Cutchi Memon Students' Circle, Mumbai

The Making of the Cutchi Memon Students’ Circle

When the Cutchi Memon community was organized, it decided to process all its decisions through institutional means.  The Cutchi Memon Jamatkhana at 131 Kambekar Street was the first important institution to begin an organized community life.  It was the place where meetings were held for discussions, planning and deciding on implementation.  Though the early history of the of the Cutchi Memon Jamatkhana begins as early as 1807, it was in 1930-31 that the trustees of the Kammoo Suleman Trust rebuilt it.  From then on, the Jamatkhana has gained immense importance, not only as an impressive edifice but also as a central place from where all activities can be carried out in an efficient manner.

From the time the Jamatkhana was rebuilt and even earlier, the Cutchi Memons of Mumbai took decisions for the betterment of the Jamat. This led to the community’s progress.  Even students started taking keen interest in the Jamat’s activities. Notable among the students were Messrs Abdul Majid Bawla, Mohammed Hussein Patel, Malik Chinoy, G. M. Banatwala, etc.

After his installation in July 1952 as President of the Cutchi Memon Jamat of Mumbai, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Wadiwala invited some Cutchi Memon students for an exchange of views.  The students were waiting for this opportunity, and immediately accepted the President’s invitation.  Elders in the community appreciated this.

This was the first time in the history of the Cutchi Memon Jamat that the President had set aside the controversial issue of the time, i.e. Sud and Asud in inviting the students from both sides of the Orthodox and Moderate sections of the community.  The Orthodox were surprised while the Moderates were hopeful.

On July 20, 1952, which was a Sunday, the students went to meet the President of the Cutchi Memon Jamat under the able and dynamic leadership of Mr. Malik Chinoy. The venue was the Cutchi Memon Jamatkhana.

Next Sunday on July 27, 1952, the students met again but this time the venue changed to the business premises of Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Wadiwala at Kambekar Street next to the Kammoo Jaffer High School.  The venue change occurred because the Orthodox objected to the use of the Jamatkhana for such a meeting.  The students were successful in having a consensus, and formed an organization, which they named “The Cutchi Memon Students’ Circle” under the leadership of Mr. Malik Chinoy.  They desired to further the cause of Education – both academic and technical, and to raise the cultural and ethical values of the Cutchi Memon community.  They spelt out the main aim of the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle:  to spread education, and to create an atmosphere of goodwill, friendship and brotherhood among Cutchi Memon students.

Mr. Malik Chinoy became the Founder-President of the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle. The constitution of new organization was framed under his guidance.  This became an important landmark in Cutchi Memon history, as even the Cutchi Memon Jamat did not have its own constitution by then.   The Cutchi Memon Students' Circle had taken the first step in showing the community what lay ahead and what was best for it.

Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Wadiwala helped raise funds for the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle.  Several prominent Cutchi Memons of the time became patrons; notable among them were Mr. Mohammed Hashim Ismail (President, Cutchi Memon Progressive Group and husband of Mrs. Fatema Ismail, a prominent social worker of Indian National Congress cadre), and Mr. Suleman Haji Omar Chamdawala (President, Cutchi Memon Anjuman).   Two Presidents of warring factions had united to help a worthy cause!   The Cutchi Memon Students' Circle had taken the second step in bringing the community together.

Watching the progress and activities of the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle, the Cutchi Memon Jamat’s elders started to take interest.  Mr. Ismail Kadwani permitted the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle free use of his premises at Kambekar Street when it became apparent the rigid rules of the Cutchi Memon Jamat came in the way.

Thereafter, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Wadiwala used his good terms with Messrs. Abdul Latiff Dada Glasswala, Abdul Kader Haji Ahmed Dada Glasswala and Mr. Mohammed Hasham Dada for permitting gratis use of the 4^th floor of their family trust building known as Usmania Manzil at 89 Kambekar Street.   The Cutchi Memon Students' Circle then found a place of its own.  The place was a huge hall with three or four smaller rooms.  The big hall accommodated a table tennis table, two or three carrom boards, some tables to play Draught and Ludo.  The smaller rooms served as a meeting place for the Managing Committee members, a reading room which contained some newspapers and a few books.   It was not difficult to climb up and go down the four full-length floors, as all members were young and fit!   This place was a boon to the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle in many ways.

The Constitution of the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle was unanimously passed on January 11, 1953.  Mr. Malik Chinoy resigned as President and a new Managing  

Committee was elected per the Constitution’s Rules and Regulations:

Mr. Gulam Mehmood (G.M.) Banatwala was elected President

Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Ibrahim the Vice President

Mr. Noor Mohammed Noorani the General Secretary

Mr. Abdul Majeed Bawla the Joint Secretary, and

Mr. Mohammed Hussain Vasaiwala the Treasurer.

On May 1, 1954, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Wadiwala tendered his resignation as President of the Cutchi Memon Jamat.   This was a setback to the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle as it was Mr. Wadiwala who had taken an initiative in its formation and keen interest in its continuance.  At that time, the Cutchi Memon Jamat had two factions – the Orthodox and the Moderates.  Both wanted to run the Cutchi Memon Jamat’s administration.  The framing of a draft Constitution created a deadlock.  Once again, the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle came to the Cutchi Memon Jamat’s rescue.  Under the leadership of Mr. G.M. Banatwala, the President of the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle, a compromise was reached and approved by both groups in drafting a new constitution.  The Cutchi Memon Students' Circle played an important role in resolving this crisis.  For this important role of the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle, Mr. Mohammed Hasham Ismail, President of the Cutchi Memon Progressive Group then promised one-third representation for the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle on the Cutchi Memon Trust Advisory Board to be formed under the Cutchi Memon Jamat’s constitution

During 1954-55, the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle constituted an Education Board that recommended deserving cases to the several Cutchi Memon charitable trusts which gave monetary aid to needy students for their educational goals.

In 1955, the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle started the College Text Books Loan Scheme with the aim of distributing college level textbooks to students of the community free of cost.  This scheme was well received and still exists.  The faculties covered are Science, Commerce, Arts Law, Medicine and Engineering.

With activities increasing and space being insufficient at Usmania Manzil, the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle, under the leadership of Mr. G.M. Banatwala, approached the Cutchi Memon Jamat in 1955 for some space in the Jamatkhana.   The Cutchi Memon Jamat fortunately decided to permit use of its rear hall for the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle’s daily activities.  Some members placed hurdles and opposed the idea but the Cutchi Memon Progressive Group whole-heartedly supported the cause, and at a special General Meeting of the Cutchi Memon Jamat held in May 1955, a resolution was passed in favor of the proposal.

The President of the Cutchi Memon Jamat at that time was Barrister A.A. Oomer.  He went through a tough time battling some of conservatives who obtained a stay order from a court of law for non-implementation of the special General Meeting’s resolution handing over the rear hall to the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle.  In this process, the Jamatkhana was sealed for three days, a first in its history.  Wiser counsels prevailed, and the court order was made to be withdrawn.  Finally, the rear hall was handed over to the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle.   The new premises were inaugurated by Mr. Shantilal Shah, Education Minister in the Government of the State of Bombay in the presence of a distinguished fathering that included several notable Cutchi Memons.

Messrs. Ahmed Ibrahim and Abdul Rehman Kursiwala succeeded Mr. Banatwala as Presidents of the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle for a short time.  

In 1956, Mr. Abdul Majeed Bawla became President of the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle.

Although the Cutchi Memon Trust Advisory Board was formed per the Cutchi Memon Jamat’s earlier resolution, the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle was not provided representation as promised.  The Cutchi Memon Students' Circle had no other way but to fight for its case in the General Body meeting convened specially for this purpose.  Once again, the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle was successful, and Mr. Noor Mohammed Noorani was elected, for the first time in the history of the Cutchi Memon Jamat, as the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle’s representative on the Cutchi Memon Trust Advisory Board.   It was at this meeting that the “ruling party” of the Cutchi Memon Jamat suffered a setback when its draft rules for the proposed Cutchi Memon Trust Advisory Board were not fully approved, and various amendments were passed.  This was an important win for the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle because, for the first time, the members of the Cutchi Memon Jamat realized their folly of underestimating the strength and balancing power of students.

In 1958, Mr. Abdul Majeed Bawla retired as President of the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle.  Some very devoted Cutchi Memon students succeeded him from 1958 to the present time: Messrs. Amin Ismail Belgaumwala, Abdul Rashid Haroon Dhunna, Ibrahim Gaya, Arif G. Kadwani, Mohammed Siddique Memon alias Aziz Ismail, Yusuf Mukadam, M. Siddik Siddiqui, Abdul Rashid Patel, M. Siddik Siddiqui, Abdul Ahad Saeed, Hasham Reshamwala, Usman Ismail Zarodarwala, Shabbir Latiff, Suleman Yahya Allana, Salim Yahya Allana, Javed Gaya, Yusuf Yacub Dadani, Mohammed Hanif Phudinawala, Mohammed Irfan M.S. Dadani, Abdus Samad Lakdawala, Fareed Iqbal Dhiyan, Abubaker M.S. Dadani, Zaki Lakdawala, Ashfaque Sayani, Abdul Kader Shikai,  and Ameen Sayani.  A list of all distinguished ex-Presidents follows on a separate page.

On the occasion of the All India Cutchi Memon Conference held in Bombay in 1970, Mr. Abdul Rashid Patel, President of the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle was invited and attended it.   Similarly, at the time of the Cutchi Memon Jamat’s celebration of its Golden Jubilee in 1971, the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle represented all community students.

When the Cutchi Memon Jamat celebrated its Silver Jubilee in 1981 during the presidency of Mr. Haroon Kably, the Managing Committee did not give due recognition and importance to the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle.  Under the leadership of Mr. Shabbir Latif  (who was  the President), the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle organized a Black Flag Day   to bring attention to the issue.  This compelled the Cutchi Memon Jamat’s Managing committee to take members of the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle in a Peace Committee, thereby solving the matter.

The period of the 1980s was calm and peaceful for the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle.

However, when Messrs. Suleman Allana and Javed Gaya went abroad, the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle was on the brink of closing down.  In 1990, Mr. Hanif Phudinawala and Mr. Irfan Dadani urged Mr. Salim Allana to hand over the reins to them. With the formation of a Committee after a gap of two years under the Presidentship of Mr. Yusuf Dadani, the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle progressed by leaps and bounds.

Under the brief tenure as President of Mr. Hanif Phudinawala, our activities increased but he went abroad in the middle of his term.  At that time, Mr. Irfan Dadani, the General Secretary, organized the Annual Programme outside the Jamatkhana premises single-handedly.  The Chief Guest was Mr. Arun Gujarati, Minister of State in the Government of Maharashtra.

Interestingly, over a period of 8 years, luck favored the sitting President of the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle, and he would leave for a better opportunity abroad in the middle of his term.  This “silsila" started with Mr. Suleman Allana, and was followed by Javed Gaya, Salim Allana, Yusuf Dadani and Hanif Phudinawala.  The "silsila” ended when Mr. Irfan Dadani became President.

It is important to note that Mr. Abubaker M.S. Dadani was reelected unanimously as President for a second term in May 2001.

Some important details

Since 1990-91, the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle has published its Annual Report containing its accounts, and has distributed it to the community for its perusal.

The Cutchi Memon Students' Circle has striven hard since its inception to achieve its main objective of Education First by organizing various curricular and extra-curricular activities for students of our community.   These activities include the distribution of College textbooks to students free of cost together with organizing Drawing, Essay Writing, Elocution, Debates and Quiz competitions.

Sports-wise, the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle maintains a Games Room   in the Cutchi Memon Jamatkhana premises where our student members play indoor games such as Carrom, Table tennis and Chess.  Cricket matches are regularly arranged for our members along with Marathon races and Cycle races.

Picnics are arranged for our community members.

Annual Prize Distribution Function is held when our elders felicitate successful students.  Hopes of and honor of being felicitated motivates our students to excel themselves in education and sports. 

The Cutchi Memon Scholarship Centralization Board now has a representative of the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle.

Some of our achievements:

When Mr. Irfan Dadani was our President, the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle once again showed its willingness to fight for its just causes and rights.    At that time, the Managing Committee of the Cutchi Memon Jamat accepted Mr. Usman A. G. Memon, the then Treasurer of the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle as its member on the Editorial Board of Rabitah, a magazine in English, Urdu and Gujarati published by the Cutchi Memon Jamat.

Mr. Ayaz Suleman Junani, as a representative of the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle and backed by the student community, was elected a member of the Managing Council of the All India Cutchi Memon Federation after a tough election battle of 17 candidates. 

Mr. Samad Lakdawala, our ex-President, was nominated a member of the Cutchi Memon Trust Advisory Board.

Mr. Fareed Dhiyan, our ex-President, was a member of the Editorial Board of Rabitah.

Several former members of the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle have occupied important positions in the Cutchi Memon Jamat as well as Indian national politics.

Mr. Gulam Mehmood (G.M.) Banatwala became President of the Cutchi Memon Jamat.  He was also a Member of the Indian Parliament, having been elected on the Indian Muslim League ticket from Kerala.

Mr. Abdul Qadir Dadani became the General Secretary of the Cutchi Memon Jamat.

Mr. Abdul Majeed Bawla became the General Secretary of the Cutchi Memon Jamat.

Mr. Usman Ismail Zarodarwala became the General Secretary of the Cutchi Memon Jamat.

Dr. Abdul Rauf Sumar, an ex-Vice President of Cutchi Memon Students' Circle, was President of the Cutchi Memon Jamat for 18 years.

Mr. Mohammed Hussein Patel was a former Municipal Councillor. 

From time to time, it has been found that members of the Cutchi Memon Jamat’s Managing Committee were at one time members of the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle in their youth.  The Cutchi Memon Students' Circle is proud of the fact that its members have become prominent in society in general.  The Cutchi Memon Students' Circle is also proud of the fact that it has always been a part of the Cutchi Memon Jamat of Mumbai.

The above article was printed in the Souvenir published by the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle in its Golden Jubilee Year (2001-2002).  It was updated and edited by me a little in May 2009 – Arif G. Kadwani

OUR DISTINGUISHED FOUNDER MEMBERS

Mr. Malik Chinoy

Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Ibrahim Wadiwala

Mr. Gulam Mehmood Banatwala

Mr. Abdul Rahim Banatwala

Mr. Malik H. Omer

Mr. Mahmood M. Ibrahim

Mr. Gulam Husein Ahmed Merchant

Mr. Abdul Salam Sayani

Mr. Abdus Shakoor “Maher” Akbani

Mr. Mohammed Yacub Moosa Dadani

Mr. Abdul Aziz Kably

Mr. Abdul Hamid Bakshi

Mr. Abdul Hafiz Sayani

Mr. Abdul Razak A. Karim

Mr. Abdul Sattar Lakhani

Mr. Abdul Rehman Patel

Mr. Abdul Kader Bakali

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We Stand Thus

This article was published in a "Souvenir" of the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle on the occasion of the 11th Annual Day Celebrations held on January 2, 1965.  Its author was the President of the Cutchi Memon Students' Circle at that time, Mr. Arif G. Kadwani

The Cutchi Memon Students' Circle was formed in 1952.  Over the years, it has striven to fulfill the educational and recreational needs of the Cutchi Memon youth.  Precisely then, our motto stands: "Education First; Industry; Fraternity".  True to its motto since its very inception, the Circle has progressed tremendously in various ways.

God blessed us with an excellent games-room (at the Cutchi Memon Jamatkhana) in which are housed many indoor games.  Table tennis is played with verve and gusto; carrom with the usual animation; chess with a scholarly touch and draughts with pleasure.

Jack with all play may become a dull boy again!  So, there's a library to satisfy him here.  The Circle Library consists of English, Gujarati and Urdu books.

What the Circle is well known for is the "College Textbooks Loan Scheme". College textbooks loaned thus are a great boon for our collegians who are over burdened with the spiralling prices of even.... textbooks!  The thirty students, Insha-Allah, will be forty next year. Surely, they deserve your attention.

Competitions are a sure way of hoping for the best in people.  The Circle does not forget this. It arranges singing, elocution and drawing competitions, sometimes, even a "Mushaira: is held.  We at the Circle love to listen to other people’s opinions and viewpoints.  Lectures on a variety of subjects are held at the Cicle's Hall. Recently, a religious talk was delivered by Mr. A. Razak "Saeed", Vice President of the Cutchi Memon Jamat.  Picnics are not a rarity these days, but the Circle picnic helps to foster a spirit of companionship among students.

Thus, the Cutchi Memon youth has a bright future ahead, lying as it were with rosy promises. With guidance and support from the elders and co-operation within, the Circle can help him see his way out in an entirely re-organised manner.

Who We Are

Organization of students belonging to the Cutchi Memon community in Mumbai, India, founded in 1952.

"Education First, Industry, Fraternity" is our motto.

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Our Anthem, Our “Taraanaa”

by late "Maher" Akbani

Hamari Manzilein Jawaan Hamare Hausle Jawaan

Rahenge Hum Rawaan Dawaan Rahenge Hum.....

Hamari Thokaron Mein Hain Rahe Talab Ki Sakhtiyan

Hamare Gard Roh Hain Maho Najoomo Kehkashaan

Hamara Azm Bekaraan, Hamara Meer Karwaan

Hamari Manzilein Jawaan Hamare Hausle Jawaan

Rahenge Hum Rawaan Dawaan Rahenge Hum.....

Nafas Nafas Kadam Chalenge Saath Saath Hum

Hamein Dara Sakengi Kya Rahe Talab ke Pecho-kham

Bala Se Aaye Mushkilein Hamain Nahin Koi Gum

Hamari Manzilein Jawaan Hamare Hausle Jawaan

Rahenge Hum Rawaan Dawaan Rahenge Hum.....

Ba Faiz-e- Ilm Juhal ki ye Zulmatein Mitayenge

Shaur-o-Fikr ke Diye Kadam Kadam Jalayenge

Sarapa Dars Zindagi ko Apni Hum Banayenge

Hamari Manzilein Jawaan Hamare Hausle Jawaan

Rahenge Hum Rawaan Dawaan Rahenge Hum....

Na Jaane Denge Haath se Kabhie Waqaar Aashiyaan

Nikhaar Denge Khoon-e-Dil se Aur Range Gulistan

Badhe Ga Hum se Pa-Be-Pal Shahoor ka yeh Bagbaan

Hamari Manziein Jawaan Hamare Hausle Jawaan

Rahenge Hum Rawaan Dawaan Rahenge Hum....

Nizame-Nu ke Maher, Ab Imam Ban ke Aaaye Hain

Aneese Kaum, Wa Rehbare Awaaam Ban ke Aaye Hain

Labon Pe Zindagi ke Hum Payaam Ban ke Aaye Hain

Hamari Manzilein Jawaan Hamare Hausle Jawan

Rahenge Hum Rawan Dawan Rahenge Hum....

OUR DISTINGUISHED PRESIDENTS

Mr. Malik Chinoy   [1952-53]

Mr. G.M. Banatwala  [1953-55]

Mr. Ahmed M. Ibrahim  [1955-56]

Mr. A. Rehman Kursiwala   [1956]

Mr. A. Majeed Bawla   [1956-58]

Mr. A. Qadir Dadani   [1958-59]

Mr. Amin Ismail Belgaumwala [ 1959-60]

Mr. A. Rashid Haroon Dhunna   [1960-61]

Mr. Ibrahim Gaya    [1961-64]

Mr. A. Rashid Haroon  Dhunna [3 months in 1964]

Mr. Arif  G. Kadwani  [1964-65]

Mr. M. Siddique Memon [1965-66]

Mr. Yusuf Mukadam [1966-67]

Mr. M. Siddik Siddiqui [1967-68]

Mr. A. Rashid Patel [1968-71]

Mr. M. Siddik Siddiqui [1971-73]

Mr. Abdul Ahad Saeed [1973-75]

Mr. Hasham Reshamwala [1975-77]

Mr. Usman Ismail Zarodarwala [1977-80]

Mr. Shabbir Latiff    [1980-85]

Mr. Suleman Yahya Allana   [1985-87]

Mr. Salim Yahya Allana  [1987-88]

Mr. Javed Gaya   [1988-89]

Mr. Salim Yahya Allana [1989-90]

Mr. Yusuf  Yacub Dadani [1990-91]

Mr. M. Hanif Phudinawala [1991-92]

Mr. Mohammed Irfan M.S. Dadani  [1992-95]

Mr. Abdus Samad Lakdawala [1995-96]

Mr. Mohammed Irfan M.S. Dadani   [1996-97]

Mr. Fareed Iqbal Dhiyan [1997-2000]

Mr. Abubaker M.S .Dadani [2000-2003]

Mr. Zaki Lakdawala [2003-2004]

Mr. Ashfaque Sayani [2004-2007]

Mr. Abdul Kader Shikai [2007-2008]

Mr. Ameen Sayani [2008 -                 ]

Information courtesy: Arif G. Kadwani, Cutchi Memon Jamat of North America