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It is indeed a matter of pride to record
that the Cutchi Memon Jamat, Mumbai has completed the 75th year of its existence in this
great city of Mumbai, which has an unique and distinct character among the cities of the
world. The Mumbai Jamat has served as a platform for organising, rehabilitating and
uniting brothers of our community who have migrated from Cutch in exploring their economic
opportunities a century ago.
Their arrival in Bombay in early 20th
century was a vital stage which was a process their settlement in a competitive urban
environment of a commercial city of repute. This was the stage of a nature where a newly
migrated community needed encouragement, moral boosting, a sense of social security and
its institutions for social expression and assertiveness without which there could have
been hardly any chance for Cutchi Memons to emerge as a useful business community.
The Cutchi Memons could stand the test of
the time and they did emerge to play a positive role in this challenging urban situation
at the wake of the century. They had new confidence and a sense of social security. Some
men of courage and discipline, positive thinking, high imaginations, planning and
determination in the community rose to infuse a life in them. They established various
institutions - educational, religiuos, social and welfare organizations.
The spacious building of Cutchi Memon Jamat
Khana at 131, Kambekar Street, Mumbai was already built by Haji Karim Mohammad
Suleman Sait popularly known as Cummoo Sait and the same was re-built by his
trustees in early 1920s. It is this monumental building under the roof of which Cutchi
Memons were organised into a social group as Cutchi Memon Jamat. Head of
the Jamat was regarded as the father figure and leader of the community. He was nominated
by the people and acknowledged as the head or "Sait" of the
Jamat for lifetime. After independence, however this trend changed in favour of democracy
and people preferred to elect managing body. In 1952, the Jamat gave itself a new and
detailed constitution which has been in force till today. Various problems of the Jamat
have been solved and many important decisions have been taken by the Jamat within the
framework of this constitution. Members of the Jamat uphold constitutional norms and
democratic methods and ensure their smooth participation in the Jamat's affairs.
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