By NAZARALI KASAMALI MOMIN

January 22, 2024, marks the 46th anniversary of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s first visit to Methan Village. I am happy to share with readers of Barakah my family’s collection of photographs of the memorable visit that took place on the morning of January 22, 1978. In sharing this humble collection, I am joining other families around the world, who have so generously contributed some extraordinary and unique pictures to Barakah over the past few years. I sincerely hope that more families will come forward before important documentary information about our heritage and history is lost due to neglect, oversight or physical damage. It is crucial for elders of the Jamat to impress younger members in our families to preserve important documents, photographs, magazines and memorabilia, and share them through online initiatives such as Barakah.

Mawlana Hazar Imam was accompanied by Begum Salimah for the visit. During his brief stay, Mawlana Hazar Imam laid the foundation stone for a new Jamatkhana and gave mulaqat to the Jamat in a marquee tent (pandol) that was constructed at the site of the new Jamatkhana building. The Jamatkhana was officially opened nine years later on April 26, 1987. The website Onefivenine, in its brief overview about Methan, describes the new Jamatkhana building and its green gardens as one of the most amazing sites in the village, and adds that it is a “peaceful and soul relaxing holy place”. 

Methan Village is located about 10km from the City of Sidhpur which is the trading hub of the area. Sidhpur is located 29 km (18 miles) east of the city of Patan in the Indian State of Gujarat.  The state capital, Gandhinagar, is 113km away.

There is a little bit of interesting history related to origins of the Ismaili Jamat in the area.

According to T. W. Arnold, writer of “Preaching of Islam”, and local Ismaili tradition, the Ismaili missionary Pir Satgur Noor arrived in Navsari in the 11th century to preach Islam and to lead people on the path of Sirat al-Mustaqim (the Straight Path) through the Ismaili Muslim belief in the Imam-of-the-Time. Many were convinced and accepted the notion of the Imam being their Raahbar (guide). The new converts to the Ismaili Tariqah of Islam came to be known as “Momins”. Pir Satgur Noor is regarded as the first Ismaili Pir in the sub-continent, and he was followed a few centuries later by eminent missionaries like Pir Shams and Pir Sadardin, among others.

Several generations ago, thousands of Momin Ismailis decided to relocate permanently from Navsari to Sidhpur district, approximately 400km to the north. The new migrants bought farmland in 22 different villages around Sidhpur and settled there. Being illiterate, farming was the only occupation they knew. They struggled for several generations, but despite the difficult circumstances and challenges, they were able to maintain their faith and loyalty to the Imam-of-the-Time (Hazar Imam). The Ismaili Imamat is a Hereditary Institution and originated when the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be on him and his progeny) appointed Hazrat Ali as his successor at Ghadir-Khumm.

In the early 19th century, the younger Jamati members started moving to larger cities like Bombay (Mumbai), and Ahmadabad, and sought out menial jobs working in textile mills, taking care of cattle, washing or driving taxis, and working as cooks and waiters in restaurants.

Our 46th Imam Mawlana Shah Hassanali Shah (Aga Khan I) visited and stayed in Methan for several days. Decades later, Prince Aly Khan visited Methan in May 1952 and again in January 1956, on behalf of our 48th Imam, Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan III, who was unable to travel at that time. During the visit to Sidhpur in January 1956, the Prince conveyed the Imam’s blessings on the occasion of token celebrations that were held in India for the Imam’s Platinum Jubilee.

Mawlana Shah Karim Al Hussaini, our present Imam, accompanied by Begum Salimah, graciously visited Methan in the early morning of January 22nd, 1978, and performed the foundation ceremony for the new Jamatkhana building. My brother was an eyewitness to the event, and watched Mawlana Hazar Imam put some grain and coins into a jar, symbolizing plentiful. He then placed the jar into a hole in the ground, following which he poured a cement mixture around the jar. This was all part of the foundation for the new Jamatkhana. The photographs show these precious moments.

The Jamatkhana was opened on April 26, 1987, and Mawlana Hazar Imam blessed the Sidhpur Jamat with a Holy Talika (a written message) Mubarak. The Ismaili volunteers led a procession between the old and new Jamatkhanas carrying the Ismaili Flag (popularly known as My Flag), with Jamati leaders joining in the march.

Today, a large numbers of Jamati members from Sidhpur are well settled and established in the United States of America, Canada, Europe, and Australia. Texas, my home state, has a very large base of Ismailis, and Houston is the site of the first high profile Ismaili Jamatkhana and Center in the USA. Its construction is well underway.

January 22, 1978: MawLANA Hazar Imam Arrives in Methan

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Mawlana Hazar Imam has mulaqat with the Methan Jamat and lays foundation stone of new Jamatkhana

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April 26, 1987: The Opening Day of the New Methan Jamatkhana

Date posted: January 22, 2024.

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ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR

Born and raised in Methan Village, Sidhpur, India, (Alijah) Nazarali Kasamali Momin completed his undergraduate studies in Mumbai, before moving to Boston, USA, in June 1969, to pursue a degree in computer science. He spent some years in New York, New Jersey and North Carolina before settling down in Houston, Texas, in December 1981. In Texas, he and his brother were engaged in retail business and the hospitality industry. Now retired, Nazar performs voluntary services within the Ismaili Muslim community. The title of Alijah that he carrries was bestowed on him by Mawlana Hazar Imam for his devoted services to the Ismaili community.

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