Sajan Somji

The family of Sajan Somji was prominent in the city of Nagalpur, Kutch, India. Sajan was well known as a successful and honest businessman with qualities of humility, generosity, community service, and leadership. He was born in 1852. His first son was born in 1870 and was named Shermohamed (Sher). Even as a teenager, Sher displayed exceptional leadership qualities and was the head of the Ismaili youths of Nagalpur.

Life Journey

Around 1908, Sajan and Sher travelled to Zanzibar from Bombay via Oman. From Zanzibar they first went to Pangani and then to Arusha on foot with a party of 25 people. They had to carry food stuff and gifts to tribal leaders for permission to march ahead. The gifts which they gave out include items like beads, cigarettes, matches, candles, etc. When they reached Arusha they were impressed by its beauty and cool weather. They decided to set up their tents near the Themi River to rest for a few days before continuing their journey to Nairobi. The German officials who met them at Arusha convinced them to abandon their trip to Nairobi and instead start business in Arusha. As an incentive, they were asked to choose any plot near the Boma and construct their houses there. They would also be given official permission to start any business related to food, a large variety of strategic products and import and export of most goods. After a long thought, Sajan and Sher agreed to the offer. The German official started calling Sher as Shermohamed after noticing the name on the passport and after being told that it meant the Lion of Mohamed.

Shermohamed chose a piece of land of roughly 20 acres about 200 meters south of the Boma. They built a large six-bedroom house with plenty of space at the back for vegetable farm and living quarters of their workers. The construction of the house was completed in 1902/03 and the family moved into that house in 1903. Thus started the settlement of the first family in Arusha, Tanganyika. Shermohamed started going to Tanga to buy food and other products. They also started importing stuff from India, and exported some agro and other products, including hides and skins to India, UK and Germany.

The German Colonial Handbook 1908 mentions "Sajan Sandji" as a trading house in the newly established Arusha in 1908. As he does not appear in the 1904 version of the same handbook, he would have arrived in Arusha after that date.

German Colonial Handbook 1908
Indian Traders Arusha 1908
German Colonial Handbook, page 1 1908