Groups of this community sprang up in Makran, Sindh and Kutch. Due to famine and social unacceptability they began to immigrate to the port towns of West and South India. There was a mass exodus of the Memons to Mumbai in about 1600 AD who became engaged in trade and commerce there. About the, same time some Memons from Jamnagar or old Kathiawar emigrated to Sind (now in Pakistan) and settled down at Halai. They formed the other group called the Hala Memons. The Memons are a prosperous and advanced community. In Mumbai and other places they run their own well-organised and wealthy trusts, hospitals, schools and polytechnics. Apart from industrialists, they have also produced distinguished persons in other fields. |