History of Jews of India (founding effect)

In contrast to the oppression and torment it has met in every other part of the world, the Jewish community in India has never faced any kind of persecution throughout the hundreds of years of its presence th. They were one of the first foreign religions to arrive on Indian shores about 2500 years ago and seamlessly merged into the Indian culture. The Bene Israelis (Sons of Israel) dominate the Jewish population in India today and have settled down in Mumbai, Thane, Pune and Ahmedabad. The Bene Israelis were said to be travelling in a ship that crashed on the shores of Navgaon in the Kolaba District of Maharashtra. Legend says only seven couples survived the crash while the rest were buried at a burial site that exists even today in Navgaon near Alibag. So jewish population here is due to what in genetics we call founding effect.
Back to Top