Karim Lala
Karim Lala (1911 – 19 February 2002), born as Abdul Karim Sher Khan in Shegal District in Samalam Village of Kunar province of Afghanistan, was infamous as one of the three "mafia dons of Mumbai" in India for more than two decades from the sixties to the early eighties.[1] The other two being Mastan Mirza aka Haji Mastan and Varadarajan Mudaliar.[2][3]
Karim Lala کریم لالا | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Abdul Karim Sher Khan 1911 |
| Died | 19 February 2002 (aged 90–91) |
| Occupation | Smuggling, narcotics, extortion, contract killing, illegal gambling, forced property evictions |
Background
Karim Lala was a Pashto speaking Pathan (Pashtun) who came with his extended family from Kunar, Afghanistan to Mumbai (then Bombay) in the 1920s. His family settled in one of the most densely populated and impoverished Muslim ghetto of Bhendi Bazaar in south Mumbai. Starting as an ordinary worker in the Mumbai docks, he later joined a gang of ethnic Pathans who worked as illegal recovery agents for Marwari and Gujarati money lenders, landlords and businessmen. These money lenders and landlords employed the burly Pathans whose tall imposing size and intimidating demeanor made it easy to recover money from defaulting debtors and evicting tenants and owners from prime properties in expensive south Mumbai.
For over two decades, he was the leader of the dreaded "Pathan Gang" that operated from impoverished and crime infested Muslim ghettos of South Mumbai like Dongri, Nagpada, Bhendi Bazaar and Mohammad Ali Road. The Pathan Gang was involved in operating illegal gambling (satta) and liquor dens, illegal money recovery, illegal land evictions, kidnapping, protection racket (hafta), contract killing (supari), distribution of narcotics and counterfeit currency.
Lala soon rose up the ranks to be the chief of the "Pathan Gang" that became notorious for contract killings, forced evictions from property, kidnapping and extortion. The gang operated several "carrom clubs" that were a facade for illegal moneylending, gambling and betting rackets.
From the seventies, Lala agreed to a pact with the other two ganglords, Haji Mastan and Varadarajan (Varada bhai) to divide Mumbai amongst themselves so that they could freely run their criminal activities without any conflict between each other.
Personal life
Karim Lala married to 2 women and had 1 daughter from each wife. He raised his grandson as his son.
Later life
Due to failing health during the late seventies, Lala gradually transferred the leadership of the Pathan gang to his nephew, Samad Khan and then managed his hotel and transport business. Although Lala had several illegitimate businesses, his legitimate business included two hotels (Al Karim Hotel and New India Hotel) and a travel and passport agency called New India Tours and Travels.
Lala remained friendly with his other counterparts- Haji Mastan and Varadarajan. He was also close to Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray[4] In 1980, Lala unsuccessfully tried to mediate peace between his nephew, Samad Khan and his rivals, Saabir Ibrahim Kaskar and Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar.
Lala also held a weekly "durbar" where people from different walks of life narrated their grievances to Lala and he helped them financially or to get justice using his gang's muscle power.
He died on 19 February 2002 at the age of 90. His younger brother (mAli Mohammed) was living in Kabul Afghanistan at that time and never could meet his brother.
In popular culture
During his peak, Lala frequently invited several personalities from Bollywood (Hindi film industry) to his daawats (parties) and Eid celebrations. Many characters from Bollywood movies closely resemble Karim Lala and his mannerisms and accent.
The 1973 movie, Zanjeer, the writer duo, Salim–Javed created a Pathan character called "Sher Khan" (played by actor Pran) whose mannerisms resembled Karim Lala.
See also
References
- "Who was Karim Lala, the underworld don, Shiv Sena claims Indira Gandhi used to meet". Moneycontrol. 16 January 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- Dey, J. (2008). Khallaas - an A to Z Guide to the Underworld. Jaico Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-7992-850-9.
- Jayaram, N. (2017). Social Dynamics of the Urban: Studies from India. Springer. ISBN 978-81-322-3741-9.
- Bureau, ABP News (16 January 2020). "Not Just Indira Gandhi, Sena Founder Bal Thackeray Also Met Underworld Don Karim Lala; See Picture!". news.abplive.com.