Dhoraji Colony (Urdu: دھوراجی کالونی ) is a neighbourhood in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town, Karachi (Karachi East), Sindh, Pakistan, which is located between UC-1 (Civic Center Union Council) and UC-2 (Dehli Mercantile Union Council). The demarcation separating the two Union Councils runs from the National Stadium Road (Coming from National Stadium, Karachi), towards Selani Chowk, past ZVMG Rangoonwala Community Centre via Siraj-ud-Daula road (the area closer to National Stadium Road falls under the Civic Center Union Council).
Dhoraji Colony hosts a predominately Memon Muslim community that has historically played an essential role in the development of Karachi and of Pakistan.Levin, Sergey (1974). "The Upper Bourgeoisie from the Muslim Commercial Community of Memons in Pakistan, 1947 to 1971". Asian Survey. 14 (3): 231–243. doi:10.1525/as.1974.14.3.01p04292. ISSN 0004-4687. JSTOR 2643012.
Brief history The name 'Memon' comes from Mu'min (مؤمن, “believer” in Arabic).Goolam, Vahed (2006). "'Unhappily Torn by Dissensions and Litigations': Durban's 'Memon' Mosque, 1880-1930". Journal of Religion in Africa. 36: 23–49. The Memons, who embraced Islam in Sindh, migrated to Kutch (Kutch district).Eisenlohr, Patrick (1972). "The Politics of Diaspora and the Morality of Secularism: Muslim Identities and Islamic Authority in Mauritius". Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute. 12 (2): 400. From there, they spread out to other parts of the region including Kathiawar, Dhoraji and Mumbai.Moore, Mick (1997). "The Identity of Capitalists and the Legitimacy of Capitalism: Sri Lanka since Independence". Development and Change. 28 (2): 331–366. doi:10.1111/1467-7660.00045. ISSN 0012-155X. Memons also went on to establish communities outside the Indian subcontinent in several Middle Eastern, African (Africa), East Asian and European countries. Following the Partition of India, many Dhoraji Memon families migrated back to Karachi, Sindh, in the newly formed state of Pakistan. Papanek, Hanna (1972). "Pakistan's Big Businessmen: Muslim Separatism, Entrepreneurship, and Partial Modernization". Economic Development and Cultural Change. 21 (1): 11.
Places/organizations of interest
Kibriya Masjid Zubaida Medical Center (ZMC) Masjid-e-Habibia Mustafa Masjid Jamal Noor Hospital V.M. Public School ZVMG Rangoonwala Community Centre (ZVMG Rangoonwala Trust) Selani Chowk Dhoraji Association Dhoraji Youth Services Foundation
References
External links Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town Map