Karim Lala (1911 – 19 February 2002), born as Abdul Karim Sher Khan in the Samalam Village of the Shegal District of the 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 was an Afghan who emigrated from Kunar, Afghanistan to Mumbai (then Bombay) in the 1920s. His family settled in one of the most densely populated and impoverished Muslim communities of Bhendi Bazaar in South Mumbai. Starting as an ordinary worker in the Mumbai docks, he later joined a gang of ethnic Pashtuns (called Pathans in India) who worked as illegal recovery agents for Marwari and Gujarati money lenders, landlords, and businessmen.[citation needed] 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 the expensive south Mumbai area.
For over two decades, he was the leader of the dreaded "Pathan Gang" that operated in 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.[citation needed]
In the 1970s, Lala agreed to a pact with the other two ganglords, Haji Mastan and Varadarajan Mudaliar to divide Mumbai amongst themselves so that they could freely run their criminal activities without any conflict between each other.
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[citation needed], 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, Shabir 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 (Ali Mohammed) was living in Kabul Afghanistan at that time and could never meet his brother.[citation needed]
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.
Widely considered to be the inspiration for the magnanimous crime lord Abdel Khader Khan in the 2003 bestselling novel Shantaram, Karim shares personal and behavioral similarities with the fictional mafia don.
^"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. ISBN978-81-7992-850-9.
^Jayaram, N. (2017). Social Dynamics of the Urban: Studies from India. Springer. ISBN978-81-322-3741-9.
^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.
^"Everything to Know About Karim Lala, the Mafia Don Played by Ajay Devgn in Gangubai Kathiawadi". 5 February 2022.
External links
Lala with Shiv Sena Supremo - Bal Thackeray
January 20, 2023
karim, lala, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, 2012, learn, w. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Karim Lala news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message Karim Lala 1911 19 February 2002 born as Abdul Karim Sher Khan in the Samalam Village of the Shegal District of the 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 Lalaکریم لالاBornAbdul Karim Sher Khan1911 1911 Kunar Province Emirate of Afghanistan present day Afghanistan Died19 February 2002 2002 02 19 aged 90 91 Mumbai Maharashtra IndiaOther namesBade BabaOccupation s Smuggling narcotics extortion contract killing illegal gambling forced property evictions citation needed Contents 1 Background 2 Later life 3 In popular culture 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksBackground EditKarim Lala was an Afghan who emigrated from Kunar Afghanistan to Mumbai then Bombay in the 1920s His family settled in one of the most densely populated and impoverished Muslim communities of Bhendi Bazaar in South Mumbai Starting as an ordinary worker in the Mumbai docks he later joined a gang of ethnic Pashtuns called Pathans in India who worked as illegal recovery agents for Marwari and Gujarati money lenders landlords and businessmen citation needed 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 the expensive south Mumbai area For over two decades he was the leader of the dreaded Pathan Gang that operated in 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 citation needed In the 1970s Lala agreed to a pact with the other two ganglords Haji Mastan and Varadarajan Mudaliar to divide Mumbai amongst themselves so that they could freely run their criminal activities without any conflict between each other Later life EditDue 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 citation needed 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 Shabir 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 Ali Mohammed was living in Kabul Afghanistan at that time and could never meet his brother citation needed In popular culture EditDuring 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 Widely considered to be the inspiration for the magnanimous crime lord Abdel Khader Khan in the 2003 bestselling novel Shantaram Karim shares personal and behavioral similarities with the fictional mafia don Ajay Devgn played the character of Karim Lala in Sanjay Leela Bhansali s 2022 film Gangubai Kathiawadi 5 See also EditOrganised crime in IndiaReferences Edit 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 Everything to Know About Karim Lala the Mafia Don Played by Ajay Devgn in Gangubai Kathiawadi 5 February 2022 External links EditLala with Shiv Sena Supremo Bal Thackeray Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Karim Lala amp oldid 1132399422, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
