Prompt ~Band and the pic below –
Copyright – Alastair Forbes
Haji Mastan, born Mastan Haider Mirza migrated to Mumbai in 1934. Haji joined the Bombay docks (1944) as porter. Unloading cargo that came from Aden, Dubai, Hong Kong and other cities, he developed good relationships with the staff, officers, and regular travelers. Haji helped the travelers smuggle items inviting heavy taxes out of the port by hiding them in his clothes, headband or underwear. He was well rewarded.
Haji came in contact with a fisherman-turned-smuggler Bakhia in the mid ’50s and formed a band of smugglers which dealt in gold and electronic items. Thanks to underworld friends like Karim Lala, Varadrajan and politicians who fraternized with him because of his influence on Mumbai’s Muslim vote-bank – he became rich and powerful.
The film industry eulogized him with movies (Deewar and Mukkadar Ka Sikandar) loosely based on his life.
More such tales in offing with recent duty hike on gold,
Words <150
PS – This is jsut a compilation from net. Also, I have combined the prompts of Alastairs Photo Fiction and Trifecta week eighty-eight to catch up with the challenges.
Yarnspinnerr 
Loved this story. Good choice combining the two
Thank you Alastair.
Ah! The byzantine world of India; with it’s smugglers and traders and intrigue galore. What rich land to mine for story ideas. Thanks for linking up his week. I have the sudden urge to read Rushdie. Thx. 🙂
Thank you for the visit. 🙂
I find stories of India very intriguing. Thank you for this interesting tale. And for linking up this week!
Thanks for the visit.
Fascinating story of Haji’s rise to power. Where there are taxes, there are are those who profit from helping others get out of paying them 🙂
True. But such stories have spawned a whole culture of gang wars that spawns still worst things.
Thanks for reading 🙂
Bad guys just gotta be bad. Nicely sketched portrait.