Re: [nukkad] Re: Serfing Quiz : 2

["Rohit Mansukhlal" <>]

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On 3/30/08, Ravi Menon  wrote:
>
> Whator who is a Siedi African?

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These are mainly from East Africa from places like Etheopia, Eretria,
southern Egypt,
Sudan etc. In Arab world they are known as Saidi or Syyedi. Many Siddis, as
they are
called in western India, settled in our western region too. They were
brought here by
Arab traders on the west coast as slaves, but under the high spirit of Islam
then in
currency and given the miserable rock bottom level of Hindus of those days,
these
Siddis went on to rule in certain regions. Janjira fort, little south of
Mumbai, in the middle
of the sea was built by a Siddi general who had defected from the Mughal
army.
Marathas had a very hard time defeating this small Siddi enclave. Even
Marathas employed
Siddis in their army as gunners who were rated experts in this important
military skill.

Large number of Siddis eventually settled in Gujarat ( relatively war free
and safer ) where they continue to live until this day. The famous mosque
and it's finely carved marble trellis work in Ahmedabad is named after Siddi
Syyed.  Being very backward they are mainly engaged in occupations ike
public transport etc. Karelia must have heard of and travelled by a Siddi's
Chhakda. ( auto-rikshaw carrying six passengers ).

Some Egyptian friend in the Gulf will be helpful to know about this
community which is
regarded as an inferior lot by relatively fairer northern people who control
Egypt.

Rohit Zaveri

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