Sociology
The writer, Dr Hasnain Gulamali Walji (Texas, USA) is an entrepreneur, investor, technologist, and community volunteer. Born in Moshi, Tanzania, he is a researcher, speaker, and writer involved in developing professional training and e-learning applications in nutrition and integrative healthcare. He is President of Integrative Quest, Inc which specializes in formulating and marketing probiotics. He has authored 26 books, all written from a naturopathic perspective, endorsed by the Natural Medicine Society of England, and translated into several languages including Spanish, French, German, Turkish, Hungarian, Portuguese, and Chinese. A contributor to several journals on environmental and Third World consumer issues, he was the founder and editor of The Vitamin Connection – an International Journal of Nutrition, Health and Fitness, and Healthy Eating. He has written a script for a six-part television series, The World of Vitamins. His institutional work for the Muslim community spans over 30 years, Since 1976 he has served the World Federation of KSI Muslim Communities, as Secretary-General, Vice-President, and then as President of this august body. He is also a founding director and the Current President of the Mulla Asgher Memorial Library and Resource Center (MARC) in Toronto. He has served as editor of Shia International and Living Islam Magazines and is a regular contributor to a number of Islamic Journals. He has traveled worldwide, lecturing and reciting Majlises in English, Urdu, and Gujarati. He has a special interest in the History of the Khojas and currently working on a Documentary called The Khojas – A journey of faith. He is also a founding director of a Social Justice Institute called Penmanship For Peace focusing on the plight of persecuted minorities including the Shia in Pakistan and part of a team compiling a volume on Shia Genocide in Pakistan. His passion is in increasing interfaith understanding to make this world a better place for his five grandchildren. Dr Walji established MARC. He served as the Secretary-General of WF. Dr Hasnian Walji served as the vice president of WF during Mullah’s leadership in the capacity of the president of the World Federation.
Sociology
Historians have depicted these people in various ways, like a wedding buffet, especially from the historian’s plate. The journey of the Khojas is a unique rollercoaster, filled with the spices of religious, cultural, and animistic colors. Since the sixth century, these people have linked their customs with their Sufi love and compassion, which is reflected in Ginanic literature. But then the British arrived with their rule book, and this syncretic religion faced challenges.
Syncretism: The Superpower of Khojas Historians have looked at Khojas with divided views. Were these people originally Hindu? Sufi? Shia? Vaishnav? The succinct answer is: “Yes.” These people are like a living kaleidoscope, which arose through the Pirs (spiritual guides) who appeared around the 11th century in Punjab, Sindh, and Gujarat. These Pirs took a syncretic preaching approach and merged elements of Hinduism and Islam.
Professor Ali Asani describes it as a spiritual smoothie that combines Bhakti, Sufi, Vaishnav, and Yogic elements. Historian Faisal Devji goes a step further and says that Khojas are a blend of a Vaishnav sect, a Sufi order, a merchant’s guild, and a caste. In other words, Khojas were multitasking from the beginning.
The Avatar of Pir Sadruddin The main character of this story? Pir Sadruddin. He was not only a preacher but also a branding wizard. He came to Sindh in 1430 CE and adopted a Hindu name ‘Sahadev’, and called his new religious followers “Khwaja,” which later became “Khoja.” An excellent example of rebranding! He also created a script (Khojki) to expand his teachings. His main composition, “Dash Avatar” presented Imam Ali (AS) as the tenth avatar of Vishnu.
Ginan: The Khojas’ Spotify Playlist The Ginans composed by the Pirs were like a spiritual playlist that merged Indic and Islamic elements. It depicted the Quran as the “last lesson of the Vedas” and presented Satpanth as a complete form of Hindu tradition. These hymns were not just songs; they were the ways the Pirs conveyed: “Let’s talk about religion in your language.”
Colonial Complications In 1866, the British decided to mediate in a community conflict. Some wealthy Khojas challenged the authority of the Aga Khan, claiming a stake in the community’s property. Judge Sir Joseph Arnold had to determine, “Who are these Khojas?” After some deliberation, it was concluded that these people were “Shia Imami Ismaili.” This decision brought peace to some but led to internal splits within the community. The society split into Ismaili, Ithna’ashari, and Sunni factions and lost its unity. Forget the popular story that your conversions happened in a single line – from Hindu to Ismaili and then to Ithna Ashari – it wasn’t so.
Conversion or Human Service Any story about Satpanth can see the Pirs as cunning converters or compassionate bridges. One perspective says they convinced people by providing a Hindu context and brought them into the Islamic faith. Another viewpoint suggests that they believed in human service.
Although the 14th-century records are sparse, the messages of the Ginans – love, human service, and spiritual synergy – suggest that the Pirs saw faith as a continuum.
Build Bridges, Not Walls In the end, the story of the Satpanth Khojas is not just a historical narrative; it is an inspiring evolution that shows how a community can adapt to new circumstances. The spiritual vision and emotional inclusivity of the Pirs demonstrate that cultural and religious diversity can be a source of richness rather than a divisive element. For the Khojas, it was not just a path of religious study but stood as a beacon of the highest values of humanity.
In today’s world, where the pace of thought often spreads discord faster than harmony and where religious and cultural differences are weaponized, the values of the Satpanth Khojas offer an essential lesson. Building bridges is not merely about connecting cultures; it’s about uniting hearts and minds. The Khojas showed that instead of fearing diversity, new identities and possibilities can be born from it.
Across the globe, where differences have taken the form of conflict, this foundational understanding is like a mantra that can be understood in life. The significant message of the Khojas for the modern age is that if we keep the doors open for understanding each other and create pathways for cultural and religious dialogue, we can pave the way for international peace and understanding.
Looking back, the journey of the Khojas is more than just religious transformation; it is a story of human struggle and growth that shows how unity can be found in diversity. And where there are hopes for the future, this history remains excellent and inspiring even today.
The story of the Khojas reminds us that strong societies are not in the fortress foundations but in the bridges between those fortresses, connecting otherwise separate lives. It shows that when we embrace diversity, a vibrant new life emerges.
In the end, the story of the Khojas says just this: let us become capable of opening these doors for every individual – rising above religion, culture, and role to bring us close
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