Visits: 187
Mr. Anthovan writes in his volume that “Pran Peer Dastgeer,” Peer of Iran, expired at Baghdad in the year 1165. Pran Peer Dastgeer’s last words to his son Syed Tajuddin were that he should go and stay in Hindustan and propagate Islam to its people. It is assumed that some Somras and Samans converted to Islam then.
Five generations after Syed Tajuddin’s demise, Pir Sahib Syed Yusufuddin Gilani (Qadri) was born. In the year 1421 he dreamt that he should also go to Hindustan and enlighten its people by converting them to Islam.
Murkab Khan, a Saman, ruled Sindh, with Thatta (Thhato) as its capital. According to Mr. Anthovan, the Samans ruled Sindh from 1351 to 1521. It is assumed that Murkab Khan was in fact Yaam Raidan (1454), who received and welcomed Syed Yusufuddin Gilani as his guest and became his follower.
Seth Maneckji, Mukhi (leader) of 8.4 million Lohanas, was a trusted friend of Yaam Raidan, or Murkab Khan the ruler. Seeing Yaam Raidan convert to Islam, Seth Maneckji, with two of his three sons and 700 Lohanas families, became followers of Syed Yusufuddin Gilani and accepted Islam.
Seth Maneckji’s son Raoji’s name was changed to Ahmed. Raoji’s two sons, Sunderji and Hansraj, were named Adam and Taj Mohammed.
Earlier, Sindhi Hindus had Kutchi names. It was during Miya Noor Mohammed’s reign that the present form of Hindu names came into being.
Some Lohanas were called Mota. After accepting Islam, they, along with other Lohanas, were called Memon. Memon literally means Momin Preacher of Iman the Truth.
Those Lohanas who chose not to accept Islam prayed to God Dariya Shah. (God of the Sea).
Hindus write in their history that earlier, Murkh Shah of Thatta had tried to convert Hindus forcefully, when Shree Amar Uderolal Sahib appeared in person and stopped the conversion. This time too Varan Devtha (Varan
= Vayu = Wind) came to their rescue.
According to Mr. Anthovan, those Lohanas of Thatta who also had accepted Islam and become Memons were invited by Jarejho Roa Khanghar, ruler of Bhuj (1548–1584), to settle in Bhuj. It is from there that Kutchi Memons migrated to Kathiawar and Gujarat. Surat in Gujarat was an important trading center during 1580 to 1680, and Memons made their fortune there. Later, the Memons reached Bombay.
Diwan Bherumal M. Advani writes that all the Memons of Bombay, Gujarat, and Kutch are Lohanas from Sindh. (Please see the Volume written by Mr. Anthovan, part 2, pages 52 and 53.)