Cutchi Memon Digest
Kerala
ﮐﮁﻲ ﻤﻴﻤﻦ ﮢ ﺍﯿﺠﺴﭧ - ﮐﻴﺮﻻ
SECUNDERABAD JAMAT
Spanish Masjid, Hyderabad
The origin of the Cutchi Memon Jamat Andhra Pradesh, Secunderabad, (now Andhra and Telengana) can be traced back to almost the same period when forefathers migrated from Cutch with a desire to improve their lives, expand their businesses, and settle down in various parts of the country. Those Cutchi Memons that came to the former princely state of Hyderabad preferred to settle down in Secunderabad, a cantonment area inhabited mainly by British civilians and army person-nel and a place suitable for their business activities.With Faith, Simplicity, Hard Work, Good Character and Truthfuln-ess as their basic principles of life, Cutchi Memons expressed a desire to live together in an organized society. This led to the formation of their Jamat. In fact, wherever Cutchi Memons settled down, they invariably got together to form "Jamats" which was one of the greatest contributions of forefathers to the Cutchi Memon fraternity. This established the foundation of an organization based on the principles of Unity and Brotherhood, ideals so very essential for the social, cultural and economic progress and prosperity of any society.
The Jamat started deteriorating in the late Thirties. In 1936, a few prominent persons met for deliberations, and felt the need for re-organizing the Jamat to conform to the changing times. A committee was formed to frame rules and regulations so that the Jamat would function in a democratic manner. The year, 1936, is important for the
Jamat when it saw the introduction of a written constitution. On September 29, 1939, a Managing Committee under the Presidentship of Janab Shaik Adam Haji Mohammed Essack Sait was elected. Thereafter, it has functioned with a Managing committee and a President at the helm of affairs.
At this time, the need for a Jamatkhana was felt. The former Jamatkhana at Kazigalli was demolished under the Cantonment Improvement Plan, leaving the committee members with no place to meet, and for members to organize their social and cultural events. Janab Abdul Sattar Abdul Khader Sait, the then President of the Jamat, helped purchase a plot of land near the Masjid-e-Nallagutta, and constructed a Shadi Khana for the benefit of Cutchi Memons of Secunderabad. This Jamat owes this and many other noble deeds and philanthropic works to Janab Abdul Sattar Abdul Khader Sait. May his soul rest in peace.In 1965, the then Managing Committee decided to rewrite the Jamat's constitution. Accordingly, a redrafted constitution was introduced before members in 1966. It was further amended in 1970. It was again rewritten in 1986 in view of changing circumstances. Income from the Jamat's property has been showing steady improvement. This property consists of Shadi Khana, one house and fourteen Mulgies.