Dongri to Dubai: Six Decades of the Mumbai Mafia

Hussain Zaidi is famous crime reporter of Mumbai and author of several books on the Mumbai mafia. A life time spent reporting on the mafiosi compared to bigger than any other mafia in the world, Zaidi has been its chronicler and historian of par excellence bringing detail and depth to his cherished subject.

Though, Zaidi has written three books earlier covering the Mumbai mafiosi, including the famous Black Friday and Mafia Queens of Mumbai, his latest- a chronological history of the Mumabi mafia brings out the best of him, both as a writer and the practioner of his trade. From Dongri to Dubai is as much a history book on Mumbai mafiosi which runs like nerve center of the entire mafia in India ; is as much a book on the rise of noted underworld Don and fugitive Dawood Ibrahim, about whom Zaidi says would be like no other.

Zaidi using his extensive field reporting experience and even digging out some old connections lists the famous dons of the Independent India. Karima Lala, Vardarajan Mudaliar and noted smuggler Haji Mastan's lives have been written about and have been also played out in the bollywood movies. But Zaidi manages to bring more tales and even details to the already said tales of these famous trio, who until early 70”s were the undisputed dons of Mumbai. Until, the three dreaded dons ruled the entire Mumbai, blood was not spilled on the streets of the city. However, that changed when new gangs emerged, especially the pathan gangs and Dawood's, blood flowed like water in the intra gang rivalry. The rise of Dawood also saw a corporate style of functioning of the underworld which until then had worked more on muscle.

Dawood says Zaidi changed that. And largely to his shrewd and cunning brain, he kept both police and politician in good terms which the other gangs failed to do so. Born, a constable's son, Dawood and his siblings very early in life took to crime like a bee to a flower. Their operation base Dongri, soon became the head quarter of "D'' company from where they came to rule the entire city. With Hindu don Chotta Rajan joining him as his manager operations, his strength increased and the Don increased his area of work to Dubai, South Africa and other asian countries.

But the riots in Mumbai changed everything for both Dawood and India. Large scale killing of Muslims in the 1992 riots had brougth resentment and a feeling of venegence for the blood of the innocent spilled. According to Zaidi, Pakistan's ISI contacted Dawood, who by then had shifted his base to Dubai for help in logistics and local network to carry out a serious of bomb blasts and bring the financal nerve of India to a halt. A relctuant Dawood budged later, says Zaidi and the rest in hsitory. One of the worst ever attacks happened in the Indian soil more than 275 innocent lives were lost. Mumbai came to a stand still, and a shocked nation chocked in breath at the large scale destruction.

Since then Dawood has been India's no 1 fugitive and has been residing under constant protection from Pakistan, partly thanks to Chotan Rajan because he surrendered to the India embassy, Dawood had to close his shop in Dubai. Zaidi who interviewed Dawood once recalls that he is a soft spoken and well behvaed Don unlike others who drop explectives before every sentence.

The book also touches Abu Salem and makes a passing mention of Chotha Shakeel. But, the main highlight of the book is to know the way the system uses Dawood to cut through the others and how Dawood uses the same system to establish his hold on both the mafia and the city.