Chundrigar
The Chundrigar are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat, India. A few are also found in the city of Karachi, Pakistan.[1]
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 90900 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| • India • Pakistan | |
| Languages | |
| • Primary language- Gujarati • Urdu • Hindi | |
| Religion | |
•  | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| • Shaikh of Gujarat • Manihar |
History and origin
The Chundrigars are a Gujarati speaking community, associated with the silk knot printing and manufacture of a piece of cloth known as the chunri or dupata. They claim to have been Arabs who settled in Sindh and then moved to Gujarat. There largest concentration is the city of Surat, although there is a large diaspora in Karachi. According to some traditions, the community are a sub-group within the Manihar community. This is shown by the fact the community intermarry with the Manihars, and are members of the Gujarat Manihar Jamat. Almost all the Chundrigar community have abandoned their traditional occupation. They are now mainly a community of petty traders, with a few successful businessmen.[2]
With the independence of Pakistan in 1947, many moved to the newly created Muslim state of Pakistan. Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar served as Pakistan's finance minister and later as Prime Minister of Pakistan.
References
- Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency, Gujarat Population: Musalmans and Parsis, Volume IX page 72 Government Central Press, Bombay
- Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency, Gujarat Population: Musalmans and Parsis, Volume IX pages 72 Government Central Press, Bombay