This island, along with a couple of other mainland areas constituted the kingdom of Janjira again ruled by Siddis of African descent. Founded in 1489 by an African trader, Janjira was for a long time in the 15th and 16th centuries a vassal of the Bijapur sultanate. The remarkable career of Malik AmbarBorn in Ethiopia and sold into slavery at a young age, Malik rose to a prominent position in the Ahmadnagar sultanate. Malik Ambar also founded the town of Khirki which later rose to prominence under Aurangazeb and was renamed Aurangabad. The attacks on African in recent times are in stark contrast to the historical ties that bind Africa and India.

Source: Mint April 15, 2017 17:48 UTC