Ismaili community feels at ease in Goa

by ABDUL RAUF BEIG
Posted on 2008-09-07
PANAJI - Goa has attracted one and all since ages. Like others the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims also came to Goa with the Laljees, Ramjees, Mavanys and the Veljees being among the first to come to Goa and have made Goa their home. The first recorded entry of Shia Imami Ismailis in Goa was in 1884. They now have a presence in almost all the major cities in the state.
Generally known as the Ismailis, they belong to the Shia branch of Islam. The Shias form one of the two major branches of Islam, the Sunni being the other. Besides India, the Ismailis live in over 25 different countries, mainly in Central and South Asia, Africa and the West Asia as well as in Europe, North America and Australia.
The Ismailis are predominantly a business community and are mainly involved in wholesale, retail and distribution. In Goa, they are into various businesses like garments, shoes, provisional stores, gift items, hotel industry, franchise outlets, furniture fabrication, real estate development, electronics, beauty parlours, journalism, fashion designing, etc. The amalgamation of this community is such that they now have no connection with their native land, says Mr Salim A Veljee, the president of His Highness Prince Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council in Goa, which oversees the functioning of social governance bodies for Goa. Besides Panaji, the community is mainly found in Mapusa, Vasco, Margao and Ponda.
Mr Veljee said that the community feels comfortable in the state and is overawed by the communal harmony that exists here. “Finding peace and tranquility in Goa all of us have preferred to stay back in Goa and make it our permanent home,” he said adding that there are over 1,200 of them in Goa.
The Ismailis have prospered in their businesses through hard work and good business ethics. Apart from being successful businessmen and entrepreneurs, they have also excelled in professions like teaching, management, medicine, engineering, architecture, government administration, insurance, banking, law, physiotherapy, etc. They always strive hard to attain high level of excellence in academics and sports activities.
These Ismaili families have enjoyed a very healthy and cordial relation with fellow communities in the state, and are tolerant and have been socially and culturally very well integrated within the larger society. Besides Muslim delicacies, they have also adopted Goan food habits and fish has become their staple food, like Goans.
The Ismailis have also been actively involved in the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rotary International, Lions, Junior Chamber, Goa Travel and Tourism Association and many other organisations including Lok Vishwas Prathistan, Akash Deep, Senior Citizen Forum, Special Olympics, etc. His Highness the Aga Khan visited Goa in 1961. During his visit, the Aga Khan Park at Margao was dedicated to the citizens of Margao. The park, developed by the Mavany family is maintained by the Margao Municipal Council and the Forest Department.
In common with other Shia Muslims, the Ismailis affirm that after the prophet’s death, Hazrat Ali, the prophet’s cousin and son-in-law, became the first Imam – the spiritual leader – of the Muslim community and that this spiritual leadership (known as Imamat) continues thereafter by hereditary succession through Ali and his wife Fatima, the prophet’s daughter. Prince Karim Aga Khan is the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims. He succeeded his grandfather Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan on July 11, 1957, at the age of 20.
The Aga Khan, in his role as the Imam of the Ismaili Muslims has established several development institutions, which together form the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). These institutions, having presence in more than 30 countries, not only work for the Ismailis but also for the humanity at large. The Development Credit Bank Ltd. (DCB), having four branches in Goa, is an agency of the AKDN.
In 2007, the Ismailis all over the world began a yearlong celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Imamat of their spiritual leader, the Aga Khan. The Ismailis in Goa also celebrated this epochal event and the function was graced by the Chief Minister of Goa, Mr Digambar Kamat.