The Kutchi Memons of Banaglore

NT Features

Kutchi Memons, are an ethnic group or caste from Kutch in Gujarat, India and are associated with the historic state of Kathiwar, a Muslim community of Pakistan and India. Kutchi Memons originally practiced Hinduism and converted to Islam under influence of Sunni pirs. Kutchi Memons migrated from Sindh to Kutch in Gujarat, a state of India, after their conversion to Islam in 1422 CE. The Memons belong to the Lohana community. Historically, Kutch was a princely state and this kingdom included Bhuj, Anjar, Lakhpath, Mandvi, etc. The Kutchi Memons are now spread all over India, as well as in the globe, where they form part of the Indian diaspora.

Though Kutchi Memons historically spoke Kutchi, the use of this language has sharply declined, and many have adopted Urdu and other more dominant tongues. After several years, many from this ethnic group migrated from Bhuj to Karnataka, earlier known as Mysore State, approximately 400 years ago. Other Kutchi Memons migrated to different parts of India including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, AndhraPradesh and Karnataka.

They are predominantly a business community and are known for their philanthropy. Being part of the Indian diaspora, the Kutchi Memons are spread all over India, as well as the globe and have erected many mosques all over the world. The Memons predominantly started trading and were extremely successful in this.

In the early part of the 20th century, Hajee Sir Ismail Sait started a trading business and was extremely successful. He was also a great philanthropist who gifted many properties for the benefit of the community.

Traders and businessmen mostly, the Kutchi Memon community charted a long journey from Kutch in Gujarat to Bengaluru in Karnataka centuries ago.

The Hajee Sir Ismail Sait mosque on Mosque Road, was developed over the years to what it is today and has a capacity of approximately 3000 musallis or worshippers. The Gosha Hospital in Tasker Town is a top player in the category of hospitals. The Kutchi Memon Jamath office on Kamaraj Road engages in social service activities. The Kutchi Memon Educational Trust in Bengaluru helps thousands of students to get a good education. The Kutchi Memon Union was formed to benefit the youth of the community.

Most of the shops on Commercial Street, the shopping hub of the city, are owned by members of the Memon community. They have contributed immensely to changing the skylines of the city. From the city’s first multiplex in Forum Mall, Koramangala, in the city, to a number of high-profile office buildings in new Bangalore, their real estate conglomerate are many in number.

The Memons of Bangalore have been extremely successful in their profession, most notably in business trading. With the change in lifestyle, the Memons have got involved with education and many of them have become eminent doctors, lawyers, engineers, and teachers. Some even entered politics, and earned a name for themselves. They have been extremely magnanimous and donated large sums of money for the development of the Community. The Kutchi Memons known for their honesty, integrity, magnanimity, courage and dignity are worth mentioning - simple yet powerful values that kept them firm in their faith and level headed in their prosperity.