Gulamhussein Sumar’s journey is an interesting one, having to flee from Zanzibar after the Zanzibar Revolution in 1964, stayed in Mwanza for 10 years and then migrated to Maarsta in Sweden where he was one of the founder members to establish a Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamaat. He went on to become its president and then the Vice President of Council of European Jamaats (COEJ) and participated and contributed as the World Federation of KSIMC councillor for a long time.
He typifies the struggles of a small Jamaat that was established in Sweden. Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheries who settled in Maarsta had to learn new language and adapt to local culture. They did it successfully. Today, both our Jamaats in Maarsta and Trollhattan in Sweden respectively have become a beacon of light of Ahlulbayt a.s. Gulahusseinbhai’s journey and others who also took such journey from East Africa to Northern Europe where they establish a moving Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamaats show their enduring commitment to their faith. It is reminiscent of the journey that our great grandfather and mothers made from Kachchh and Kathiawad in Gujarat to East Africa in 19th Century.
