Jewish history is often told through exile, expulsions, and persecution. Yet in India, the story unfolded differently.For more than two millennia, Jewish communities have lived in India without facing pogroms, forced conversions, or state-sponsored antisemitism. Historians consistently note that under Hindu kingdoms, Mughal rule (1526–1857), and later British administration (1858–1947), Jews were not subjected to systematic discrimination.When author and activist Aija Mayrock traveled to India as part of her “Jews Around the World” series, she documented a recurring theme: members of India’s Jewish communities said they had never personally experienced antisemitism in the country.India’s Jewish population once reached approximately 30,000–35,000 people in the mid-20th century. Today, the number is estimated at 4,000–5,000, largely due to migration to Israel after 1948. Yet their historical footprint remains visible across Mumbai, Kochi, Pune, and Kolkata.
2,000 years of Bene Israel Jews in India
The Bene Israel are believed to be one of India’s oldest Jewish communities. According to oral tradition, their ancestors were fleeing persecution in ancient Israel when their ship was wrecked off the Konkan coast around 2,000 years ago.Seven surviving families are said to have established the early community.Over centuries, Bene Israel Jews settled primarily in present-day Maharashtra. They adopted Marathi as their primary language while preserving core Jewish religious practices, including:
- Observing Shabbat
- Maintaining kosher dietary laws
- Reciting Hebrew prayers
By the 18th and 19th centuries, they had built synagogues in Mumbai and surrounding towns. During British rule, many Bene Israel Jews served in the colonial army and civil service.Following the establishment of Israel in 1948, the majority emigrated. Today, only a small number remain in India, but their synagogues and cemeteries still stand as historical landmarks.
Cochin Jews in Kerala
The Cochin Jews, also known as Malabar Jews, trace their presence in southern India to the ancient spice trade.Historical records and trade accounts suggest Jewish merchants were active along the Malabar Coast possibly as early as the era of King Solomon (10th century BCE), and certainly before the Roman destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE.They settled in what is now Kochi, which became a major spice trading hub linking the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. In 1568, the Paradesi Synagogue was built in the area now known as Jew Town. The synagogue remains one of the oldest active synagogues in the Commonwealth.Key historical facts about Cochin Jews:
- Local rulers granted them copper plate charters conferring trade rights and privileges.
- They lived under Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial administrations.
- The community peaked in the early 20th century before large-scale migration to Israel.
Today, only a handful of Cochin Jews remain in Kerala, but Jew Town continues to function as a preserved heritage district.
Baghdadi Jews from Iraq
The Baghdadi Jews arrived in India much later, primarily during the late 18th and 19th centuries. They fled persecution and instability in Iraq and other parts of the Ottoman Empire. Many settled in Mumbai and Kolkata, which were emerging commercial centers under British rule.By the mid-19th century, Baghdadi Jewish families became prominent in trade, especially in textiles, opium, and international commerce between India, China, and the Middle East.They built major synagogues and funded schools, hospitals, libraries, and charitable institutions. Their economic influence shaped parts of Mumbai and Kolkata’s urban development. Like other Indian Jewish communities, most emigrated after 1948.
A country without antisemitism?
The influencer’s central claim was that Indian Jews historically did not face antisemitism. is widely echoed by historians.Unlike Europe, where Jews endured pogroms and expulsions, or parts of the Middle East where legal restrictions and violence occurred, India presents a different case.Across Hindu kingdoms, under Mughal rule, and during British administration, there were no state-sponsored persecutions of Jews. No forced conversions. No ghettos. No expulsions.Jewish communities remained religious minorities, but they were not targeted as outsiders.That does not mean modern societies are immune from isolated incidents. But historically, India stands out as one of the very few places in the Jewish diaspora narrative where Jews lived continuously for centuries without systemic antisemitism.
Present Jewish population in India
At its height in the mid-20th century, India’s Jewish population was estimated at 30,000–35,000. Today, approximately 4,000–5,000 Jews remain, primarily in Mumbai, Pune, Kochi, and Kolkata.Synagogues remain active, Jewish festivals continue to be celebrated, and historic sites are preserved as part of India’s multicultural heritage.In a global Jewish history often marked by displacement and hardship, India represents a rare chapter defined not by expulsion, but by coexistence.
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