AHMEDABAD: The descendants of Sidi migrants from Africa who have lived along the Gujarat coast for centuries also want reservation in government jobs but do not have a strong leader to fight for them, said the Nawab of Sachin, Sidi Mahammed Reza Khan on Monday.

“The first Sidis are believed to have arrived in India at Bharuch port. Majority of Sidis were brought to the Indian subcontinent as slaves by Arab and Portuguese merchants. They were left jobless after 1947. A large number of community members are uneducated and need a government scheme for education and jobs,” said Khan, who is practicing civil law in district and sessions court in Surat since last 27 years.

The nawab was speaking to TOI on the sidelines of a travelling exhibition on 'Africans in India: A Rediscovery' at Gujarat National Law University (GNLU). The exhibition has been put together by Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and the Schomburg Centre for Research in Black Culture, New York.

He said: “Sidis don't have a powerful leader like other communities. The community members are spread into pockets. Most Sidis are illiterate and so the community lacks a leader who can take up the issue of reservation with the government?”

The nawab further said: “Thousands of Sidis migrated to India as merchants, sailors and mercenaries during the 13th and 14th centuries. My ancestors migrated from Euthopia during the 14th century as soldiers of Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur. They were joined by nearly 300 other soldiers... Sidis have contributed to much to the heritage of India. It’s high time the government should give a financial assistance to uplift the community members.”