Cutchi Memon Digest
Kerala
ﮐﮁﻲ ﻤﻴﻤﻦ ﮢ ﺍﯿﺠﺴﭧ - ﮐﻴﺮﻻ
CUTCHI MEMON JAMATH BHUJ, CUTCH, GUJARAT
The three tombs at the Sankadwala Masjid
Bhuj is the capital city of the Kuchch District of Gujarat. It is an irony that Cutchi Memons who left Cutch have prospered wherever they went. But Cutch remains undeveloped and Cutchi Memons mostly poor, not withstanding the fact that around 200 Cutchi Memons are involved in various business ventures such as wholesale of grains, fruits and vegetables, cloth merchandising, grocery (kirana), mobile retailing, electronics sales, property sales, and buying and selling of new and used cars as well as commercial vehicles, running of panullas and bidi shops included. Kutchi Memons of Bhuj are also doctors, engineers, school teachers and principals, college professors, government officers, etc . The Jamat’s revenue comes from rental income of shops, laagaa aavak, and donations. A major portion of the income is expended for the benefit of the brethren. Notable activities are:
Educational: The Jamat provides tuition fees to college students, tuition fees and textbooks to higher secondary students and textbooks to primary school students. The Jamat also runs sewing classes (sewing and embroidery work) without any charge at the Jamatkhana. This helps needy ladies, as they then become providers of financial support to their families.
Religious: The Jamat conducts a Madrassa for children’s Deeni Taalim. Regular sharifs of Baarvi and Agyarvi (Prayer meetings on the 11th and 12th of every month) are arranged for all family members. This cultivates an unbelievably good harmony among families. The Jamat also invites a Hafiz Saheb to conduct Taraavih prayers during the holy month of Ramadan. The Jamat bears the expenses for this invitation. In the fond memory of Late Sheth Haji Karim Mohmed Suleman, a well-known philanthropist of the community, on his death anniversary, the Jamat arranges Dini Takrir for the benefit of all Jamat members. The dargah of Trambauwala Hajipur Saheb is just 8 kilometers from Bhuj, in a semi arid village. To pay respects and homage, it is whitewashed, painted, perfumed, and decorated by the Jamat every year. An urs is also held. Food is served to needy persons.
Financial Assistance: A monthly pension is given to widows, and physically handicapped persons. Loans are provided to the brethren free of interest for business purposes, to be repaid in 30 equal instalments. Arrangements can be made at the Jamat-khana’s two halls to hold engagement and marriage ceremonies. The Jamat charges only a token amount, i.e. it is almost free of charge.bFor ziyarat purpose, the Jamatkha-na is provided without any charge.
Majlis Fund & Lawaris Fund: The Jamat has a Majlis Fund. A history of more than 100 years is behind this Majlis fund. Sabil is erected, and Majlis is held in the holy months. The brethren contribute towards the fund. From the funds collected, the Jamat also arranges Majlis for ladies in the holy month of Ramadan at the Jamatkhana.
Lawaris Fund: The Jamat arranges for the last rites of destitute Muslims. All charges for kafan and dafan are borne by the Jamat. In 1974, a committee was formed on the initiative and under the Presidency of Munshi Shahabuddin Bana for collecting donations in a closed box for the Lawaris Fund.
Housing: The Jamath also looks after the Memon colony consisting of 90 houses, Trambauwala Hajipir, Garibshah Pir Dargah (Aam Tara)
The Cutchi Memon Federation has an office in Bhuj. The Federation has conducted many meetings at the Jamatkhana.
Recovery from the Earth quake:
On January 26, 2001 Cutch suffered the worst ever earth quake in which the community's toll was quite high. Not a single structure survived the calamity. The Editor's close family lost six lives. In Bhuj alone 20,000 lives were lost and many children were orphaned. Homes were reduced to rubble grounds. Watch the ruins left by the earthquake in a Youtube presentation. Click here.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4Sy8AdmYZw
It took the Cutchi Memon Jamath of Bhuj a whole decade to initiate activities to rebuild the damaged Jamatkhana. Until the end of 2012 the meetings and other functions of the jamath were being held in the halls of other Jamaths or in rented premises. The Jamath decided to rebuild the Jamatkhana, and in Ramadan 2011 the foundation stone was laid by Pir Sayed Najmul Hasan Jayesi. A Building Committee consisting of four members (Haji Hanif, Mohammed Sajid Memon, Arif Devani and Rafik Memon) was formed to look after the construction. The rebuilding work was funded from contributions made by Cutchi Memons residing in Bhuj. No external aid was sought as it was believed that Bhuj people are well established to look after their own needs.
A land mark evolutionary event in the history of Cutchi memons was the establishment of a women's Forum -Ummeed. The event is historical because its activities were not confined to cookery classes and reliious discussions. They went much beyond even their declared purpose of educational development of women. The members of Ummeed went from door to door to gather the data of all Memon families living in Bhuj to make a comprehensive census possible - a feat which the menfolk in many Jamats failed to achive! On February 18, 2013, Ummeed held its first grand event at the Jamatkhana, the grandest ever in the history of the Jamat. They held their first program soon thereafter - A greatly successful Summer Camp of 10 days.
Jumma Masjid, Bhuj