“The people of Madras are a people of noble character.”
— Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, the 52nd Dai al-Mutlaq
Tucked away in the bustling commercial area of Georgetown, what looks like an ordinary bylane carries an extraordinary story.
Ten years ago, Moore Street in Chennai was renamed Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin Street — a tribute to the late leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community. For passersby, this may seem like just another name change. For the Dawoodi Bohra community, though, the street is moored to a remarkable legacy of the community’s growth and attachment to the city.
This is the story of the Dawoodi Bohras in Madras, a city that would later become known as Chennai, built on the layers of trade and tradition preserved in the fringes of its coastal geography, and enriched by centuries of exchange. A city inhabited by people of character, of culture, and of hospitality. A city that the Dawoodi Bohras have called home for over two hundred years.
History and community roots
Madras, now Chennai, has long been a crossroads of commerce, culture and community.
Many Dawoodi Bohra families in Chennai trace their ancestry to Sidhpur, a historic town in Gujarat once home to a considerable Dawoodi Bohra population. Famed for its distinctive mansions and architectural style, Sidhpur also holds spiritual significance as the native town of the 24th Dai al-Mutlaq, Syedna Yusuf Najmuddin. A scholar of extraordinary insight, he was appointed as Dai while residing in Sidhpur in 1536. During his time there, he nurtured a spirit of self-reliance among his followers, helping to establish 24 shops, in essence, sowing the seeds of an enterprising mindset.
Dawoodi Bohra mansions in Sidhpur are renowned for their distinctive style and architectural detail. Photo credit: Mustansir Lokhandwala
It is recorded that people migrating from Sidhpur arrived in Chennai seeking business opportunities and improvement of their livelihoods. As noted in his book, No Birds of Passage, a sweeping account of Gujarati Muslim business communities, Michael O’Sullivan writes that the Bohras who arrived from Sidhpur settled in Madras around the 1860s and mostly owned hardware businesses.
While a majority of the population traces its roots to Sidhpur, the very first Bohras in Madras did not arrive from Sidhpur, but Surat, which was another major Dawoodi Bohra centre.
The roots of the community in Chennai trace back to the time of the 43rd Dai al-Mutlaq, Syedna Abdeali Saifuddin, whose era marked a turning point in the expansion of the community which began with substantial members migrating to East Africa.
It was during his era, around the late 1790s, that a community member named Mulla Jafferji ibn Mulla Ismailji travelled from Surat to Arcot and later moved to Madras. He was joined by his uncle, Sheikh Ahmed Ali, who helped him set up a bangle business before transitioning into the garment business.
From then on, Mulla Jafferji went on to establish a thriving garment trade, exporting textiles outside India. According to a 1980 edition of Naseem e Sehar, a popular Bohra magazine, he earned the title Malik-ut-Tujjar or King of the Merchants, from the Nawab of Arcot.
Tasneem Akbari-Kutubuddin, a journalist and writer, has researched extensively about the community’s origins in Chennai. She notes that it was in 1809 when Mulla Jafferji bought land for the establishment of the oldest Dawoodi Bohra masjid in Chennai, which was named Saifee Masjid, in honour of the Dai of the time — Syedna Abdeali Saifuddin.
Community leadership and the local community
Historical records indicate that in 1838, the 46th Dai al-Mutlaq, Syedna Mohammed Badruddin was the first to depute his representative to Madras to oversee the community’s affairs in the city. In the following decades, successive Duat (plural of Dai) continued to visit and strengthen the community through tireless efforts, guiding the community in all aspects of their lives.
When the 49th Dai al-Mutlaq, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, arrived in Chennai in 1902, he was reportedly received with great warmth and joy by a gathering of over 10,000 people — consisting of Dawoodi Bohras and members of other communities.
This spirit of hospitality continued when the 51st Dai, Syedna Taher Saifuddin, on one occasion spent more than two months in Chennai. During a visit in 1926, he was welcomed in a state carriage offered by the Prince of Arcot according to a report by The Times of India. During another stay, he was warmly received by the city’s chief judge, attended court proceedings, and met with members of the judiciary.
The year 1977 marked a major milestone for the community, when the 52nd Dai al-Mutlaq, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, inaugurated the refurbished Saifee Masjid and selected Chennai for the Ashara Mubaraka congregation.
At the time, approximately 5,000 community members had arrived from outside the city to participate in the event. Fifty years later, the opportunity to host yet another Ashara Mubaraka is a testament to the community’s growth and progress over the years inspiring one generation to pass over that legacy to the next.
A community uplifted through enterprise
“Our family arrived in Chennai in 1924 and started an iron and steel business. I was born and raised here, and my journey began when I worked under my father at our workshop in Tondiarpet,” began Ibrahim Haji, a long-time member of the Chennai community who has overseen several large-scale community initiatives, including Burhani Qardan Hasana, which provides interest-free loans.
“When I first started, Chennai's population was smaller, and many families were not as financially stable as they are now. As the years passed, the community’s prosperity increased, and now most community members are running their own businesses, as opposed to the past where many were employed in service industries.”
When asked to share a story that encapsulates what that transformation looks like, he says, “I recall a community member reached out to me for financial support. We sat down together, discussed his ideas, and eventually, we decided to help him get started. Gradually, he built his business from the ground up, and today, not only is he self-sufficient, but he’s also someone that’s giving back. That’s the kind of effect community support can achieve.”
Abbas Sunelwala, a senior community member who has lived in the city since 1961, shared, “At that time, most community members in Madras were in the service sector. They didn’t have much money, nor the means to start their own businesses. They worked in other Bohras’ shops—behind the counters. They didn’t own anything.”
He credits the change to the direct guidance of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, when he visited Chennai for Ashara Mubaraka 50 years prior.
“His Holiness told those businessmen, the ones who had shops, to help their employees set up their own. He said, ‘Support them. Let them become independent.’ And that’s exactly what happened. One by one, people started opening their own stores. The shops you see today—those weren’t there back then. They all came after that visit,” he said.
Prashant Vyas, a Chennai-based businessman, a well-known figure in the Bohra business circles, shared his sentiment about the community.
“One thing I deeply admire is how hardworking Bohras are. Even successful businessmen will personally pick up small supplies — they never hesitate or delegate out of pride. When I joined the business, my father made sure I spent time in the market to observe and learn from Bohra traders. Many were his friends, and they became mine too. I learned how punctual, disciplined, and hardworking they are and yet, they also know how to enjoy life after work. That balance is something I’ve tried to carry with me.”
Culture and education
The community’s integration into Chennai’s cultural diaspora was not limited to economic contributions. Enriched by the spirit of the city, it extends into spheres such as culture, education, and civic engagement.
In 1954, Syedna Taher Saifuddin, the 51st Dai, was invited by the Southern Indian Education Trust in Chennai on the occasion of the inauguration of a girls’ college. He delivered a speech in which he stated that education was among the highest forms of service to the Almighty and that to pursue it was an obligation for both men and women.
“I believe that the most noble service a person can offer the Almighty during their life is the service of education,” he said.
This philosophy laid the groundwork for early investments in schools and libraries, encouraging a tradition of civic engagement and academic participation that continues to this day.
Dr. Nafisa Manaf, a special educator and researcher with over 35 years of experience, has been a lifelong proponent of that vision. A passionate advocate for children with special needs, she has led initiatives for inclusive education across Tamil Nadu. “There were two experiences that were profound in my career, » she said.
“The first was with Taha, a child with Down Syndrome. His parents reached out to me for help, and I brought him to Chennai. He stayed with me for two years—his mother stayed too—and over time, Taha became like a son. He would call me “mummy” and would always want to be by my side. The bond we shared, the love and joy he brought into our home, completely changed my perspective on what it means to care for someone. Today, Taha is a grown young man working in his own factory. That journey taught me how powerful love and presence can be.”
“The second was Yogananda. He was having a difficult time at school, struggling academically, and it came to the point where his father said he was not being able to take care of him. I decided to help him and over many months worked closely with him. Step by step, he began to regain his confidence. Today, he’s completed his engineering degree, is married, and runs a chain of hotels.”
“Seeing both these boys—once rejected, now independent and thriving—fills me with so much pride. It’s proof that with the right support, every child can rise.”
Thejomaye Menon, a retired professor who has taught many Bohra students over the past decade, observed, “They (Bohras) were among my most dedicated students. Their sense of discipline and drive came from their community values — but they were also inquisitive, creative, and deeply kind. Many of them went on to teach, run clinics, or lead schools. It was clear to me that education was not just encouraged but expected.”
A shared space
The emphasis on education is consistently followed by action, as community leaders have long encouraged members to translate their learning into deeds that benefit society as a whole.
The current leader of the community, His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin iterates this message on a regular basis. During his travels and interactions with community members worldwide, he counsels them to be loyal citizens of their lands of abode and contribute to the development and prosperity of the society they live in.
Inspired by His Holiness’s counsel, community members in Chennai strive to embody values that benefit society by organising themselves under the banner of Project Rise. From planting trees and providing food security to uplifting educational standards in local schools, the philanthropic arm of the global community has mobilised volunteers — both in Chennai and across the globe — to undertake various forms of individual and sustainable activities.
A major initiative in Chennai is the Zero Hunger Squad which was launched during the pandemic, to serve freshly prepared meals to those facing food insecurity. In 50 weeks, over 62,000 meals were distributed across Chennai.
A similar spirit guided flood relief efforts during Cyclone Michaung in December 2023 where volunteers distributed food packets in Vyasarpadi and provided grocery kits at Nadar Mudaliyar Government School. Despite access challenges, meals were cooked on site and served fresh as soon as water levels receded.
Alongside these efforts, volunteers have supported government schools, implemented zero-waste practices during Ashara Mubaraka and joined global environmental drives like International Coastal Cleanup Day.
A Legacy continued
Long home to the Dawoodi Bohras, Chennai has left a remarkable impression on the community. A city of discipline, education, and generosity, it continues to nurture leaders and changemakers across generations. This legacy is evident not only in the community’s economic and educational contributions, but also in the bonds they’ve formed across the wider city — of mutual respect, shared purpose, and acts of service.
Ashara Mubaraka is a time of remembrance and reaffirmation of a way of life centred on humility and compassion, when Dawoodi Bohras across the world come together to honour the memory of Imam Husain and his stand for the values of humanity and justice. As nearly 43,000 community members gather this year for Ashara Mubaraka, the city’s ethos — grounded in hospitality, learning, and harmony — mirrors the very ideals commemorated during this period.
For the Dawoodi Bohras of Chennai, this is more than a congregation. It is a homecoming. A story that began with early merchants and faithful settlers has grown into a vibrant community of spiritual devotion and cultural harmony. A legacy that will endure and continue to uphold the community’s identity for generations to come.
