Kutchi Memon
Encyclopedia
Kutchi Memons or Cutchi Memons are a part of larger Memon
s, a Muslim
community of Pakistan
and India
, who speak the Kutchi language
and are original residents of Kutch region.
Transliteration of name of this Memon community has not been standardized. Hence popular usage is Cutchi and Kutchi.
Nevertheless, Kutchi Memons are Sunni
Muslims who migrated from Sindh
to Kutch
in Gujarat, a state
of India
, after their conversion to Islam in 1422 CE . Historically, Kutch was a princely state and this kingdom included Bhuj
, Anjar
, Lakhpath, Mandvi
, etc. The Kutchi Memons are now spread all over the globe. Though Kutchi Memons historically spoke Kutchi
, use of this language has sharply declined, and many Kutchi Memons (particularly those who reside in urban area
s) have adopted Urdu and other more dominant tongues.
Scholars have conducted detailed studies about the origin and development of this community. Scholarly contributors include, Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer: , Dr. Mohamed Taher, etc.
Kutchi Memons are a highly endogenous community, where marriage are arranged within their own ethnic group.
Cuthi Memons are predominantly business community and known for Philanthropy
. The Cutchi Memons are spread all over the globe and have erected many mosque over the world.
Memon
Memons are an ethnic group who trace their roots largely to Sindh, Kutch and Kathiawar in South Asia, and are sometimes seen as transitional between the three regions. Memons predominantly adhere to Sunni Islam...
s, a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
community of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, who speak the Kutchi language
Kutchi language
Kachhi Kachhi Kachhi (also spelt Cutchi, Kutchhi or Kachchhi, is an Indo-Aryan Language spoken in the Kutch region of the Indian state of Gujarat as well as in Sindh.- Closely related languages :...
and are original residents of Kutch region.
Transliteration of name of this Memon community has not been standardized. Hence popular usage is Cutchi and Kutchi.
Nevertheless, Kutchi Memons are Sunni
Sunni Islam
Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam. Sunni Muslims are referred to in Arabic as ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah wa āl-Ǧamāʿah or ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah for short; in English, they are known as Sunni Muslims, Sunnis or Sunnites....
Muslims who migrated from Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
to Kutch
Kutch District
Kutch district is a district of Gujarat state in western India. Covering an area of 45,652 km², it is the largest district of India....
in Gujarat, a state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, after their conversion to Islam in 1422 CE . Historically, Kutch was a princely state and this kingdom included Bhuj
Bhuj
Bhuj is a city and a municipality in Kachchh district in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:It was established by Rao Hamirji in 1510 and was made the state capital by Rao Khengarji I in 1549. Its foundation stone as state capital laid formally on Vikram Samvat 1604 Maagha 5th...
, Anjar
Anjar
Anjar may refer to:*Anjar, India, a town and municipality of India*Anjar, Lebanon, a town in the Bekaa valley of Lebanon...
, Lakhpath, Mandvi
Mandvi
Mandvi is a city and a Municipality in Kachchh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It was once a major port of the region and summer retreat for Maharao of the Kachchh. The old city had a surrounding fort, and remains of the fort wall can still be seen to this day...
, etc. The Kutchi Memons are now spread all over the globe. Though Kutchi Memons historically spoke Kutchi
Kutchi language
Kachhi Kachhi Kachhi (also spelt Cutchi, Kutchhi or Kachchhi, is an Indo-Aryan Language spoken in the Kutch region of the Indian state of Gujarat as well as in Sindh.- Closely related languages :...
, use of this language has sharply declined, and many Kutchi Memons (particularly those who reside in urban area
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
s) have adopted Urdu and other more dominant tongues.
Scholars have conducted detailed studies about the origin and development of this community. Scholarly contributors include, Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer: , Dr. Mohamed Taher, etc.
Kutchi Memons are a highly endogenous community, where marriage are arranged within their own ethnic group.
Cuthi Memons are predominantly business community and known for Philanthropy
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
. The Cutchi Memons are spread all over the globe and have erected many mosque over the world.
- Nakhoda MasjidNakhoda MasjidThe Nakhoda Masjid is the principal mosque of Kolkata, India, located in the Chitpur area of the Burrabazar business district in Central Kolkata , at the intersection of Zakariya Street and Rabindra Sarani.-Construction:...
, KolkataKolkataKolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India... - Kutchi Memon Masjid, KarachiKarachiKarachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
- Haji Sir Ismail Sait Masjid, Banglore
- Memon Mosque, Pettah, Sri Lanka
- Jafar Jumma Masjid, Alappuzha, Kerala