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As stated earlier, 50% of Indian Muslims are self-employed implying a high-level of business/ entrepreneurial activity within the community.
Indeed, the gamut of this entrepreneurial activity by Indian Muslims--spans from small traditional craftsmanship, retail vending to large national and even global trade, manufacturing and technology businesses who are benefiting from the global economic boom of the Indian economy.
North/ North East - traditional crafts/ textile
In the Northern states with Muslim populations, traditional craftsmanship and trade around them have been historically strong. Centered in and around Uttar Pradesh, these traditional industries have included: |
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- Aligarh’s locks (UP)
- Moradabad’s brass (UP)
- Firozabad’s glass (UP)
- Varanasi’s silk (UP)
- Ansaris (Julahas) Weavers/ Looms textiles in Northern India (Bihar and UP)
- Lucknow’s Chikan cloth work (UP)
- Woodcrafts: Saharanpur – (UP), also (Indian Administered Kashmir)
- Silk carpets, shawls (Indian Administered Kashmir)
Various challenges are faced by many of these traditional craft industries which include low profits, margins being squeezed by middlemen / traders, and a lack of technological innovation and financial support.
South/ South West – Traditional Mercantile groups;
Whereas more of the traditional craft based industries take prominence in the Northern Indian Muslim communities, the South/ South West region has the more established mercantile groups as well as new economy industrialists. Some of these communities include:
- Memons (Gujrat) – wholesalers/ traders. Many migrated to Karachi after the India/ Pakistan partition
- Bohras (Gujrat / Mumbai) – Shopkeepers, merchants
- Nawiyat of Bhatkal (Karnataka) - wholesalers/ traders
- Labbay (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka) - a trading community specializing in leather, tanning, tobacco, grains and spices
- Marikars (Tamil Nadu) - Shipping magnates
- Rowthars (Tamil Nadu)
Indian Muslim Business Diasporas
Apart from the communities focused on business activity in India, a strong Indian Muslim merchant diaspora exists, usually owning businesses on a small to medium scale across the globe. Some of these key concentrations are as follows (this is not meant to be an exhaustive list):
- Eastern/Southern Africa and U.K.: Gujarati speaking Muslims managing stores, textiles, hardware, and international trade.
- Gulf Countries (specifically the UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain): The Nawayaths (descendants of Arabs from coastal south India), Malayalam speaking Muslims from Malabar region of the southern state of Kerala dominate retail trade, like EMKE Group, Fatimah Group, KMT Group, Gulfar etc. Also many from Kerala are professionally employed in the Gulf States
- Malaysia/Singapore: Tamil speaking Muslims engaged in shipping, retail trade/international trade in textiles, general merchandise, jewelry, etc.
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