Patni Jamat
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| • India • Pakistan • United Arab Emirates • United Kingdom • South Africa | |
| Languages | |
| • Gujarati • Hindi • Urdu • Kutchi • English | |
| Religion | |
| Islam 100% | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| • Gujarati Muslims • Memon • Khoja • Bohra |
The Patni are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India and Sindh in Pakistan.[1]
Present circumstances
The Patni's are essentially a community of traders and Fish merchants a profession they have practiced for generations. They are Sunni Muslims and their customs are similar to the other Gujarati Muslims communities. Presently they are situated in different parts of India, mainly in Mumbai , Ahemdabad and to some extent in Hyderabad, some 200 years ago they have also migrated to some coastal regions of Tarapur in Maharashtra. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947 many members of the Patni Jamat migrated and settled mainly in Karachi. Many for business and education purpose people have migrated to abroad in places of Middle East, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Europe and North America.
In older days community was dealing in sea transportation by wooden country-crafts and the owner of country crafts were known as Vahanvatu and they were rich and went to Gulf as well as Africa. There were no mechanised vessel at the time and the journey and communication was tough with homeland. There after time has changed and other communities have entered into this business with mechanised vessels and the traditional trades of wooden country crafts ended.
References
- ↑ People of India Gujarat Volume XXI Part Three edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen pages 1130-1134