elected member of the Constituent Assembly of
India from the Madras Presidency. Even after the
declaration of partition he continued to attend

34

the Constitutent Assembly. It is on record that he did
actively participate in its meeting on 14th July 1947. At this
meeting the first name to be called by the Secretary, asking
members to sign the attendance register was that of Haji
Abdul Sathar Haji Ishaq Sait. A point of order was raised by
Deshbandhu Gupta that the member should be
asked "whether he still subscribes to the Two-Nation
theory or not? I take it that, as a sovereign body, and in
view of the Partition that has been decided upon, we
should review the whole question and lay down that a
Member who does not subscribe to the Objectives
Resolution that has been passed cannot sign the Register."
The President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad gave the ruling "An
interesting point has been raised. But I do not consider it is
a point of order at all. It is a question of the right of
Members who have been elected to the Constituent
Assembly under the procedure laid clown. Any one who
has been elected is entitled to sit in this House as long as
he does not resign. Therefore I do not think I can prevent
any Member who has been elected duly from signing the
Register."(See Proceedings of the Constitution Assembly of
India, Volume IV) All along his political career he was
much concerned about the low level of education among

35

the Muslims of India. His inaugural address to the Kanara
Muslim Conference on 6th June 1936 will throw ample light
on his views. For the complete speech visit
http://akbanis.freeservers.com/sattarsait1.htm

After independence he opted for Pakistan and migrated in
1948. He continued his political career as the first PAK
Ambassador to the United Arab Republic, Egypt and then
to Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka (then Ceylone). He used to
visit India often and met his relatives including Mrs Osman
Abdulla Sait of Trivandrum, Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait, Saleh
Mohamed Sait, Joonis Abdul Sathar Sait, Mrs. Abdul Abdul
Kareem Abdul Sathar Sait of Tellicherry and friends in the
Muslim League like B. Pocker Sahib, Mahboob Ali Baig
Sahib, K. T. M. Ahmed Ibrahim Sahib,. He died at the age of
93 in Karachi. Your editor had the good fortune to visit
him in Karachi twice, once when he was in the hospital just
before his death in 1989. and on an earlier occasion when
he visited Pakistan on the United Nation‘s (U.N)
business. During that visit he expressed his pain over the
later developments in the country, particularly the sad fact
that the Muslims who migrated from Indian side of the
subcontinent, especially from the south, were termed

36

―Muhajirs‖ or refugees and treated with less than equality
by some of the native populations. That was a shattering
blow to his dream of a Muslim nation of equal honour and
opportunity.

He had two brothers Abdulla Sait and Elias Sait and two
sons Aleem Munshi and Ebrahim

Jamats in the Perspective

This section provides some glimpses of the historical
perspectives of the various Cutchi Memon Jamats. The
presentations are not uniformly structured, nor they are
uptodate. Most of the information is reproduced from the
Souvenir of the All India Cutchi Memon Federation released
on the occasion of the Cutchi Memon World Conference in
1993, marginally updated by Jb. Arif G. Kadwani in 2010-
11. The available material is reproduced here for quick
reading of the members of the community in order to
prompt them contribute the knowledge that remains with
them and the elders in their families so that the present
generation and the oncoming ones realise the

37

contributions of our forefathers which have earned us our
current elevated status. In this issue we will look at
the Cutchi Memon Jamats in Alappuzha and
Thiruvanthapuram in Kerala, Bhuj in Gujarat and Mumbai in
Maharashtra.

Cutchi Memon Jamat of Alappuzha

A few Cutchi Memon families
from Cutch and Bombay (now
Mumbai) came to Alleppey in
the early part of the 19th
century. The illustrious and
famous Dewan of Travancore State, Raja Kesava Dasa,
invited them to establish trade and business in Alleppey,
then a developing port. A few Gujarati and Parsi families
were also invited. Traditionally a business community,
Cutchi Memons found Alleppey to have all facilities for
conducting proper business, and migrated in large
numbers.

38

Prospering in business and making good fortunes, Cutchi
Memons helped the public and earned good revenue for
the state. They soon became respectable owing to their
honesty and integrity in business dealings. Even the
Maharajas of Travancore noticed the Cutchi Memons‘
business acumen and honesty, and granted interviews to
prominent Cutchi Memons whenever they visited Alleppey.
Two canals connecting the backwater lake and the sea
were constructed for the sake of these merchants so that
they could bring their merchandise into the town
economically. Alleppey soon developed into a major port,
and a big commercial centre; the canals and the
surrounding edifices earning for it the name, "Venice of
the East".

Just as Cutchi Memons elsewhere excelled in charitable and
philanthropic deeds, the Cutchi Memons in Alleppey
utilized their surplus wealth in constructing masjids and
establishing charitable trusts. The Cutchi Memon Noorani
Masjid in Alleppey, the most beautiful structure in this part
of Kerala constructed by the famous Noorani family of
Bombay, is a shining example of Cutchi Memons‘ deep
sense of generosity and religiosity. The Juma Hashim

39

Masjid, the Abba Nakhuda Masjid and the Nathani Masjid
are some of the other masjids constructed by Cutchi
Memons in Alleppey. A Trust created by Janab Abdulla Arab
and later expanded by Haji Hasham Haji Esa Sait by
dedicating some of his own properties and named
―Hashmia Madrassa Wakf‖ is also an example of their
philanthropy..

Some Cutchi Memon families, who came to Travancore,
finally settled in Kayamkulam and Arattupuzha, a few miles
south of Alleppey. These were smaller ports and were
centers of coir and other coconut products. When Alleppey
developed as a major port and big commercial center,
some of these families moved to Alleppey. Later, a few
from Alleppey moved to Quilon (Kollam) and
Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram). They became exporters
and also undertook contracts to supply food grains,
provisions and other consumer goods to private individuals
and government departments.
In the Noorani Masjid Alleppey, the sahan has graves of the
following members of the Noorani family:
Haji Suleman Haji Ebrahim
(d. 21Jamadil Avval 1262 AH, 1841 A.D.)

40

Haji Yousuf Haji Noor Mohammad
(d. 20 Zul-khad 1264 AH, 1843 A.D.)
Haji Jacob Haji Yousuf Noormohammed
(d. 12 Ramadan 1290 AH, 1869 A.D)
Haji Elias Haji Yousuf Noormohammed
(d. 18 Zul Haj 1297 AH, 1876 A.D.)
Mariam Bai binte Haji Yousuf Noorhammed
(d.20 Rabiul Akhar1310AH, 1854 AD)

Haji Mohammed Haji Jacob
(d. 11 Rabiul Avval 1315 AH, 1859 A.D.)

41

KhadijaBai binte HajiMohamed Haji Jacob
(d. 17Rabiul Akhar 1317 AH, 1861 A.D.)
Haji Dawood Haji Mohammed
(d. 22nd Shaban 1317, 1861 A.D.) These gravesites
establish that the Nooranis had settled in Alleppey some
200 years ago. At present, no member of the Noorani
family lives in Alleppey or elsewhere in Kerala.

The Nooranis constructed another masjid in Tellicherry,
which is being looked after by a local committee. For the
maintenance of the Noorani Masjid at Alleppey, the
Nooranis bequeathed landed properties in Alleppey, as well
as a sum of Rs. 300 annually from their Trust in Mumbai.
Their document recorded with the Charity Commissioner of
Maharashtra in Bombay states, "Rs. 300/- per year for the
upkeep of the Masjid at Alpada". This amount is being
received from Mumbai each year. (Alappuzha is still known
as Alpado among Memons in Kerala)

Towards the end of the 19th century, Haji Hasham Haji
Essa Sait was the "Sait" (President) of the Cutchi Memon
Jamat of Alleppey as well as the Muthavally of the Noorani
Masjid. At that time, the post of the "Sait" was hereditary in

42

nature as per the norm followed by almost all Jamats in
India. The position of Muthavally of the Masjid also became
hereditary and fter the death of Haji Hasham Haji Essa Sait,
his son, Haji Esmail Haji Hasham Sait automatically became
the Sait of the Jamat as well as the Muthavally of the Noorani
Masjid. On his demise in 1940, his eldest son, Haji Ebrahim
Haji Esmail Sait assumed charge as President but he
assigned the duties of the Muthavally of the Noorani Masjid
to his younger brother, Abdulkarim Sait.

The position of the Sait was considered exalted by all. All
honoured the Sait‘s words. There was strict discipline in the
Jamath. The Sait attended all marriages and other events of
the Jamath members, and he always offered guidance, when
asked for. The laga was the only source of income for the
Jamath, and there was no need for any other social activities
as the affluent, generous and philanthropic members in the
Jamath attended individually to the social and economic
needs of the community members. In 1930, Haji Hassan Haji
Haroon Sait, constructed two pay ward rooms in the then
Government Hospital compound (present W & C Hospital)
and dedicated it to the community. This ward was

43

inaugurated by Sir Habibullah, the then Dewan of
Travancore State, and was later named "Habibullah Ward".
The rooms in this ward are rent-free for members of the
Cutchi Memon community as desired by the donor. His son,
Mohamed Jaffer Hassan Sait constructed a masjid in the
heart of the town; this masjid is now known as Jaffer Masjid.
He was also the founder of the Young Memon Muslim
Association as well as the Y.M.M.A. L.P. School in Zackaria
Bazaar, Alleppey. He donated the entire expense for the
construction of the school building. He managed the school
until his demise, when his son, M.J. Abdul Rahim Sait took
over the management.

After 1960, Jamaths all over India gradually abolished the
system of hereditary Saitdom, allowing first for installation
of a President by consensus in the General Body, and later
through an election process. Rules and regulations were
framed and Working Committees were established from time
to time. A Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer were
also elected to assist the President. This change helped the
Jamath paving the way for social activities. The Jamath
adopted a Byelaw on April 26, 1970, for the first time. Haji

44

Ebrahim Haji Esmail Sait, while President, moved to Cochin
in 1969. In his place, A. R. Sulaiman Sait became the first
elected President of the Jamath, and continued until his
demise in 1972. The Vice President at that time, A. Ismail
Sait became the acting President, and continued until
January 13, 1973 when Haji Esmail Haji Gulmohamed Sait
was elected President. He continued until March 28, 1974
when S. Abdul Rahman Sait was elected President. As stated
earlier, the Jamath also manages the Cutchi Memon Noorani
Masjid. It has a separate Committee and the Jamath‘s
General Body elects a Muthavally.

September 5, 1975 was a golden day for the Jamath. That
day marked the registration of the Deed for the purchase of
the present Jamatkhana building and compound. It is the
first Jamath in Kerala to acquire a property of its own. After
the purchase of the Jamatkhana, its activities increased, and
the Jamath diverted its attention to other social activities
such as establishing a Deeni Madrassa, a tailoring school for
girls, a Relief Fund, a Mayyath fund, scholarships for
students, distribution of textbooks, etc. The Jamath
published a Souvenir in 1978. It was released by the then

45

Honorable Minister for Education, Kerala, Janab U.A. Beeran
Saheb on February 5, 1978. Its proceeds were utilized for
the construction of the C.M.J. Hostel building; Ebrahim
Sulaiman Sait, MP, laid the foundation stone on May 17,
1978 and the building was inaugurated by Haji Saleh
Mohamed Ebrahim Sait, ex-MP on November 26, 1979.
Good revenue is generated by the building‘s rental income.
A Jamath Hall has been constructed; G.M. Banatwala, MP,
laid the foundation stone.

Cutchi Memon Jamat of Bhuj, Cutch, Gujarat

(Three tombs in th Sankadwala Masjid, Bhuj)

46

Bhuj is the capital city of the Kuchch District of Gujarat. It
is an irony that Cutchi Memons who left Cutch have
prospered wherever they went. But Cutch remains
undeveloped and Cutchi Memons mostly poor, not
withstanding the fact that around 200 Cutchi Memons are
involved in various business ventures such as wholesale
of grains, fruits and vegetables, cloth merchandising,
grocery (kirana), mobile retailing, electronics sales,
property sales, and buying and selling of new and used
cars as well as commercial vehicles, running of panullas
and bidi shops included. Kutchi Memons of Bhuj are also
doctors, engineers, school teachers and principals,
college professors, government officers, etc . The Jamat‘s
revenue comes from rental income of shops, laagaa
aavak, and donations. A major portion of the income is
expended for the benefit of the brethren. Notable
activities are:

Educational: The Jamat provides tuition fees to college
students, tuition fees and textbooks to higher secondary
students and textbooks to primary school students. The
Jamat also runs sewing classes (sewing and embroidery

47

work) without any charge at the Jamatkhana. This helps
needy ladies, as they then become providers of financial
support to their families.
Financial Assistance: A monthly pension is given to
widows, and physically handicapped persons. Loans are
provided to the brethren free of interest for business
purposes, to be repaid in 30 equal instalments.

Jama Masjid,
Bhuj, Cutch

Arrangements can be made at the Jamatkhana‘s two halls
to hold engagement and marriage ceremonies. The Jamat
charges only a token amount, i.e. it is almost free of
charge. For ziyarat purpose, the Jamatkhana is provided
without any charge.

48

Majlis Fund & Lawaris Fund: The Jamat has a Majlis Fund.
A history of more than 100 years is behind this Majlis
fund. Sabil is erected, and Majlis is held in the holy
months. The brethren contribute towards the fund. From
the funds collected, the Jamat also arranges Majlis for
ladies in the holy month of Ramadan at the Jamatkhana.

Religious: The Jamat conducts a Madrassa for children‘s
Deeni Taalim. Regular sharifs of Baarvi and Agyarvi
(Prayer meetings on the 11th and 12th of every month)
are arranged for all family members. This cultivates an
unbelievably good harmony among families. The Jamat
also invites a Hafiz Saheb to conduct Taraavih prayers
during the holy month of Ramadan. The Jamat bears the
expenses for this invitation. In the fond memory of Late
Sheth Haji Karim Mohmed Suleman, a well-known
philanthropist of the community, on his death
anniversary, the Jamat arranges Dini Takrir for the benefit
of all Jamat members. The dargah of Trambauwala
Hajipur Saheb is just 8 kilometers from Bhuj, in a semi
arid village. To pay respects and homage, it is
whitewashed, painted, perfumed, and decorated by the

49

Jamat every year. An urs is also held. Food is served to
needy persons.

Recovery from the Earth quake:
On January 26, 2001 Cutch suffered the worst ever earth
quake in which the community's toll was quite high. Not a
single structure survived the calamity. The Editor's close
family lost six lives. In Bhuj alone 20,000 lives were lost
and many children were orphaned. Homes were reduced
to rubble grounds. Watch the ruins left by the earthquake
in a Youtube presentation.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4Sy8AdmYZw

It took the Cutchi Memon Jamath of Bhuj a whole decade
to initiate activities to rebuild the damaged Jamatkhana.
Until the end of 2012 the meetings and other functions
of the jamath were being held in the halls of other
Jamaths or in rented premises. The Jamath decided
to rebuild the Jamatkhana, and in Ramadan 2011 the
foundation stone was laid by Pir Sayed Najmul Hasan
Jayesi. A Building Committee consisting of four members

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