Explainer: Why are these Muslims from Gujarat welcomed with open arms in Sri Lanka?

Gujarati Muslims in Sri Lanka: Many non-Muslim countries have historically welcomed Muslims and maintained cordial relations with them. But at the same time, there are reports of intolerance and discrimination against Muslims in many places. In some countries, people of all religions are given equal rights. But in some countries, religious minorities face challenges. A country’s attitude towards Muslims is often influenced by that country’s political situation, history, and foreign policy. Perceptions in the media and society also shape people’s attitudes towards Muslims. It is important that we do not generalize this issue. Every country and every community has its own story. It would be wrong to view all people of one group through a single perspective.

The condition of Bangladesh is in front of everyone
About a fortnight ago, after the coup of Sheikh Hasina’s government in Bangladesh, atrocities on Hindus started in the country. There were constant reports of attacks on the houses of the Hindu community and their temples. After this, many radical Muslims around the world expressed happiness. Abu Najm Fernando bin Al-Iskander, who calls himself an Islamic scholar, appealed to completely wipe out Hindus from Bangladesh. Similarly, racial differences are also deeply ingrained in Sri Lanka, another neighboring country of India. But on religious grounds, the situation here is completely opposite to that of Bangladesh.

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Only 10 percent of Muslims are in Sri Lanka
Unlike Bangladesh, the Muslim population in Sri Lanka, which has a Sinhalese Buddhist majority, is only ten percent of the population of 22 million. In 2019, 359 people were killed in a series of blasts in Sri Lanka on the occasion of Easter. The Islamic State group took responsibility for these blasts, after which a feeling of hatred was created against the Muslims living in Sri Lanka. But due to the Muslims who went from India, especially from Gujarat, the social fabric here did not suffer much damage.

Islam is the third largest religion in Sri Lanka
Islam is the third largest religion in Sri Lanka. About ten percent of the total population follows this religion. According to the census conducted in Sri Lanka in the year 2012, about 19 lakh people follow Islam. Most of the Muslims in Sri Lanka live in the eastern part of the island. Muslims are a large part of Sri Lanka’s urban population and are mostly settled in major cities like Colombo and big towns. Most Sri Lankan Muslims speak Tamil language. However, many Muslims also know Sinhala.

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Indian Muslims in Sri Lanka
Indian Muslims living in Sri Lanka are those who came here during the colonial period in search of business opportunities. Some of them settled in this country during the Portuguese rule. Others came from different parts of India during the British period. Most of them came from Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Memon Muslims first came here in the year 1870 from Sindh (present-day Pakistan). Dawoodi Bohra and Khoja Shia Muslims came from Western India Gani Gujarat after 1880. Some Memon Muslims also reached Sri Lanka from Kathiawar (Gujarat).

After 1947, Memons took refuge
The Memons are a group originally from northwestern India. They later migrated to Pakistan, but initially a small group of traders migrated to the island of Sri Lanka in 1870. In 1947, due to the Hindu-Muslim riots in Gujarat, most of the Memons left India and migrated to Sri Lanka. Despite being a small community, the Memons take pride in keeping their traditions alive. They are traditionally businessmen – traders, shippers, importers and exporters. For centuries they prospered economically while other Muslim groups struggled. In recent years young Memons have pursued careers in other fields such as medicine, law and sports. Weddings have many of the same ceremonies as Hindu communities, including the application of mehndi and turmeric. Their main languages ​​include the Memoni language as well as Gujarati.

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Contribution of Dawoodi Bohra community
The Dawoodi Bohra community in Sri Lanka is a religious sect following the Ismaili branch of Shia Islam. In the 1950s, Prime Minister John Kotelawala assured the community of its place in society, saying, “You have been with us so long that we feel we cannot live without you.” The community is known for its rich cuisine, traditional dress, and community life centered around the local mosque. Their mosque serves as a center for religious and social activities. The community demonstrates Sri Lanka’s cultural diversity and openness to welcome visitors. The Dawoodi Bohra community has helped rejuvenate Sri Lanka’s economy.

The Khojas also adopted Sri Lanka
The Khojas are a Shia Muslim group who came to Sri Lanka from western India (Gujarat state) after 1880. In the 1980s, there were less than 2,000 Khojas in Sri Lanka. But today they have their own places of worship and have preserved their language. The Khojas are followers of the Aga Khan, also known as Ismailis. The Khojas are also known for their commitment to Muslim philanthropy in their business entrepreneurship and contribution to the society in which they live. The word Khoja comes from Persian meaning ‘pious’ or ‘respected person.’ The Khojas were originally a group of Hindu traders who converted to Islam in the 14th century. Today, they live in East Africa, India, Pakistan, Europe and North America, including Sri Lanka.

Tag: Gujarat, Indian Muslims, Muslim, Sri Lanka