Heritage
The writer, Ayyad Dilawar Padhani is in Marketing at his family optical practice. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Marketing and related support services. He has been rendering community services from a very early age.
W
ho are the Khojas? What is their origin? And what are their languages?
Khojas originate mainly from Gujrat, India, and speak languages such as Gujrati, Kutchi and other dialects that share vocabulary. One of the main places Khojas can be found in, are the East African countries like Kenya, and Tanzania. Khojas have a long history in East Africa dating to at least the 19th Century.
One of the challenges faced by our community due to globalisation is the loss of our language. Languages unite people, their experiences and history. Traditional ways of life such as clothing, home remedies to simple illnesses are lost as the words for such spices or practices are forgotten. Special dishes and meals are a potential target as well in many developed countries where traditional food is no longer preferred.
Furthermore, we have the issue of a growing generational gap, between the older generations, raised with strong cultural values, and the younger generations who find it harder to stick to the older norms while trying to integrate in a globalised world. For those that live in the more developed countries, and for those who live in less developed economies, global values have been brought closer through the internet and our screens.
How can we work towards bridging this disconnect? And should we even try to return to how our predecessors lived?
The disconnect can be stitched back together, through celebrating Khoja heritage, community service, conferences about our history, dialogues with other diaspora groups that have similar experiences, language sessions, adopting Gujrati in our homes, sports events for the various age groups, promoting poetry, storytelling and leveraging the internet through media, podcasts, books and social media.
Does knowing Gujrati help us think a certain way? The way of a merchant? Are the words in this particular language in themselves bound to lead you to a business mindset?
However, in my estimation the more important question is to what extent should we attempt to revive the past traditions? We must ask ourselves if the practices we may have left behind (both the younger and even the older generations), allow us to function better in today’s world. Will having a Gujrati identity make it easier to work and do business with those around us, for example with fellow Tanzanians?
Perhaps what is more important is to hold on to those parts of our culture that push us forward, that aid us in a new world, an even faster world while we anticipate the developments of AI (artificial intelligence).
In conclusion, the most powerful connection can be felt between those that must act in a certain way, and believe in the same principles, which is where our religion comes in, and where the traditions or ethnicity may not bond people, we can rely on Islam to do so.
More from this writer:
Writers Panel | A Simple Thought | Obituaries | Ziarat Ashura | Islamic Calendar | Facebook | Instagram
