1. HISTORY OF THE KHOJA SHIA ITHNA ASHERI COMMUNITY A series of talks on the origins, yearning of faith, current state and future challenges of the Khoja Shia Ithna Asheri Community. Part 2 of 2 By: Shan E Abbas Hassam 1

2. Khoja Population World Population: 6.9 billion Muslim Population: 1.6 billion Shia Population (lowest figure): 200 million Khoja Population (approx): 120,000 % of Shia Community = 0.06%. 2

3. Khoja Population (A Snapshot) Pakistan: 40,000 (Karachi and Sindh) India: 21,000 (Kathiawar, Gujarat, Cutch and Mumbai) Africa: 14,000 (Tanzania, Zanzibar, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, Mozambique, South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe). Indian Ocean Islands: 6,500 (Madagascar, Re-Union, Mauritius) United Kingdom: 10,000 Canada: 8,000 USA: 3,000 Middle East: 2,000 (UAE, Iran, Oman) Rest of Europe: 1,000 Australia: 1,000 Yemen North and South: 700 Misc: 500-750. 3

4. Khoja Origins Islam came to India in 12 th Century. Main Religions: Hindu, Buddhism and later Islam. Indian Class System: Brahmins (Priest Class) Kshatriya (Ruling Class or Warriors) Vaisya (Commoners / Business Class) Sudra (Lower Class – workers). Lohanas – from Vaisya. 4

5. Assassinations 5 Lalji SajanHirji AlarakhiaAbdulla LaljiKassam Alibhai Lalji Miyani

6. Karachi Jamaat 1871 – 2 groups within Karachi Khoja Community: (1) Followers of Agha Khan and (2) Pirhai Community. 4 Khoja Ismailis ex-communicated (similar to those ex-communicated in Mumbai). 1876 – 4 men donate land to buy a mosque. 1879 – Lalan Alidina shot dead. 1905 – KSI Pirhai Jamaat acquired graveyard ‘Hussainibhag’ 6

7. Consolidation and Collective Organisation 1946 – formation of Africa Federation 1976 – formation of The World Federaton 1980 – formation of NASIMCO 1983 – formation of The Council of European Jamaats. 2011 – formation of The Pakistan Federation 2013 – formation of The India Federation? 2013 – formation of Australia Federation? Associate Members of The World Federation 7

8. Modern Day Challenges Khoja Identity Khoja Community Spirit Khoja Language Khoja Institutions Khoja Progressive Thinking 8

9. Khoja Identity and Community Spirit Need to reflect on the below: What does the Khoja identity mean? How can our youth connect to this? How can you connect Khojas from different countries? What is the ‘added value’ of being a Khoja? 9

10. Khoja Language Why is language important? Khojki extinct. Cutchi, Gujarati – main languages. UNESCO – extinct languages – Cutchi! Advice of Ayatullah Sistani. How can we revive our use of Gujarati? 10

11. Khoja Institutions Khoja Communities that settled in Africa built Imabargha, Mosque and Madrasah. Can we also be pioneering? Can we re-look at role of our Jamaats? Residet Aalims? Regional Federations, World Federation? Need for The World Federation to focus on community aspects and ‘added value’ for Khoja Community as a priority. 11

12. Khoja Future? Inquisitive Minds brought us to the Shia Ithna Asheri Madhab. Without yearning for progression we too may become extinct within 2-3 generations. What are we now going to do differently? Can we retain our culture, our language, our values, our ethos and most importantly our Madhab in the 21 st Century? In the West? Or will we as predicted simply ‘wither away?’ 12

13. Part 2 Bibliography ‘The Endangered Species’ by Hassan M Jaffer (recommended reading for every Khoja Home! Special thanks to Hassan M Jaffer for leading this area, his advise and continual support. John Hollister and Farhad Daftary Foundation for Endangered Languages – www.ogmios.orgwww.ogmios.org Endangered Languages Project – www.endangeredlanguages.comwww.endangeredlanguages.com UNESCO HRELP – Endangered Languages Centre. www.hrelp.org/languageswww.hrelp.org/languages 13