Dongri to Dubai

Read Dongri to Dubai for Free Online Page A

Book: Read Dongri to Dubai for Free Online
Authors: S. Hussain Zaidi
realised that in a world plagued by distrust and deception, there were still men, albeit very, very few, who were trustworthy and honest despite the strongest temptations. ‘I will accept this only on one condition. We shall both share it equally and become partners,’ Ghalib proposed in a rush of gratitude.
    Mastan smiled. ‘There is nothing else that I would love more at this moment then to be your friend and partner for life,’ he said, and held out his hand.
    The two partners shook hands.
    It is a known fact in the world of business and crime that gold in any form could have impurities, but the yellow metal in its biscuit form is regarded to be in its purest. It was a crate full of these yellow biscuits that changed Mastan’s life and made him an overnight millionaire.
    In 1955, Mastan was richer by 5 lakh rupees. He did not need to be a coolie or a dockworker any more. He immediately quit his job and decided to take up smuggling as his full-time business. He, along with Ghalib, came up with a scheme of importing gold. Ghalib had already told Mastan that they were now 50 per cent partners in the business. Ghalib went to Eden, Dubai, and other African countries and started sending gold, wristwatches, and other valuables to Bombay.
    Mastan, by this show of ‘honesty’, had become quite popular in the smuggling community. His clout had grown and he was growing richer.
    In 1956, Mastan came in touch with Sukur Narayan Bakhiya, a resident of Daman and also the biggest smuggler in Gujarat. Bakhiya and Mastan also became partners and they divided certain territories among themselves. Mastan used to handle the Bombay port and Bakhiya used to handle the Daman port. The smuggled items would come to Daman port from UAE and to Bombay from Eden. Bakhiya’s consignment was taken care of by Mastan.
    Mastan recognised early on in life that money alone was not enough to remain powerful in the city. He also needed muscle power if he wanted to establish his supremacy across Bombay. And it is in search of this muscle power that Mastan is later found forging friendships with two of the most renowned musclemen in the city—the unlettered but influential Pathan Karim Lala and the don of central Bombay, Varadarajan Mudaliar alias Vardha bhai.

Haji Mastan.
Photo courtesy: Press Trust of India.
     

    Haji Mastan with his adopted son Sundar Shekhar (right).
Photo courtesy: Retired Assistant Commissioner of Mumbai Police (ACP), Ishaq Bagwan.
     

    Photo courtesy: Retired Assistant Commissioner of Mumbai Police (ACP), Ishaq Bagwan.
     

    Dawood Ibrahim with the Pathans after their truce in the eighties.
Photo courtesy: Retired Assistant Commissioner of Mumbai Police (ACP), Ishaq Bagwan.
     

    Dawood Ibrahim in later years.
Photo courtesy: Press Trust of India.
     

    Babu Reshim (above), Rama Naik (left), and Arun Gawli (right) of the BRA Gang.
Photo courtesy: Retired Assistant Commissioner of Mumbai Police (ACP), Ishaq Bagwan.
     

    Dawood Ibrahim’s elder brother Sabir after being killed on 12 February 1981.
Photo courtesy: Retired Assistant Commissioner of Mumbai Police (ACP), Ishaq Bagwan.
     

    Dawood Ibrahim’s younger brother Anees Ibrahim.
Photo courtesy: Press Trust of India.
     

    Manya Surve after being shot dead in an encounter on 23 January 1982.
Photo courtesy: Retired Assistant Commissioner of Mumbai Police (ACP), Ishaq Bagwan.
     

    David Pardesi, the assassin of Amirzada.
Photo courtesy: Retired Assistant Commissioner of Mumbai Police (ACP), Ishaq Bagwan.
     

    David Pardesi, the assassin of Amirzada.
Photo courtesy: Retired Assistant Commissioner of Mumbai Police (ACP), Ishaq Bagwan.
     

    Abdul Kunju, the assassin of Bada Rajan.
Photo courtesy: Retired Assistant Commissioner of Mumbai Police (ACP), Ishaq Bagwan.
     

    Dawood Ibrahim with Chhota Rajan before they fell out.
Photo courtesy: MID-DAY.
     

    Chhota Shakeel
Photo courtesy: Press Trust of India.
     

    Chhota Shakeel, Sunil Sawant alias Sautya (left),

Similar Books

Man of Wax

Robert Swartwood

Wolf Line

Vivian Arend

Trail of Lies

Margaret Daley

Powder Keg

Ed Gorman

Surviving Scotland

Kristin Vayden

The Night Mayor

Kim Newman

Wild and Wonderful

Janet Dailey

Judgement Call

Nick Oldham