Cassam Ajum Piperdy ( c. 1882 – ?) was a Mauritian businessman and politician who played a significant role in the commercial and civic life of Mauritius during the early 20th century. He was a partner in the trading company Ajum Goolam Hossen and Co., which was owned by his father
Ajum. Piperdy served as a municipal councilor,
making him one of the earliest
Muslim
Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...
representatives in local government in
Mauritius
Mauritius, officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island country in the Indian Ocean, about off the southeastern coast of East Africa, east of Madagascar. It includes the main island (also called Mauritius), as well as Rodrigues, Ag ...
.
Early life
Cassam Ajum Piperdy was born around 1882 in
Port Louis
Port Louis (, ; or , ) is the capital and most populous city of Mauritius, mainly located in the Port Louis District, with a small western part in the Black River District. Port Louis is the country's financial and political centre. It is admi ...
,
Mauritius
Mauritius, officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island country in the Indian Ocean, about off the southeastern coast of East Africa, east of Madagascar. It includes the main island (also called Mauritius), as well as Rodrigues, Ag ...
.
He was the second eldest son of
Ajum Goolam Hossen
Ajum Goolam Hossen (c. 1850 – 14 February 1919), also known as Hajee Ajum Goolam Hossen was an Indo-Mauritian trader and businessman, known for his role in the migration and trade history of South Gujarat Muslim merchants and traders from Su ...
, following his brother
Ahmed Ajum Piperdy.
Career
Cassam Ajum Piperdy became a partner in the trading company Ajum Goolam Hossen and Co. in 1900 until its dissolution in 1901.
The company, founded by his father Ajum, was a prominent player in Mauritius' commercial landscape at the time.
Piperdy became the second-ever Muslim municipal councillor elected in Mauritius, serving alongside his brother Ahmed. At the time, few Muslims held municipal councillor positions. Dr. Hassen Sakir was the first Muslim municipal councillor of Mauritius, and Piperdy followed suit soon after.
In 1901, when
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalism, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethics, political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful Indian ...
visited Mauritius, Cassam and his father Ajum hosted Gandhi and his family, along with 200 other guests, at a building on Bourbon Street. Cassam, along with Rasool Hossen Ellam and Munshi Abdool Cadir, delivered the welcome speech during Gandhi's visit.
In 1922, Cassam Ajum Piperdy, along with Maleck Rassool Moorad, served as liquidators for Ajum Goolam Hossen and Co. after its dissolution.
Personal life
Cassam Ajum Piperdy derived his surname from his father's firm in Rander, Piperdy, which originated from the word
Latin
Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
"piper," as the Piperdys of Rander were known for selling pepper and other spices.
Legacy
Cassam died in the mid 20th century in
Port Louis
Port Louis (, ; or , ) is the capital and most populous city of Mauritius, mainly located in the Port Louis District, with a small western part in the Black River District. Port Louis is the country's financial and political centre. It is admi ...
, Mauritius.
See also
*
Memon people
The Memon are a Muslim community in Gujarat India, and Sindh, Pakistan, the majority of whom follow the Hanafi fiqh of Sunni Islam. They are divided into different groups based on their origins: Kathiawari Memons, Kutchi Memons and Bantva M ...
*
Sunni Bohra
Sunni Vohras or Sunni Bohras, are a community from the state of Gujarat in India. Sharing the same name as the Dawoodi Bohras, they are often confused with that community. A few families use the slightly different spelling of "Vora" or "Vahora" ...
*
Gujarati Muslims
The term Gujarati Muslim is usually used to signify an Indian Muslim from the state of Gujarat on the western coast of India. Most Gujarati Muslims have the Gujarati language as their mother tongue, but some communities have Urdu as their moth ...
References
{{reflist
Mauritian politicians
Mauritian businesspeople
Year of death unknown
1882 births
20th-century Mauritian people
Mauritian people of Indian descent
British Mauritius people
Mauritian Muslims
Gujarati people