The history of Cutchi Memons of Chennai (formerly known as Madras) is more than 150 years old. There is no authentic record of the first migration of Cutchi Memons to Madras. It is, however, known that a Cutchi Memon, Mr. Abdul Rahim Patel was deputed from Karachi as the “Patel of Madras” sometime before 1870. He is known to have conducted business in Madras after his arrival. Records show that his son, Mr. Zackaria Abdul Rahim Sait “Mateen”, who became a prolific writer, was born in 1884 in Madras. Early records also show that, in 1880, the Corporation of Madras allotted land for Cutchi Memons to use as their cemetery. During this period, many Cutchi Memon families settled in Madras. For reasons of convenien-ce, they resided in Anderson Street and Chinna Thambi Street of Georgetown area. By the turn ofthe 20th century, according to records, the first President of the Cutchi Memon Jamat was Hajee Ebrahim Sait followed by Janab Hajee Jounus Abba Sait.  Both had their hearts and souls for the betterment and welfare of the community. To safeguard the interests of the community, the Cutchi Memon Jamat was registered under the Society Act, and included in it a clause (numbered 4) defining a Cutchi Memon as one whose father and mother were both Cutchi Memons. Twenty five years ago, this clause was challenged in a court of law.  The Jamat’s lawyer offered, in support of his arguments, a well known legal treatise written by the famous jurist, Mr. Justice Mulla of the Bombay High Court; the treatise contains a reference to Cutchi Memons as being one of many Muslim communities.  [It is believed that this treatise was Mulla's "Mohame-dan Law", which contains references to Cutchi Memo-ns, and the two Acts concerning their identity as Muslims to be governed by the Mohamedan Law in India ]  The Jamat won the case on the ground that Cutchi Memons are not a religious body or represent-atives of any particular religious group but a commun-ity with full faith in Islam and having an identity of its own, promoting the education, economical and social interest of its members. There has been smooth sailing ever since, as we have followed The legal counsel’s advice, “Maintain your identity or get lost”.

The grandeur of the community with flourishing textile trade continued, and by the turn of the century, the new generation began taking up higher studies with diversification of interests.  Following are the names of a few illustrious Cutchi Memons of yesteryears who are remembered and revered to this day.

Hajee Essa Abba Sait was a businessman and respe-cted philanthropist. During 1917, he gifted a property in Chinna Thambi Street in Georgetown to be used as a Jamat Khana for Cutchi Memons, and a few other properties to meet the social needs of the poorer of The members.  He created a Trust in 1919 to establish a Madrassa to impart religious teachings and to donate books to all deserving Cutchi Memon children.  He also established a Musafirkhana for all Muslim visitors to Madras, and took an active interest in the construction of a Masjid in Anderson Street; this Masjid is today called the “Memon Masjid”.

An illustrious Cutchi Memon, Adam Hajee Mohammed Sait arrived in Madras in 1902 from Cochin (Kochi).  He started dealing in tobacco and in general mercha-ndise.  He was the first Cutchi Memon of Madras to be conferred the title of Khan Bahadur by the British.  Already the President of the South India Chamber of Commerce, he became the Sheriff of Madras.