A Labourer Lost

Muslim Murasu, September 2011

Forty years ago, Muslim trade and commerce enjoyed preeminent position in district capitals including North Chennai. Muslim traders, their families and their long list of relatives moved to places like Vadalur, Neyveli, Vilupuram, Cuddalore, Panruti, from 300 k.m distances and saw a lot of money. Native people and aboriginals had to depend on these newcomers even for half a kilogram rice or quarter of a liter kerosene.
Now situation is upside down. Modern rice mills also slipped away from the hands of Muslims.
A Muslim comes in earthy dress, hitchhiking on a goods truck, and comes to a new place. Money starts showering within few months and years. He renovates his dilapidated house in his native village. He gets his sister married. It follows with his marriage. Life is sunshine. He arranges his daughter’s marriage with 100 sovereign gold. Life is exuberant. He is adorned with Haji title. Tableeg Jamath background adds to his honour with ‘Ameer saab’ title.
All this changes all of a sudden and everything goes for a toss. Money rotation goes haywire. Shop is sold. House is mortgaged for throwaway price and later gets gobbled up. Muslim trader is reduced to a humble, diminutive life.
A scrutiny of lives of Muslim merchants in Cuddalore and Vilupuram districts, their internal and external facets, unscrupulous methods, trade and financial dealings and social atmosphere will disclose many shocking revelations. The families that were once kings in trade are now disintegrated and disgraced. All their pride has vanished. Regional big brother dominance has bitten the dust.
A close look into the history of forty years merchandise will reveal thousand Quranic discourses. Arrogant defiance to Quranic commands will stare in the face. Capricious attitude, Jakath denial, labour abuse, extravagance, sexual misbehavior, regional and casteist chivalry, misuse of trust, these can be listed as reasons for decline. There was no one to explain what is good and what is bad. The community that prospered and the community that declined, both should be analyzed in the light of Quran.
Those who held their heads high as owners are now pitifully pushed to nomadic life. A proper, unbiased, deep and patient analysis is needed. Examining the decline of Muslim merchandise will help to streamline lives of others. Muslim organizations and political parties and Muslim movements shall candidly document and put on record the methods and trends handled in trade. This is the first step to revive and uplift Muslim commerce once again.