Nakhuda
Encyclopedia
Nākhudā (when also written Nakhodazadeh, Nakhoda, Nakhodeh, Nakhodaei, Nakhooda, and Nacoda) is a term originating from the Persian language
literally meaning Captain. Derived from nāv boat (from Old Persian) + khudā master, from Middle Persian
khutāi a 'master of a native vessel' or 'Lord of the Ship'.
Historically, people with this epithet are Muslim
and Kamili Jewish ship owning merchants of Persian
origin, known to have crossed the Persian Gulf
to trade in other coastal areas of the world.
Besides trade, religious persecution faced by Sunni Muslims, Jews and Zoroastrians under the reign of the Safavid Dynasty in Persia is of great historical relevance to the migration of many Nakhudas. Ship-owners; the Nakhudas were in an advantageous position to flee this persecution and seek refuge in neighbouring countries escaping via the Persian Gulf
.
India
in particular was a prime attraction for both migrant traders and refugees due to its provident nature. This is as it offered economic natural resources, a luxuriant lifestyle for the wealthy, and most importantly, as a nation India was known for the religious freedom prevalent in her society. Gujarat was particularly attractive due to its proximity to Persia and its large Arabian Sea coastline and ports. Gujarat also had a long history of both Persian and foreign settlements dating back to pre-islamic times particularly Surat
, where in the 16th century, Parsi
, Jewish (See Baghdadi Jews
), Arab (see Chavuse) and Armenian (see Armenians in India
) communities existed. Surat was therefore well known to Persians. Many Nakhudas can be found in India today amongst the ethnic minorities of the Parsi's, Bene Israel, Pathans (see Pathans of Gujarat
) and Musalmans. Like other foreign communities in India they have inter-married with Indian Muslims and adopted the customs of the locals; resulting in an Indo-Persian culture of their own like the Parsi community.
The West Indian coastal towns close to the Arabian Sea of Tadkeshwar
and Randher neighbouring the famous port of Surat, in particular have a strong history of Nakhudas dating back to the Mughal
and the Safavid Dynasty.
Many foreign Muslim communities are known to have settled in Gujarat and Northern India (both part of the Mughal Empire
) during Mughal times and there was much movement of people both by overland and sea. It would seem the Nakhudas that originate from Tadkeshwar most probably arrived in Gujarat from Persia by sea during the rule of Persia's Safavid Dynasty (1502–1722), possibly from Hormozgan Province
as Surat use to have regular sea borne to and fro traffic of merchant vessels from Bandar Abbas
, and also because many Nakhudas and Sunni Muslims are still found in this area and other areas of coastal Iran. Like many Sunnis that faced persecution under the Safavid Dynasty, they immigrated to other Islamic lands - India at that time was under Muslim rule and Gujarat was a particular hotspot for trade and business besides already having Persian trading communities. It would seem that the Nakhudas originally settled in Rander (close to Surat) which was the most important port of Gujarat at that time, the few that arrived intermarried and adopted the use of Gujarati as their mother tongue. Rander was attacked and ransacked by the Portuguese
and the British
. Trade in the Indian Ocean
and the Arabian Sea
was also disrupted by colonial
powers. Having suffered economic losses, it is probable that a few Nakhudas moved in-land and settled in Tadkeshwar sometime in the late 18th century. After buying land they became land owners and thus fully integrated themselves into the local Gujarati populace. Today they are one of the dominant and wealthiest families in Takreshwar. The Nakhudas in Tarkeshwar and Rander are also Hanafi and follow the Ulama of Deoband. It is interesting to note that Tadkeswar also has a Parsi
Street and previously had a small Parsi community. Many of the Nakhudas from Tadkeshwar have immigrated from India during and after the British Raj
- Nakhudas can be found in Iran
, Reunion, South Africa, Australia, Saudi Arabia
, United Kingdom, USA, Pakistan
, Canada
,Barbados West Indies and other parts of Africa.
Today, the descendants of this lineage the Nakhudas of Tadkeshwar resemble Persian peoples to varying degrees. Many Nakhudas look distinct and have light skin, green or even blue eyes, reflecting their diverse Persian ethnic origins and to an extent verifying their history. The Nakhudas resident in Tadkeshwar and Rander, and those who have moved from there to other parts of the globe are traditionally Hanafi and adhere to the Deobandi way.
Despite historical persecution, Nakhudas however remain in the Islamic Republic of Iran today, mainly in Hormozgan Province and Baluchistan Province. Many have now re-located from coastal areas such as Qabr-e-Nakhuda, Naghdeh, Nakbl Nakuda, Nakdar and Nakhleh Nakhuda to the country's capital Tehran and other major cities such as Shiraz
, Ishphan and Tabriz.
India harbours a Nakhoda Mosque, a Nakhuda Chowk, Nakhuda Mohalla and also a Nakhuda Street. Whilst, films associated with the general meaning of the epithet Nakhuda have also been produced in both India and Iran - 'Nakhuda' and 'Nakhoda Khorshid'.
The popular bar by the name of [Nakhuda], its interior designed as a Ship cabin, is a great place to visit in Dubai, U.A.E.
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
literally meaning Captain. Derived from nāv boat (from Old Persian) + khudā master, from Middle Persian
Middle Persian
Middle Persian , indigenously known as "Pârsig" sometimes referred to as Pahlavi or Pehlevi, is the Middle Iranian language/ethnolect of Southwestern Iran that during Sassanid times became a prestige dialect and so came to be spoken in other regions as well. Middle Persian is classified as a...
khutāi a 'master of a native vessel' or 'Lord of the Ship'.
Historically, people with this epithet are Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
and Kamili Jewish ship owning merchants of Persian
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
origin, known to have crossed the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
to trade in other coastal areas of the world.
Besides trade, religious persecution faced by Sunni Muslims, Jews and Zoroastrians under the reign of the Safavid Dynasty in Persia is of great historical relevance to the migration of many Nakhudas. Ship-owners; the Nakhudas were in an advantageous position to flee this persecution and seek refuge in neighbouring countries escaping via the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
.
India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in particular was a prime attraction for both migrant traders and refugees due to its provident nature. This is as it offered economic natural resources, a luxuriant lifestyle for the wealthy, and most importantly, as a nation India was known for the religious freedom prevalent in her society. Gujarat was particularly attractive due to its proximity to Persia and its large Arabian Sea coastline and ports. Gujarat also had a long history of both Persian and foreign settlements dating back to pre-islamic times particularly Surat
Surat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
, where in the 16th century, Parsi
Parsi
Parsi or Parsee refers to a member of the larger of the two Zoroastrian communities in South Asia, the other being the Irani community....
, Jewish (See Baghdadi Jews
Baghdadi Jews
Baghdadi Jews, also known as Iraqi Jews, are Jewish emigrants from Baghdad and elsewhere in Iraq, who fled religious persecution and formed immigrant communities in their new homelands...
), Arab (see Chavuse) and Armenian (see Armenians in India
Armenians in India
The association of Armenians with India and the presence of Armenians in India are very old, and there has been a mutual economic and cultural association of Armenians with India for the last several centuries...
) communities existed. Surat was therefore well known to Persians. Many Nakhudas can be found in India today amongst the ethnic minorities of the Parsi's, Bene Israel, Pathans (see Pathans of Gujarat
Pathans of Gujarat
Gujarati Pathans are a group of Pathans. At various times in history, large number of Pashtuns have settled in the region of Gujarat in western India. They now form a distinct community of Gujarati speaking Muslims...
) and Musalmans. Like other foreign communities in India they have inter-married with Indian Muslims and adopted the customs of the locals; resulting in an Indo-Persian culture of their own like the Parsi community.
The West Indian coastal towns close to the Arabian Sea of Tadkeshwar
Tadkeshwar
Tarkeshwar also spelt "Tadkeshwar", is a town located in the district of Surat, Gujarat, India, situated approximately 36&km away from Surat City and on the Kim-Mandvi Road north of the River Tapti. It belongs to the Mandavi Taluka of Surat Panchayat, and is very close to Bharuch District...
and Randher neighbouring the famous port of Surat, in particular have a strong history of Nakhudas dating back to the Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
and the Safavid Dynasty.
Many foreign Muslim communities are known to have settled in Gujarat and Northern India (both part of the Mughal Empire
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
) during Mughal times and there was much movement of people both by overland and sea. It would seem the Nakhudas that originate from Tadkeshwar most probably arrived in Gujarat from Persia by sea during the rule of Persia's Safavid Dynasty (1502–1722), possibly from Hormozgan Province
Hormozgan Province
Hormozgan Province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It is in the south of the country, facing Oman. Its area is , and its provincial capital is Bandar Abbas...
as Surat use to have regular sea borne to and fro traffic of merchant vessels from Bandar Abbas
Bandar Abbas
Bandar-Abbas or Bandar-e ‘Abbās , also Romanized as Bandar ‘Abbās, Bandar ‘Abbāsī, and Bandar-e ‘Abbās; formerly known as Cambarão and Port Comorão to Portuguese traders, as Gombroon to English traders and as Gamrun or Gumrun to Dutch merchants) is a port city and capital of Hormozgān Province on...
, and also because many Nakhudas and Sunni Muslims are still found in this area and other areas of coastal Iran. Like many Sunnis that faced persecution under the Safavid Dynasty, they immigrated to other Islamic lands - India at that time was under Muslim rule and Gujarat was a particular hotspot for trade and business besides already having Persian trading communities. It would seem that the Nakhudas originally settled in Rander (close to Surat) which was the most important port of Gujarat at that time, the few that arrived intermarried and adopted the use of Gujarati as their mother tongue. Rander was attacked and ransacked by the Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
and the British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
. Trade in the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
and the Arabian Sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...
was also disrupted by colonial
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
powers. Having suffered economic losses, it is probable that a few Nakhudas moved in-land and settled in Tadkeshwar sometime in the late 18th century. After buying land they became land owners and thus fully integrated themselves into the local Gujarati populace. Today they are one of the dominant and wealthiest families in Takreshwar. The Nakhudas in Tarkeshwar and Rander are also Hanafi and follow the Ulama of Deoband. It is interesting to note that Tadkeswar also has a Parsi
Parsi
Parsi or Parsee refers to a member of the larger of the two Zoroastrian communities in South Asia, the other being the Irani community....
Street and previously had a small Parsi community. Many of the Nakhudas from Tadkeshwar have immigrated from India during and after the British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
- Nakhudas can be found in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, Reunion, South Africa, Australia, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, United Kingdom, USA, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
,Barbados West Indies and other parts of Africa.
Today, the descendants of this lineage the Nakhudas of Tadkeshwar resemble Persian peoples to varying degrees. Many Nakhudas look distinct and have light skin, green or even blue eyes, reflecting their diverse Persian ethnic origins and to an extent verifying their history. The Nakhudas resident in Tadkeshwar and Rander, and those who have moved from there to other parts of the globe are traditionally Hanafi and adhere to the Deobandi way.
Despite historical persecution, Nakhudas however remain in the Islamic Republic of Iran today, mainly in Hormozgan Province and Baluchistan Province. Many have now re-located from coastal areas such as Qabr-e-Nakhuda, Naghdeh, Nakbl Nakuda, Nakdar and Nakhleh Nakhuda to the country's capital Tehran and other major cities such as Shiraz
Shiraz
Shiraz may refer to:* Shiraz, Iran, a city in Iran* Shiraz County, an administrative subdivision of Iran* Vosketap, Armenia, formerly called ShirazPeople:* Hovhannes Shiraz, Armenian poet* Ara Shiraz, Armenian sculptor...
, Ishphan and Tabriz.
India harbours a Nakhoda Mosque, a Nakhuda Chowk, Nakhuda Mohalla and also a Nakhuda Street. Whilst, films associated with the general meaning of the epithet Nakhuda have also been produced in both India and Iran - 'Nakhuda' and 'Nakhoda Khorshid'.
The popular bar by the name of [Nakhuda], its interior designed as a Ship cabin, is a great place to visit in Dubai, U.A.E.
- http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.1:1:637.hobson
- http://jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-4995(2000)43%3A1%3C34%3ANANSMI%3E2.0.CO%3B2-Q -
- http://iranica.com/articles/v11f4/v11f4019.html
- http://www.jstor.org/pss/2058032
- Al-Hind, the Making of the Indo-Islamic World By André Wink