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| 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 ]. | 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 ]. | ||
| Most (if not all) Memons are ] ] ]s, and it is widely ] that they originated when a group of ]s 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. Furthermore, the exact place of origin of the Memons remains a mystery, with some claims putting it in ]. Even the meaning of the word ''Memon'' is disputed. 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. | Most (if not all) Memons are ] ] ]s, and it is widely ] that they originated when a group of ]s 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. Furthermore, the exact place of origin of the Memons remains a mystery, with some claims putting it in ]. Even the meaning of the word ''Memon'' is disputed. 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. | ||
| Memons spread throughout the ] basin in the ], but most Memons lived in the area of ] prior to the ], although they dispersed thereafter. Today, they are scattered throughout India and Pakistan, with significant communities in the ] and ]. | Memons spread throughout the ] basin in the ], but most Memons lived in the area of ] prior to the ], although they dispersed thereafter. Today, they are scattered throughout India and Pakistan, with significant communities in the ] and ]. | ||
Revision as of 00:46, 9 March 2004
The Memon people are an ethnic group that originated either in modern-day Pakistan or India. They speak an Indo-Aryan language sometimes called Memoni, that is similar to Gujarati and Sindhi. Some estimates put the number of Memons worldwide at one million .
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 variations in the language. These differences arose in different villages in India. There are also related ethnic groups such as the Kutchi (or Cutchi) Memons.
Most (if not all) Memons are Hanafi Sunni Muslims, and it is widely believed that they originated when a group of Hindus belonging to the Lohana merchant caste converted to Islam at the hands of a Sufi of the Qadiri order . It has also been theorized that Memons were originally Buddhists, or even "gypsies". The date of their conversion is not known, and it is not certain whether the term Memon applies exclusively to Muslims. Furthermore, the exact place of origin of the Memons remains a mystery, with some claims putting it in Sindh. Even the meaning of the word Memon is disputed. The devotion of Memons to Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (founder of the Qadiri order) is well-known. Although Memons tend to be religious, they have retained many customs from their pre-Islamic past.
Memons spread throughout the Indian Ocean basin in the 19th century, but most Memons lived in the area of Gujerat prior to the partition of India, although they dispersed thereafter. Today, they are scattered throughout India and Pakistan, with significant communities in the United Kingdom and South Africa.
Memons are known for their involvement in business and philanthropy, 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 Memons has aroused some jealousy from other ethnic groups, who sometimes stereotype Memons as greedy money-lovers.
Interestingly, Mahatma Gandhi (who came from the same part of Gujerat as the Memons) was retained by a Memon businessman in South Africa to look after his legal affairs in Durban. It was in South Africa that Gandhi launched his political activities.
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 Latin alphabet.
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