Jews in India: An interesting journey (Part-I)
Jews first came to India more than 2250 years ago. They came and settled mainly in port localities for the benefit of their business establishments. The oldest Jewish community in India is the Cochin (Kochi) Jewish community, who are believed to have settled in Kerala as early as in the Second Century BC. The Bene Israel community, after the Cochin Jews, arrived in western India 2000 years ago. Last but not the least, the Baghdadi Jews arrived in India from various middle-eastern countries during the eighteenth century and the nineteenth century.India's long history of religious tolerance has allowed the Jewish community to thrive: They are living peacefully with other religious groups. Till date, thanks to the majority Hindus, there have been no incidents of religious rioting against the Jewish community in India.
But, very unfortunately, the Jewish population in India is declining. Younger generations of Jews are slowly migrating to Israel and the United States of America. Today, the Jewish population in India is less than 6000. Jews in India mostly live in Mumbai and Kochi.
Several Jews of Indian origin have gained prominence in various fields. Among them is Nissim Ezekiel, a renowned poet and a major figure in Indian-English literature. Esther David, an author and artist from Gujarat, is known for her novels that highlight the Bene Israel community. David Sassoon, a Baghdadi Jew, was a famous philanthropist and businessman in the nineteenth century who significantly influenced the development of Mumbai (then Bombay). David Abraham was a very famous Indian (Hindi film) actor of Jewish origin during the sixties and seventies.
Prominent Jewish landmarks in India include the Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue and Magen David Synagogue in Mumbai, and the historic Paradesi Synagogue in Kochi. These synagogues serve as a testament to India's diverse Jewish heritage.
(Interested readers may kindly see the second part. In the second part, I have written a very brief history of the Jews in my birth-place Kolkata. Please see Part-II)