Haji Mastan
Haji Mastan Mirza | |
---|---|
British India (now in Tamil Nadu, India) | |
Died | 25 June 1994 Mumbai, Maharashtra, India | (aged 68)
Political party | Bharatiya Minorities Suraksha Mahasangh |
Spouse | Safra Bai |
Children | 3 |
Mastan Mirza (1 March 1926 – 25 June 1994), popularly known as Haji Mastan or Sultan Mirza, was an
At his peak, Mastan operated a powerful smuggling syndicate in Mumbai and along the Gujarat coast and later diversified into film financing and real estate business.
Mastan was known to be a shrewd businessman and a cunning deal-maker. He always maintained friendly relations with the police and government officials and often promoted peace between rival gangs, and was good friends with Lala, Mudaliar, Hassan Patni and Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray.[1][2]
Very early in his career, Mastan realized the importance of being seen among famous personalities from politics and the film industry as a symbol of power. Therefore, he hobnobbed among the city's rich and famous and was frequently seen with Bollywood personalities at public functions.[2]
Mastan was arguably the most influential mafia don of his time. He was also seen as a "style icon" by many due to his extravagant lifestyle including immaculate white clothes, white shoes, white Mercedes cars and expensive gold watches. Mastan flaunted an extravagant lifestyle to appear affluent and influential.[1]
Early life
Haji Mastan was born in 1926 in a
Mastan started doing odd jobs as a small boy in the famous
Adult life and death
Mastan joined hands with Sukkur Narayan Bakhia, a smuggler from
Mastan ventured into film financing later in his life, providing producers in Mumbai with some much-needed funds. He eventually turned into a film producer himself. He also had business interests in real estate, electronic goods, and hotels. He owned several electronic shops in Musafir Khana near Crawford Market. [5]
Mastan maintained good relations with the other gang leaders. When inter-gang rivalry in Mumbai began to increase, he called all the top gang leaders together and split Mumbai between the gangs so that they could operate without coming into conflict. In this the mafia queen,
Later in life, Mastan did not take a direct role in running his gang, but instead, he depended on right-hand men like Lala and Mudaliar to carry out his smuggling operations and intimidate rivals and debtors.[7] Mastan was especially close to Mudaliar as they were both from Tamil Nadu. When Mudaliar died, Mastan hired a private chartered plane to bring his body to Mumbai for the final rites.
During the
After his release from prison, Mastan entered politics and formed a political party in 1980-81 and named it Dalit Muslim Surakhsha Maha Sangh in 1985 which was later renamed as Bharatiya Minorities Suraksha Mahasangh currently led by Sundar Shaekhar[citation needed]
Mastan died of cardiac arrest on 25 June 1994.
References
- ^ a b c d Maheshwari, Dhairya (16 January 2020). "Haji Mastan Mirza: Revisiting the story of underworld don often portrayed as 'Bombay's Robinhood". www.indiatvnews.com.
- ^ a b Bureau, ABP News (16 January 2020). "Not Just Indira Gandhi, Sena Founder Bal Thackeray Also Met Underworld good friend of Don Haji Mastan". news.abplive.com. abplive.
- ^ "When Tamil dons ruled Bombay". The Times of India. 2 November 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ^ Singh, Naveeta (27 December 2007). "Aaquib Hussain's daughter serves legal notice on Don's 'adopted son'". dnaindia.com. Mumbai, India. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ^ a b c Zaidi, Hussain (9 July 2010). "The reluctant Mafioso". Livemint.
- ^ Varma, Anuradha (29 April 2011). "Meet these Lady Dons from the Underworld | Work & Life". iDiva.
- ISBN 978-93-5214-074-9. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
External links
- Haji Mastan at IMDb