Moledina Meghji

Moledina Meghji, also known as Varas Moloo or Moloo Kamadia, was born in Mundra, Kutch in 1854. His forefathers were the renowned merchants, conducting the businesses of grains, ghee and wool in the name of Vali Parpiya, and extended their mercantile influence as far as Karachi and Jamnagar.

His father ran a business with two brothers, then severed and started his own business in the name of Meghji Vali.

When he died, his son Varas Moledina continued it. His business involved collecting wool in Kutchh. For shearing the annual wool crop, it was necessitated to confine the sheep flock in close quarters for clipping. The accumulated wool packed in big bundles, which were transported to their agent Allana Manji in Bombay for sale. The grains and foodstuffs were purchased from the proceeds of wool to be sold in Kutchh. It was a hard work indeed, because the whole wool was not collected in one place. He and his brothers had to travel on camels in different villages with provisions to procure wool. When his business extended, he sent his elder son and younger brother to Bombay and opened an office. He had a mathematical mind and could perform surprising feats of mental arithmetic. He had a thorough grasp of counting orally the rates of wool for five to ten years old without referring to old books. He was the biggest merchant of wool in Kutchh and none competed him.

It appears that his neck was hanging to his right side. It is said that once he visited his godown with clients and they sat near the heap of sugar bags to examine a specimen of wool. Suddenly, few weighty bags fell upon his neck, causing the breakdown of his neck-bone. He remained unconscious for three days. When he recovered, he found his neck hanging. The injury became so old that the doctors in Bombay could not treat it.

Courage, truthfulness, patience, religious spirit, and services emerged in his personality since childhood. He had not taken high education, but could impress the audience with his oratory fills. He mastered his mother tongue and could present touching examples in his speeches. He delivered several speeches in Bombay on different occasions.

While leaving for Jamnagar, the Imam told him, "Moloo Kamadia, you have served me tremendously. I give you much blessings. You always continue to serve the jamat and me. I wish to make you my Wazir." To this, he said, "Mawla, I do not deserve for the high post. You may consign me some other petty post." The Imam said, "Well, you form a committee and I make you its Chairman." Varas Moledina became the Chairman of the 18 Council Committees in Kutchh on April 5, 1905. He appointed Muhammad Amarsi as his Secretary, who had come from Kathiawar and served as a teacher in Kutchh.

According to the census report, the Ismailis mostly resided in 23 different villages in Kutchh, having a registered population of 4245 persons. In Mundra, there were 1317 Ismailis in the time of Mukhi Laljibhai Raisi and Kamadia Alarakhia Murji.

The average Ismailis in Kutchh earned their bread and butter by the sweats of their brows, and were deplorably lagged behind in education. There was a lingering prejudice against educating the women among most of the conservative people. Education was said to contribute to the plea that led to materialism. Educating the girls mainly became the target of attack and even an object of ridicule. He was not well-educated, but promoted the notion of education in the jamat.

It must be known that the first official school in Kutchh started in 1850 in the time of Maharao Desal (1836-1860) for the teaching of English and Gujrati. There were hardly 43 schools in Kutchh during the period of Maharao Pragmall II (1860-1874), and about 130 schools during the rule of Maharao Khengar III (1874-1942) in Kutchh. In sum, in the 1000 villages of Kutchh, the rulers funded only 85 schools.

After assuming the office, Varas Moledina made a long journey in the villages of Kutchh by bullock cart, and made minute inspection of the jamati activities. The community was cast down with ageworn customs and habits. He realized that the old tendencies must be replaced by the latest traditions. On those days, the Ismailis were spending massive amounts in the fairs of the mausoleums of different saints. For instance, the village of Nigar was famous for having the footprints of Hazrat Ali, where the Ismailis went to pay homage. The Ismailis venerated the shrine of Sayed Ghulam Ali Shah in Kera, the mausoleum of Hasan Shah in Mundra and the staying place (a’astana) of Pir Tajuddin in Barapur.

The average condition of the Ismailis was economically crippled and socially pitiable. They were petty shopkeepers, untrained servants, illiterate and neglected group of persons destitute of any aim in life. Financially they were worn out and socially no status worthy of any consideration. Cradled under the shadows of new thinking, Varas Moledina necessitated to create donation in Kutchh and Bombay for the lodging and fooding of the jamats.

Trusting on the report, these two persons changed their route and went to Kera instead of Mundra. They held several meetings with the concerned people and excommunicated 12 persons in the jamat.

It ensued after a short while that they had taken a hasty action, which resulted two divisions in the jamat. The oppression thickened and grievances multiplied very soon. The persons who were outcast gained support of the local people on that night and took possession of not only the shrine of Sayed Ghulam Ali Shah, but also the Jamatkhana. The Ismailis divided into two rivals, i.e., the Agakhanis and the Masjidia.

In 1918, a terrible famine in Kutchh caused heavy rack and ruin to the local Ismailis. With generous and benevolent aids, he served the affected ones within limited resources.

The Jamatkhana of Mundra, which was about 150 years old, was also worn out. He was also requested to be in charge of the new one. He assured the jamat that it would be built, but the first priority would be given to the Boarding in Mundra. He raised a donation for Rs. 37000/- in which Seth Ibrahim of Bombay shared for Rs. 20000/- and established the first Ismaili Boarding in Kutchh. It must be known that Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1947) had taken a visit of this Boarding and remarked, “Moloo! I like the Ismaili community too much. It has made excellent progress with the mercy of the Aga Khan. Besides, the Ismailis are the chain between the Hindus and the Muslims.”

Varas Moledina is reported to have launched a scheme of the Poor Fund in Mundra. During the marriages, he levied small amount on each family and deposited in the Poor Fund. It was used for the welfare of the destitute. It certainly played a vital role to reduce poverty in Kutchh. He was regular in his nocturnal worship. He recited the ginans in the Jamatkhana with his sweet voice. Sometimes he also delivered waez with rich quotations of the verses of Shah Abdul Latif and other Sindhi Sufi poets. Sayed Abdullah Shah was his close relative in Mundra, who was well versed in the Sindhi literature. Varas invited him on several occasions and organized the gatherings. Varas Moledina was also a member of the Municipal Corporation in Mundra and served it till death. There was hardly any association where he had not served as a member. He had procured close relation also with Maharao Khengar of Kutchh.

Missionary Abdul Hussain Bachal published his letter in the weekly “Ismaili” on September 7, 1924 and wrote the latest progress of Kutchh he had seen under the able leadership of Varas Moledina.

He wrote that, “I give the latest reports whatever noteworthy points attracted my attention during my visit to Kutchh. Our religious schools exist everywhere in Kutchh. The Ismaili libraries exist in Mundra, Baladia, Bharapur, etc. The religious activities are seen in all villages. The girl’s school in Mundra runs on sound foundation, where embroidery and knitting works are being taught in proper manner. Besides, the Ibrahim Pradhan Ismaili Boarding runs excellently with 30 to 35 children under well administration. I was emphatically satisfied to visit the graveyard in Mundra, where the required arrangements are available. Its outlook and management excelled with other graveyards. The services of Master Muhammad Amarshi, the Inspector are admirable, who takes parts in the jamati services with enthusiasm. The services of Mukhi Manji, Kamadia Kalyan Hasham and Noor Muhammad are laudable. The services of Varas Saheb Moledina Megji are well known. The jamat is united, the reforms are being implemented quickly.”

He left the bungalow and came to his office at 9.00 p.m. and discussed his business with his sons, Muhammad and Ghulam Hussain. He returned to the house at 9.30 p.m. His daughter had also come from Calcutta and he talked with her and slept at 10.30 p.m. His son Ghulam Hussain knocked the door at 11.00 p.m., he stood up to open it and slept. It was his usual habit to wake up in early mornings, but he didn’t this time. His son found him lying on the bed in the same posture as he slept during the night. He also found his father’s cold body. The doctor was called, who declared that he had passed away three to four hours ago due to heart attack. It implies that he expired on February 7, 1926 in Bombay.