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21 July 2026 / 5. Safar 1448
Khoja Heritage Project: Oral History of Mumbai
Oral history is the collection and study of historical information about individuals, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews. The Khoja Heritage Team in Mumbai Dr. Sadiq Uttanwala, Dr. Nasreen and Asad Virani, have been interviewing seniors of the Khoja Shia as well as Ismaili communities over the past few months.
Video interviews of the below seniors have been recorded so far:
Dr Safia Mirza daughter of Late Abidali Jaffer (Dy. Labour Minister of India)
Mrs. Fatema Amanullah Merchant
Mr. Mehmood Rajabali Moloo Rangmal
Mrs. Sakkar
Mr. Abdullah Matin Khan
Mr. Jajal Irani of Khalu Community
Mr. Salim Datoobhai Hasham
Mr. Sohail Barkatali Virani (Befaam)
Mr. Tariq Karimbhoy
These videos have given lots of historical, cultural and religious insight. How the new ideas emerged, what difficulties were faced in those days of throbs and anxiety, what businesses were our community members into, what were the marriage customs, how were the houses of those days, Pre and Post-Independence scenarios, etc. are just a few questions which were generally asked.
Dr. Sadiq Uttanwala (on the left) and Mr. Mehmood Rajabali Moloo Rangmal (on the right) at The World Federation India Office
The interviews have been conducted at various places including The World Federation India office and the residence of a few interviewees as per their convenience.
Dr. Sadiq Uttanwala (on the left) and Mrs. Sakkar (on the right)
Asad Virani, Manager of The World Federation India office says “ The seniors have appreciated the efforts of Khoja Heritage Project of The World Federation of KSIMC in recording oral history; which would otherwise fade away with time. These interviews are like a gold mine with lots of information being made available to us. May Allah (swt) bless our seniors with a long and healthy life, Ameen .”
Shaykh Kumail Rajani, Co-Head of Khoja Heritage Project and Head of Islamic Education Department says “ Our volunteers Dr. Sadiq and Dr. Nasreen have done a fantastic job in collecting some phenomenal pieces of history. Oral history plays a vital role in understanding the past. It always reminds me about Mishnah in Biblical studies.”
For more information kindly email: [email protected]
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Register yourself to our new online course The Khoja Community - Evolution of An Iconic Diaspora. Conveyed in three parts, over ten weekly sessions, this series of live interactive online presentations delve into epochal phases of the Evolutionary Journey of the Khoja Community and traces the migratory patterns that resulted in the formation of an iconic Khoja diaspora as we know it today. Click here to sign up.
To mark the death anniversary of our founder, Marhum Mulla Asgherali M M Jaffer, The Khoja Heritage Project of WF took the opportunity to speak to his son, Shaykh Abbas Jaffer, to find out more about what Marhum Mulla Asghar was like at home with his family and how he divided his time between his job as an optician, his community work and his family.
