Shah Abdul Majid Qureshi facts for kids

Shah Abdul Majid Qureshi (Bengali: শাহ আবদুল মজিদ কোরেশী), also known as Moina Meah (Bengali: ময়না মিঞা), was an important early British Bangladeshi person. He was a successful restaurant owner and worked to improve society. He helped shape the early British Asians community in the United Kingdom. He also did important social work for working-class people who had moved to the UK from other countries.

Shah Abdul Majid Qureshi was the first person from Sylhet to open a restaurant in the United Kingdom. His restaurants were among the first to serve Indian food there. One of his restaurants, called India Centre, was a special place. Important meetings were held there by a group called the India League. Famous leaders like Subhas Chandra Bose and V. K. Krishna Menon even visited.

Early Life and Journey

Shah Abdul Majid Qureshi was born on September 25, 1915. His family was a traditional Bengali Muslim family. They lived in the village of Patli in Jagannathpur. This area was part of the Sylhet District in British India at the time.

He was the oldest of three children. His family home was called Quresh Bari. His father owned land but sold most of it to pay for his children's education. This meant Qureshi received a good education when he was young.

In 1934, Qureshi decided to become a sailor, known as a lascar. Many other men from Sylhet became sailors, and he was inspired by them. He moved to Calcutta, a big port city. He tried to get on ships heading to the United States. In 1936, when he was in his early 20s, he tried to board a ship going to New York City. He didn't make it to New York, but he ended up at the Tilbury Docks in Essex, England.

Career in the UK

When Qureshi first arrived in the United Kingdom, he started by selling chocolates. He soon met other British Asians and began working in South Asian restaurants. One of these was the Bengal Restaurant.

After living in the UK for two years, Qureshi opened his very own restaurant. He named it Dilkush, and it was located on Windmill Street in Soho. This was a big moment because it was the first restaurant opened by a Sylheti person in the UK. Sadly, the restaurant was destroyed by a bomb in 1940 during World War II.

Helping Sailors and the Community

In 1943, Qureshi teamed up with his friend Ayub Ali Master. Together, they started the Indian Seamen's Welfare League. This group aimed to help sailors, especially those from Asia. They worked to make sure these sailors had their rights protected. The league also made it easier for them to communicate with their families back home.

Their first meeting was held on July 14, 1943. Many Bengali Muslims attended, along with some Europeans. The group later changed its name to sound less political. Qureshi became the president of this welfare league.

The India Centre

The next year, Qureshi opened another restaurant. It was called the India Centre. This restaurant quickly became a popular spot for British Asians. Many important politicians would visit. They held important community and political meetings there.

Qureshi also helped and attended meetings for other groups. These included V. K. Krishna Menon's India League and Surat Alley's Hindustani Social Club. He was also involved with the Indian National Congress. He even had contact with famous leaders like Subhas Chandra Bose. Later, he joined the All-India Muslim League.

In 1946, Qureshi went back to Sylhet. He got married there and lived for more than twenty years. In the 1970s, he returned to the United Kingdom with his family.

Legacy

Shah Abdul Majid Qureshi's sons have continued his legacy. They still own Indian cuisine restaurants in the United Kingdom today.