Siddis: Tracing African Roots in Indian Soil
The history of the distinctive Siddi community in India traces its roots to the African continent. In today's India, the Siddis are one of the marginalized communities. There is a lack of awareness among the people in the country about the Siddis. As a research scholar, I was very much interested in understanding the community and their historical background. However, the dearth of accurate historical data on them deterred me from conducting research on the topic. Nevertheless, this is my small attempt to gain an understanding of this underrepresented group and their contributions to Indian society in the past. Let's begin with Gujarat, a state that lies along the western coast of India and has the longest coastline in India.
Gujarat has been home to some of the important port cities of India. In the ancient times, Bharuch or Broach on the banks of River Narmada as a significant prosperous entrepot in Gujarat emerged. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, a firsthand Greco-Roman account of an anonymous author, offers information on Indian Ocean trade and sailing and it mentions Bharuch as Barygaza, describing its commercial links with distant places like Paithan and Ter in the Deccan, Ujjain, Kabul and Kashmir. Ptolemy, a celebrated Greek astronomer, and geographer of the 2nd century CE too refers to Bharuch. The Buddhist Jatakas state that Bharuch was a significant harbour used by traders enroute to faraway lands, notably Suvarnadwipa or Southeast Asia.
Likewise, during the medieval India, Surat at the mouth of River Tapti flourished as a major port city under the Gujarat Sultanate and the Mughal Empire. It was a significant location for the Europeans too who wanted to have a share in the lucrative Indian Ocean trade business. The Portuguese clashed with the Gujarat Sultanate with the purpose of expanding its commercial interests in the region. Duarte Barbosa, a Portuguese who arrived in India in 1501 noted Surat as a leading seaport. The Portuguese dominance in the Indian Ocean was affected with the establishment of the first factory of the British East India Company in India at Surat in 1613 with the royal permission of Mughal Emperor Jahangir after Captain Thomas Best defeated the Portuguese in the sea off Surat earlier in 1612.
Even before the advent of the European companies in India, the country had a long history of deep commercial link, cultural exchanges and population movements with the East African littoral states, the Red Sea region of Africa and the Arabian Coast which has been discussed by several historians. Periplus documents the existence of the slave trade on the northern Somali Coast, also known as Ras-Assir (the Cape of Slaves) by the Arabs. Ashin Das Gupta, a renowned historian who worked extensively on Indian Ocean commercial networks and activities He asserts that the trading of African slaves from East Africa, particularly Zanzibar, to India was made possible by these commercial ties. The most significant asset that Arab traders exchanged for Gujarati cotton was slaves from East Africa. Numerous Arab and Indian traders, especially Gujaratis, migrated to Zanzibar and set up long-term commercial posts there.
However, the trading contact between the African continent and the west coast of India existed much before the slave trade, and Africans arrived in India as merchants, sailors, bureaucrats, bodyguards, soldiers, concubines, clerics, etc. as well. From the 14th to 16th centuries during the period of the Gujarat Sultanate or the Muzaffarid dynasty, a number of Abyssinians called Habshis or Siddis came to the west coast of Gujarat and were enlisted in the imperial service. During this time, thousands of Siddis lived in Ahmedabad, the capital of the Sultanate. Although the Siddis with their unique culture are still part of Gujarati society, but their numbers have dwindled significantly. In the lack of well-preserved and documented historical literary evidence, oral histories and architectural structures—such as tombs, mosques, and other structures—built by or dedicated to this marginalized community are critically important in reconstructing their history.
One such historical figure that deserves to be mentioned while talking of the Siddis of Gujarat is Siddi Saiyyed, an Abyssinian saint, recruited in the army of the Gujarat Sultan, Ahmad Shah I who founded Ahmedabad and shifted his capital from Patan to Ahmedabad. Siddi Saiyyed is remembered for the commission of the construction a beautiful mosque called Sidi Sayyid Masjid or locally known by most as Sidi Sayed ni Jali. It was built between 1572 and 1573 CE. It is notable for the craftsmanship and the ornate window screens, especially the one that features the tree of life. It served as inspiration for the Indian Institute of Management (IIM-A) logo in Ahmedabad.
In Ahmedabad, the stunning mosque latticework is depicted in a number of places, including hospitals and the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. It now serves as Ahmedabad's unofficial insignia.
The supply of Abyssinian or Ethiopian slaves were also very much demand in other regions of medieval India, particularly in the Deccan plateau in order to meet the rising demand for military force. The most famous example of the Habshis in the Deccan would be that of Malik Ambar of Ahmadnagar. He was bought by the Nizam Shahi of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate (c. 1490- 1636). In general, Habshi slaves gained freedom following the demise of their masters. Therefore, on the assassination of his master owing to court intrigues, he was freed. He raised his own cavalry and eventually, rose to a prominent position and appointed puppet Sultans and effectively dealt with the Mughal threat. Till the time he was alive, the Mughals could not annex Ahmadnagar.
It is to be noted that due to the fact that slave status was not inherited from parents, the Habshi community expanded to include a sizable population of free Africans and their descendants. While other immigrant groups carried on speaking their native tongues and maintaining social and professional networks overseas. However, the institution of slavery had destroyed the Habshis' ties to East Africa, leaving them with no option but to accept their new homelands. They assimilated into the local societies. They learned the vernacular languages. At the court of the Ahmednagar Sultanate, they formed an important faction along with the Deccanis. Malik Ambar by 1610 had 10,000 Habshis and 40,000 Deccanis in his army.
The Siddis of Janjira, an island located close to Mumbai, emerged as an autonomous state with its powerful naval force between c. 1616-1769 and they successfully dealt with the attempts of the Marathas (under the leadership of Shivaji and later his son, Sambhaji) and the Portuguese to control vanquish their power. Then there were the Siddis in Hyderabad. The Nizams of Hyderabad had an African contingent called the Siddi Risala which was retained until 1948. They were employed as the personal bodyguards of the Nizams. Today they are found in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. They speak the languages of the respective regions where they reside. However, the traces of their African ancestry could be seen from their dance traditions. The Siddi Dhamal is a distinctive dancing style performed by the Siddis of Gujarat. It combines elements of Indian, Sufi and African elements. Among its noteworthy characteristics are its amusing limb movements and face expressions. It is a delight to watch them perform!
Thus, from their origins in Africa to the 'African Dispersal' through their migration and settlement in different regions of India, the Siddis as a community across India exhibit both unity and diversity, with local environment shaping their way of life. Initiatives aimed at addressing challenges related to education, healthcare, and employment are crucial for the holistic development of the community. Additionally, efforts must be made to disseminate information regarding their historical contributions to India.
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