Gujarati Muslims of Mumbai

This community has contributed to the betterment of the city in a silent manner

- Minal Sancheti

Mumbai was shaped into a modern city by many communities. We know that Parsis, Jews, Marwaris, and Banias were among the many communities that contributed to the city’s history. However, there are a few that are not as well-known as their role in the construction of the metropolitan. The Khojas, Bohras and Memons are among them.

“These communities are heavily involved in trade and commerce, and some of them specialise in a particular line of trade. All three of them were in cotton, opium, shipping, silk, along with other communities like Parsis, Bhatias, and Banias. There were several partnerships that were forged, cutting across community lines, so these three communities were an important part of the city’s commercial world. Members of these communities were involved in a higher proportion of trade across the Indian Ocean, which aided in the development of the city as an important trade centre. Besides, some families, like the Chinoys, ushered in the communication revolution by introducing the beam wireless system in India. The Currimbhoys owned a dozen cotton mills, and the family of Sir Ismail Yusuf owned one of the most successful shipping companies of its time,” says Khan.