Cutchi Memon Digest
Kerala
ﮐﮁﻲ ﻤﻴﻤﻦ ﮢ ﺍﯿﺠﺴﭧ - ﮐﻴﺮﻻ
CUTCHI MEMON 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 devel-oping 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. 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 deali-ngs. 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 charit-able 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 fam-ous Noorani family of Bombay, is a shining example of Cutchi Memons’ deep sense of generosity and religiosity. The Juma Hashim 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 expan-ded 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 Travanc-ore, 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 governm-ent 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.)
Haji Yousuf Haji Noormohammed
(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.)
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 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 of the Jamath 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 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 welcome change helped the Jamath paving the way for social activities The Jamath adopted a Byelaw on April 26, 1970, for the first time. Haji 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 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 Salehmohamed 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.