Book Review: Dongri to Dubai: Six Decades of the Mumbai Mafia by S. Hussain Zaidi

In Dongri to Dubai, Zaidi has made a commendable effort in engaging the reader in very chapter of the book. The book presents numerous stories beautifully weaved by the author. It primarily focuses on the rise of Dawood Ibrahim. Starting from his childhood it shows how Dawood entered the world of crime. Dawood loved cricket. He dropped out of school when he was only ten (p. 51). When Dawood gained power he used the cops to decimate his rivals.

Zaidi also writes about how the under world established connections with Bollywood, drugs, smuggling, Bollywood actors and Ghutka business. He also writes how Dawood shifted his business to different countries and how he maintained his relations. Zaidi also brings out the stories of Haji Mastan, Karim Lala, Rajans, Chota Shakeel, Abu Salem, Shoaib and Bholoo.

Anyone reading the book explores how personal relations, poverty, ideals, friends and hunger for power contribute to the life of a boy who lived in Dongri and who later establishes an illegal empire, managed from Dubai.