Sindhi connection with Spain and Morocco

Since the 15th century, Morocco has been in conflict with three nations: Spain, Portugal, and France. In 1912, when Morocco became a French protectorate, Spain occupied the northern and southern zones, leaving few enclaves along the Mediterranean coast. The two most significant of these enclaves, Ceuta and Melilla, remain Spanish territories on Morocco's northernmost tip. Since 1995, they have been recognised as 'autonomous cities of Spain' on African soil. However, this post is not about Morocco, Spanish colonisation, or the two territories themselves. Instead, it explores a curious connection between the Indian subcontinent and Morocco, specifically the presence of Sindhi quarters in these offshore lands.

The connection between Sindh and Ceuta and Melilla is still indirect, with Gibraltar being another territory involved. When Sindh was annexed to British India in 1843, it gained extraterritorial trading privileges. Since Gibraltar was already a British colony at the time, Sindhi traders were shipped to this tiny port at the bottom of Spain, at the opening of the Mediterranean from the Iberian peninsula. Ceuta and Melilla held the status of free-trading ports, so these Sindhi merchants would switch between colonial harbours. There's even a record of a certain Bazar el Indio in Ceuta dating back to 1893. In fact, even today, there's a Hindu temple at Echegaray Street in Ceuta, marking a tiny Hindu legacy that lingers in these streets. This settlement primarily occurred after partition, when Sindhi people decided to settle in these territories, leading to an increase in Sindhi migration in the 1950s. 

The Association of Hindu Merchants, established in 1948, opened trading centres in Ceuta and connected traders across the globe, reaching as far as Gold Coast (Ghana) and Hong Kong, two significant British colonies at the time. From this mercantile clan emerged a figure in Sindhi history, revered as a father figure in the community: Bhai Pratap Dialdas Nanwani. Originating from Hyderabad, Sindh (now in Pakistan), he established his business of trading textiles, fabrics, and handicrafts in various global locations, including Ceuta. With the profits from these ventures, he played a crucial role in helping Sindhi Hindus find refuge in Gandhidham, Adipur, and Kandla (all in the Kutch district).

Another notable figure was Wadhumal Isardas Ramchandani, who arrived in Gibraltar in 1920. Initially working as a manager for Dialdas' firm, he eventually became the first president of the Association of Hindu Merchants (Asociación de Comerciantes Hindúes de Ceuta) in 1948. These names hold significant importance, particularly in the history of South Asia, as they represent the contributions of Hindu merchants to the region's economic development and cultural exchange. 

It all comes down to identity - both loss and restoration. After partition, Sindhi Hindus didn't have a home of their own, and to this day, there's no designated Sindhi state in India. While there are Hindu minorities in Pakistan, a full-fledged Sindhi state in India is still missing. Having a whole community of its own is always a sense of identity restoration for any community. 

Sindhis in India are mainly segregated in Ulhasnagar (in Thane, Maharashtra), Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, and Pune. However, one will find Sindhi 'colonies' in these cities - Sindhi Colony in Mumbai, Rajouri Gardens in Delhi, and Pune Camp - all except Ulhasnagar, which is the majoritarian Sindhi diaspora. Despite this, a separate state or even a historical region is still missing. Therefore, a full-fledged Sindhi neighbourhood holds high regard, regardless of whether it's in an obscure tiny settlement called Ceuta - unheard of and unknown to the majority.

Below are recreations of two maps: Ceuta, dating 1869, originally created by Adolf Steiler, and northern Morocco (spelt as Marocco) of 1908, originally created by Rene de Flotte de Roquevaire.