Revision as of 18:00, 12 April 2005 view source168.209.98.35 (talk) revert← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 19:01, 18 December 2024 view source Metamentalist (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users1,711 editsmNo edit summaryTag: Visual edit: Switched | ||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|Sunni Muslim community in India and Pakistan}} | |||
The '''Memon''' people are an ] that originated either in modern-day ] or ]. They speak an ] sometimes called ], that is similar to ] and ]. Some estimates put the number of Memons worldwide at one million . | |||
{{pp-semi-indef}} | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}} | |||
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2020}} | |||
{{other uses|Memon (disambiguation)}} | |||
{{Infobox ethnic group| | |||
| group = Memon People | |||
| pop = 1,800,000<ref name="TimesOfIndia">{{cite news|first=Mohammed|last=Wajihuddin|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Memon-association-to-congregate-today/articleshow/30365875.cms|title=Memon association to congregate today|website=]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241218185758/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/memon-association-to-congregate-today/articleshow/30365875.cms|archive-date=18 December 2024|date=14 February 2014 }}</ref> | |||
| languages = ],<ref name="Fazal" /> ],<ref>{{cite journal |last1=O’Sullivan |first1=Michael |title=No Birds of Passage - A History of Gujarati Muslim Business Communities, 1800–1975 |journal=PART I |date=19 September 2023 |page=44 |doi=10.4159/9780674294974-003 |url=https://doi.org/10.4159/9780674294974-003 |publisher=Harvard University Press |language=en}}</ref> ], ] | |||
| religions = ] | |||
| popplace = | |||
| region1 = India | |||
| pop1 = 900,000 (including 200,000 in ] and suburbs) | |||
| ref1 = <ref name="TimesOfIndia"/> | |||
| region2 = Pakistan | |||
| pop2 = 700,000 | |||
| ref2 = <ref name="TimesOfIndia"/> | |||
| region3 = Elsewhere | |||
| pop3 = 200,000 | |||
| ref3 = <ref name="TimesOfIndia"/> | |||
}} | |||
The '''Memon''' are a Muslim community in ] India, and ], Pakistan, the majority of whom follow the ] ] of ].<ref name="Levin">{{cite journal|title=The Upper Bourgeoisie from the Muslim Commercial Community of Memons in Pakistan, 1947 to 1971 |first=Sergey |last=Levin |year=1974 |journal=Asian Survey |issn=0004-4687|volume=14|issue=3|pages=231–243|doi=10.2307/2643012 |jstor=2643012}}</ref> They are divided into different groups based on their origins: ]s, ]s and ] from the ], ] and ] regions of Gujarat respectively, and ]s from Sindh. | |||
Memons have cultural similarities with the ], ], and other ]s. They speak the ] as their first language, which shares vocabulary with the ], ] and ]s.<ref name="Fazal">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OT2OAQAAQBAJ&q=memons+speak+memoni+language&pg=PT201|title=Minority Nationalisms in South Asia|last=Fazal|first=Tanweer|date=2013-10-18|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317966463|language=en}}</ref> | |||
The Memon language cannot be written (or the system of writing it has been lost), consequently there is no clear record of the history of the Memon people. There are minor ] in the language. These differences arose in different villages in India. There are also related ethnic groups such as the ] and ]s. | |||
Today Memons are connected through globally recognized organisations such as the World Memon Organisation (WMO)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wmoworld.com/|title=World Memon Organisation {{!}} Serving Mankind|website=wmoworld.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-10-09}}</ref> and International Memon Organisation (IMO).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.internationalmemon.org/|title=IMO - International Memon Organization|website=www.internationalmemon.org|access-date=2019-10-09}}</ref> | |||
Most (if not all) Memons are ] ] ]s, and it is widely ] that they originated when a group of ]s from ] belonging to the ] merchant ] converted to ] at the hands of a ] of the ] ] . It has also been theorized that Memons were originally ]s, or even "]." The date of their conversion is not known, and it is not certain whether the term ''Memon'' applies exclusively to Muslims. Even the meaning of the word ''Memon'' is disputed. Memons are thought to have migrated from Sindh to ], and ] (Kathiawad) in modern ] following their conversion. | |||
== History == | |||
Memons spread throughout the ] basin in the ], but most Memons lived in Kathiawar, prior to the ], although they dispersed thereafter. Today, they are scattered throughout India and Pakistan, with significant communities in the ] and ]. | |||
=== Sindhi, Gujarati origins === | |||
The devotion of Memons to ] (founder of the Qadiri order) is well-known. Although Memons tend to be religious, they have retained many customs from their pre-Islamic past. | |||
] | |||
Memon lineage traces back to the ] who traditionally practiced ].<ref name="Pirbhai2009">{{cite book |last1=Pirbhai |first1=M. Reza |title=Reconsidering Islam in a South Asian Context |date=30 September 2009 |publisher=] |location=] and ] |isbn=978-90-474-3102-2 |page=128 |language=en |quote=Thus, it was established that Khojas and Memons converted from Hinduism under the influence of Ismai'li and Sunni ''pirs'', respectively.}}</ref><ref name="Goswami2016">{{cite book |last1=Goswami |first1=Chhaya |title=Globalization before Its Time: The Gujarati Merchants from Kachchh |date=18 February 2016 |publisher=] |isbn=978-93-85890-70-3 |language=en |quote=Most of the Muslim traders were Hindus of different castes who had converted to Islam. The Memons were said to have been Lohanas}}</ref> The origin of the name comes from ] ({{lang|ar|مؤمن}}, "believer" in Arabic) and later evolved to present name Memon.<ref name="Goolam 2006">{{cite journal |last=Vahed |first=Goolam |date=January 2006 |title='Unhappily Torn by Dissensions and Litigations': Durban's 'Memon' Mosque, 1880–1930 |journal=Journal of Religion in Africa |volume=36 |issue=1 |publisher=] |location=] and ] |pages=23–49 |doi=10.1163/157006606775569631 |eissn=1570-0666 |issn=0022-4200 |jstor=27594362}}</ref> The Memon community was founded in the 15th century by 700 families comprising 6,178 persons total.<ref name="Numbers">{{cite journal |title= All for 'Izzat' |first=R |last= Ghadially |url=http://www.manushi-india.org/pdfs_issues/PDF%20files%2066/all_for_izzat.pdf | journal=Manushi |year=1991 |access-date=2017-06-11 |issue=66 |pages=17–20 |pmid=12285436 }}</ref> According to Anthovan, those Lohanas of ], ] who converted from Hinduism to Islam became Memons and were invited by Rao Khengarji Jadeja, ruler of ] in the 16th century, to settle in Bhuj.<ref name="Pirbhai2009"/><ref name="Goswami2016"/> It is from there that ]s migrated to ] and mainland ]. ] in Gujarat was an important trading centre from 1580 to 1680.<ref name="origin3">Islamic Perspective, a Biannual Journal. A special issue on Bohras, Khojas and Memons. Ed. by Asghar Ali Engineer, Bombay, Institute of Islamic Studies. vol.1, Jan 1988, pp. 41-48 </ref> <ref name="Goolam 2001">{{cite journal |last=Vahed |first=Goolam |date=January 2001 |title=Mosques, Mawlanas and Muharram: Indian Islam in Colonial Natal, 1860–1910 |journal=Journal of Religion in Africa |volume=31 |issue=3 |publisher=] |location=] and ] |pages=305–335 |doi=10.1163/157006601X00194 |eissn=1570-0666 |issn=0022-4200}}</ref> | |||
=== Merchant tradesman === | |||
Memons are known for their involvement in business and ], with Memon immigrants having played a major part in the building of Pakistani industry, although an increasing number of Memons are turning to professional occupations. The success of many Memons has aroused some jealousy from other ethnic groups, who sometimes ] Memons as greedy money-lovers. | |||
] | |||
Due to the mercantile nature of the community, Memons began a significant migration beyond the borders of India in the 18th and 19th centuries. This led to communities developing in the Middle East, ], Sri Lanka and East Asia.<ref name="Goolam 2006"/> Memon traders set up a network of joint stock companies acting in coordination with other members in an area ranging from Central Africa to China.<ref name="Levin"/><ref name="Tradesmen">{{cite journal|title=Pakistan's Big Businessmen: Muslim Separatism, Entrepreneurship, and Partial Modernization |first=Hanna |last=Papanek |year=1972 |journal=] |volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=11 |doi=10.1086/450605 |s2cid=86853602 }}</ref><ref name="Diaspora">{{cite journal|title=The Politics of Diaspora and the Morality of Secularism: Muslim Identities and Islamic Authority in Mauritius |first=Patrick|last=Eisenlohr |year=1972 |journal=] |volume=12 |issue=2 |pages=400 }}</ref> Memon donors made significant financial contributions to construct mosques during this time, including ]<ref name="Goolam 2006"/> and ].<ref name="Jamia">{{cite journal|title= Historical Analysis of Islamic Community Development in Hong Kong: Struggle for Recognition in the Post-colonial Era |first= Ho |last= WAI-YIP |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2001 |journal= ] |volume=21 | pages=65 }}</ref> By late 19th century several thousand Memons had settled in Mumbai due to trading.<ref name="Levin" /> The area of Mumbai in which the Memon traders congregated later became known as the Memonwada.<ref name="Memonwada">{{cite journal|title=Refiguring the Colonial City: Recovering the Role of Local Inhabitants in the Construction of Colonial Bombay, 1854-1918 |first= Preeti |last= Chopra |year=2007 |journal= Buildings & Landscapes |volume=14| pages=109–125 |doi=10.1353/bdl.2007.0007|s2cid= 161702822 }}</ref> | |||
=== 20th century === | |||
Interestingly, ] (who came from the same area in India as the Memons) was retained by a Memon businessman to look after his legal affairs in ], ]. It was in South Africa that Gandhi launched his political activities. | |||
The early 20th century saw a consolidation of the Memon community in South Asia as well as South Africa. They began to organise important societies including Memon Education and Welfare Society and Memon Chamber of Commerce.<ref name="Levin" /> Memon community made significant financial contributions to preserve the ] but were unable to prevent its decline.<ref name="Moosa">{{cite journal|title=Role of Memon Community during the Caliphate Movement |first=Ismail |last=Moosa |year=2014 |journal=British Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences |volume=11 |issue=1 }}</ref><ref name="Oishi">{{cite journal|title=Muslim Merchant Capital and the Relief Movement for the Ottoman Empire in India, 1876-1924 |first=Takashi|last=Oishi |year=1999|journal=Minamiajiakenkyu |volume=11|pages=71–103 }}</ref> The ] led to significant migration in both directions for the community. The principal mass of Memons was and is composed of petty tradesmen, | |||
shopkeepers, grocers, wandering peddlers, and agents and clerks in firms.<ref name="Levin" /> In regions of Kutch (India), and near ] and on the Makran coast of present day Pakistan, the Memons are still engaged in commercial agriculture, gardening, and fishing.<ref name="Levin" /> | |||
=== Branches === | |||
The Memon language is falling into disuse in many parts of the world, although there are efforts to revive it, and to devise a method of writing it using the ] . | |||
====Subgroups of Memons from Kathiawar==== | |||
Famous Memons have included Pakistani statesman Nisar Memon, Indian Mafia kingpin ] and ] of South Africa and ], ]. | |||
{{main article|Memons (Kathiawar)}} | |||
=== Languages === | |||
⚫ | External |
||
{{main article|Memon language|Sindhi language|Kutchi language}} | |||
* | |||
* | |||
==Social structure== | |||
* | |||
* | |||
===Cultural traditions=== | |||
* | |||
] | |||
While Memons are generally ], many continue to follow ] in matters regarding property inheritance, community leadership structure and mutual support for members. Memon see themselves to be from the Buddhist ] lineage. Even within Memons, there are ] hierarchies that some follow regarding marriage practices.<ref name="Levin" /><ref name="Traditions">{{cite journal|title=Escaping the Grip of Personal Law in Colonial India: Proving Custom, Negotiating Hindu-ness |first=Chandra |last=Mallampalli |publisher=] |year=2010 |journal=Law and History Review |volume=28 |issue=4 |pages=1060 |doi=10.1017/S0738248010000763 |s2cid=144494384 }}</ref>{{qn|date=April 2018}} | |||
According to folklore, the blessings of the Islamic saint Sayad Kadiri upon the Memons are responsible for their success in business and trade.<ref name="Goolam 2006"/> A more pragmatic explanation for their success is that Memon have been historically considered honest brokers. Following commercial caste model, Memons also offer support community members in financial matters by giving loans and offering business assistance.<ref name="Levin"/> The community annually celebrates 11 April as "Memons Day" through acts of humanitarian service.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/humanitarian-work-marks-memons-day/articleshow/58136957.cms|title=Humanitarian work marks Memons' Day|date=12 April 2017|newspaper=The Times of India|first=Mohammed|last=Wajihuddin|access-date=26 May 2020}}</ref> | |||
===Memons worldwide=== | |||
] | |||
Today, Memon communities are scattered throughout the world including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, ], South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.<ref name="WorldLocations">{{cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/242684/karachi-300-bed-teaching-hospital-planned|title=Karachi: 300-bed teaching hospital planned|last=DH|date=17 April 2007|work=]|access-date=4 August 2015}}</ref> However, major concentrations of Memon remain located in Karachi, Pakistan and Gujarat, India. In ] there is a community of Memon people from ] and their descendants known as ]. United under the banner of Halari Memon General Jama'at, the Halari Memon are another category and followers of the ] school.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-24718975_ITM|title= City Nazim praises services of Memon community |date=13 October 2003|work=Pakistan Press International|publisher=Asia Africa Intelligence Wire |access-date=20 January 2010}}</ref> | |||
Memons were also one of three classes living in South Africa when ] went there in 1893, Memons were traders serving the ]. Memons are known for their involvement in ] and ], with Memons having played a major part in the building of Pakistani industry.<ref name="Levin" /><ref name="Industry">{{cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1138032|title=CM wants constitutional path to resolve OGDC issue|last=DH|date=15 October 2014|work=]|access-date=5 August 2015}}</ref> | |||
==See also== | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
==References== | |||
{{Reflist}} | |||
⚫ | ==External links== | ||
{{Commons category-inline}} | |||
{{Indian Muslim}} | |||
{{Muhajir communities}} | |||
{{Authority control}} | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] |
Latest revision as of 19:01, 18 December 2024
Sunni Muslim community in India and PakistanFor other uses, see Memon (disambiguation). Ethnic group
Total population | |
---|---|
1,800,000 | |
Regions with significant populations | |
India | 900,000 (including 200,000 in Mumbai and suburbs) |
Pakistan | 700,000 |
Elsewhere | 200,000 |
Languages | |
Memoni, Sindhi, Kutchi, Gujarati | |
Religion | |
Islam |
The Memon are a Muslim community in Gujarat India, and Sindh, Pakistan, the majority of whom follow the Hanafi fiqh of Sunni Islam. They are divided into different groups based on their origins: Kathiawari Memons, Kutchi Memons and Bantva Memons from the Kathiawar, Kutch and Bantva regions of Gujarat respectively, and Sindhi Memons from Sindh.
Memons have cultural similarities with the Khoja, Bohra, and other Gujarati peoples. They speak the Memoni language as their first language, which shares vocabulary with the Sindhi language, Kutchi language and Gujarati languages.
Today Memons are connected through globally recognized organisations such as the World Memon Organisation (WMO) and International Memon Organisation (IMO).
History
Sindhi, Gujarati origins
Memon lineage traces back to the Lohanas who traditionally practiced Hinduism. The origin of the name comes from Mu'min (مؤمن, "believer" in Arabic) and later evolved to present name Memon. The Memon community was founded in the 15th century by 700 families comprising 6,178 persons total. According to Anthovan, those Lohanas of Thatta, Sindh who converted from Hinduism to Islam became Memons and were invited by Rao Khengarji Jadeja, ruler of Bhuj in the 16th century, to settle in Bhuj. It is from there that Kutchi Memons migrated to Kathiawar and mainland Gujarat. Surat in Gujarat was an important trading centre from 1580 to 1680.
Merchant tradesman
Due to the mercantile nature of the community, Memons began a significant migration beyond the borders of India in the 18th and 19th centuries. This led to communities developing in the Middle East, South Africa, Sri Lanka and East Asia. Memon traders set up a network of joint stock companies acting in coordination with other members in an area ranging from Central Africa to China. Memon donors made significant financial contributions to construct mosques during this time, including Juma Masjid Mosque and Jamia Mosque. By late 19th century several thousand Memons had settled in Mumbai due to trading. The area of Mumbai in which the Memon traders congregated later became known as the Memonwada.
20th century
The early 20th century saw a consolidation of the Memon community in South Asia as well as South Africa. They began to organise important societies including Memon Education and Welfare Society and Memon Chamber of Commerce. Memon community made significant financial contributions to preserve the Ottoman Empire but were unable to prevent its decline. The partition of India led to significant migration in both directions for the community. The principal mass of Memons was and is composed of petty tradesmen, shopkeepers, grocers, wandering peddlers, and agents and clerks in firms. In regions of Kutch (India), and near Karachi and on the Makran coast of present day Pakistan, the Memons are still engaged in commercial agriculture, gardening, and fishing.
Branches
Subgroups of Memons from Kathiawar
Main article: Memons (Kathiawar)Languages
Main articles: Memon language, Sindhi language, and Kutchi languageSocial structure
Cultural traditions
While Memons are generally Sunni Muslims, many continue to follow Modern Hindu law in matters regarding property inheritance, community leadership structure and mutual support for members. Memon see themselves to be from the Buddhist Kshatriya lineage. Even within Memons, there are caste hierarchies that some follow regarding marriage practices.
According to folklore, the blessings of the Islamic saint Sayad Kadiri upon the Memons are responsible for their success in business and trade. A more pragmatic explanation for their success is that Memon have been historically considered honest brokers. Following commercial caste model, Memons also offer support community members in financial matters by giving loans and offering business assistance. The community annually celebrates 11 April as "Memons Day" through acts of humanitarian service.
Memons worldwide
Today, Memon communities are scattered throughout the world including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. However, major concentrations of Memon remain located in Karachi, Pakistan and Gujarat, India. In Karachi there is a community of Memon people from Bantva and their descendants known as Bantva Memons. United under the banner of Halari Memon General Jama'at, the Halari Memon are another category and followers of the Hanafi school.
Memons were also one of three classes living in South Africa when Mahatma Gandhi went there in 1893, Memons were traders serving the Indian diaspora in South Africa. Memons are known for their involvement in business and philanthropy, with Memons having played a major part in the building of Pakistani industry.
See also
References
- ^ Wajihuddin, Mohammed (14 February 2014). "Memon association to congregate today". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 18 December 2024.
- ^ Fazal, Tanweer (18 October 2013). Minority Nationalisms in South Asia. Routledge. ISBN 9781317966463.
- O’Sullivan, Michael (19 September 2023). "No Birds of Passage - A History of Gujarati Muslim Business Communities, 1800–1975". PART I. Harvard University Press: 44. doi:10.4159/9780674294974-003.
- ^ Levin, Sergey (1974). "The Upper Bourgeoisie from the Muslim Commercial Community of Memons in Pakistan, 1947 to 1971". Asian Survey. 14 (3): 231–243. doi:10.2307/2643012. ISSN 0004-4687. JSTOR 2643012.
- "World Memon Organisation | Serving Mankind". wmoworld.com. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
- "IMO - International Memon Organization". www.internationalmemon.org. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
- ^ Pirbhai, M. Reza (30 September 2009). Reconsidering Islam in a South Asian Context. Leiden and Boston: Brill Publishers. p. 128. ISBN 978-90-474-3102-2.
Thus, it was established that Khojas and Memons converted from Hinduism under the influence of Ismai'li and Sunni pirs, respectively.
- ^ Goswami, Chhaya (18 February 2016). Globalization before Its Time: The Gujarati Merchants from Kachchh. Penguin Books. ISBN 978-93-85890-70-3.
Most of the Muslim traders were Hindus of different castes who had converted to Islam. The Memons were said to have been Lohanas
- ^ Vahed, Goolam (January 2006). "'Unhappily Torn by Dissensions and Litigations': Durban's 'Memon' Mosque, 1880–1930". Journal of Religion in Africa. 36 (1). Leiden and Boston: Brill Publishers: 23–49. doi:10.1163/157006606775569631. eISSN 1570-0666. ISSN 0022-4200. JSTOR 27594362.
- Ghadially, R (1991). "All for 'Izzat'" (PDF). Manushi (66): 17–20. PMID 12285436. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
- Islamic Perspective, a Biannual Journal. A special issue on Bohras, Khojas and Memons. Ed. by Asghar Ali Engineer, Bombay, Institute of Islamic Studies. vol.1, Jan 1988, pp. 41-48
- Vahed, Goolam (January 2001). "Mosques, Mawlanas and Muharram: Indian Islam in Colonial Natal, 1860–1910". Journal of Religion in Africa. 31 (3). Leiden and Boston: Brill Publishers: 305–335. doi:10.1163/157006601X00194. eISSN 1570-0666. ISSN 0022-4200.
- Papanek, Hanna (1972). "Pakistan's Big Businessmen: Muslim Separatism, Entrepreneurship, and Partial Modernization". Economic Development and Cultural Change. 21 (1): 11. doi:10.1086/450605. S2CID 86853602.
- Eisenlohr, Patrick (1972). "The Politics of Diaspora and the Morality of Secularism: Muslim Identities and Islamic Authority in Mauritius". Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute. 12 (2): 400.
- WAI-YIP, Ho (2001). "Historical Analysis of Islamic Community Development in Hong Kong: Struggle for Recognition in the Post-colonial Era". Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs. 21. Taylor & Francis: 65.
- Chopra, Preeti (2007). "Refiguring the Colonial City: Recovering the Role of Local Inhabitants in the Construction of Colonial Bombay, 1854-1918". Buildings & Landscapes. 14: 109–125. doi:10.1353/bdl.2007.0007. S2CID 161702822.
- Moosa, Ismail (2014). "Role of Memon Community during the Caliphate Movement". British Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. 11 (1).
- Oishi, Takashi (1999). "Muslim Merchant Capital and the Relief Movement for the Ottoman Empire in India, 1876-1924". Minamiajiakenkyu. 11: 71–103.
- Mallampalli, Chandra (2010). "Escaping the Grip of Personal Law in Colonial India: Proving Custom, Negotiating Hindu-ness". Law and History Review. 28 (4). American Society for Legal History: 1060. doi:10.1017/S0738248010000763. S2CID 144494384.
- Wajihuddin, Mohammed (12 April 2017). "Humanitarian work marks Memons' Day". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- DH (17 April 2007). "Karachi: 300-bed teaching hospital planned". Dawn. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
- "City Nazim praises services of Memon community". Pakistan Press International. Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. 13 October 2003. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
- DH (15 October 2014). "CM wants constitutional path to resolve OGDC issue". Dawn. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
External links
Media related to Memon people at Wikimedia Commons
Categories: