Cutchi Memon Digest
Kerala
ﮐﮁﻲ ﻤﻴﻤﻦ ﮢ ﺍﯿﺠﺴﭧ - ﮐﻴﺮﻻ
CUTCHI MEMON JAMATH KOLLAM
Juma Masjid at Nadayara
Though there is no authentic information about early Cutchi Memon settlers in Quilon, it is gathered from some elders that, during their initial years of migrat-ion here, they were aware of five or six Cutchi Mem-on families settling in this city and neighboring areas like Nadayara (near Varkala) and Anjengo, which were then both developing ports. This was when Raja Kesava Dasa was the Dewan of Travancore State. He granted them all facilities to conduct their business of import and export of rice, coconut prod-ucts and hill produce. Anjengo was, at that time, a British colony; the Cutchi Memon settlers had great contacts with Europeans who frequented the colo-ny. These Cutchi Memons were sincere, honest, kind-hearted and deeply religious, earning them the respect and honor of other peoples of the area as well as the ruling Maharajah.
Of the early settlers, Juma Ebrahim Sait was the foremost Cutchi Memon. He settled in Nadayara, and had a flourishing business. He was in close contact with the royal family during the reigns of Maharajahs Ayilyam Thirunal and Visakham Tirunal of Travancore State. He was honoured and held in high esteem by the royal family for his honesty, integrity and sincerity in business, and was awarded the "Veera Sringhala", the highest honor at that time in the state. He was delegated with the construction of the tunnels at Varkala and he brought skilled workers from North India to assist him. The state also gave him the monopoly of collecting "sangu" (conch) from the sea coast of the state, and for its export. He was also a recognized and solitary gold dealer ("shroff") in the state. The state also gave him the monopoly of shipping trade including steve-doring of ships. His three sons assisted him, and their business flourished so much that they were able to buy properties at Poovar, Thengapattanam, Kanyakumari, Nadayara, Anjengo, Manavalakurichi, etc. The royal family was so enamoured of the family that on Eid and other Islamic festivals it sent its decorated royal horse-drawn carriages from Thiruvananthapuram to the family home at Nadayara for pleasure trips.
Another family that settled in Quilon and made a name for itself was that of Jacob Khameesa Sait; although, his father, Khameesa Sait and grandfat-her, Jaffer Sait, came to Quilon early 19th century, very little is known of their activities. Jacob Khamee-sa Sait was engaged in the business of copra, coir and hill produces. He established the first cashew nut processing factory at Thamarakulam in Quilon. He purchased one thousand acres of land in the hill areas of Puthur and Kottarakkara, a few kilometers east of Quilon for the purpose of mining mica, which he also exported.
Chinnakkada Junction, Kollam
His business enterprises flourished, and he beca-me a well-known personality. He was a great phila-nthropist, and greatly hospitable. He was fond of hosting, and was eager that all Cutchi Memons from Cochin or Alleppey on their way to Trivandrum and back should stay with him for a while. For this purp-ose, he constructed a guest house adjacent to his residence, and personally looked after his guests.
He was religious and God-fearing, and Muslims of the area chose him to be the Muthavally of a few Masjids in Quilon. A little before his demise in 1325 AH, he started construction of a market known as Big Bazaar in the heart of Quilon; his son completed his work later.Another famous family of Quilon was that of Kara Essack Sait. He started a business enterprise in Quilon, and his four sons developed it. They dealt with allopathic medicines, stationery goods, hardware items, etc. and became affluent.
Yet another family was that of Adam Sait of Arattu-puzha, who married a daughter of Kara Essack Sait (mentioned above), and moved to settle in Quilon. Adam Sait's son, Ayoob Adam Sait established busin-ess ventures dealing in cotton yarn, agencies of cotton mills, and stationery goods. His only brot-her, Joonas Adam Sait helped him in the business. Ayoob Adam Sait was a self-made man, and due to his hard work, earned much wealth.
He was a social activist, and became the Vice-Chairman of the Quilon Municipal Council. He was nominated to the Legislative Council of the then Travancore State to represent the commerce constituency, and remained in that position for six years.
During the early years of Cutchi Memon settlement in Quilon, we have no idea whether or not a Jamath existed. This much we know that the affluent, prominent and generous among Cutchi Memons in Quilon looked after the social and economic needs of all families, and fostered a sense of unity among all by themselves being involved in their affairs, by personally attending all gatherings of happiness or sorrow, and guiding others when needed. They commanded much love, honor and respect, and those in the lower strata of society felt secure, and gladly accepted their decisions. Later, when Cutchi Memon population flourished in Quilon, a Jamath was formed by about the middle of this century. A committee was formed, bye-laws were written, and a democratic functioning started. J. Abdulkader Sait was elected as the first President, Somewhere down the line, the Jamat became dysfunctional and apparently continues to be so.