They have been and are still enormously influential in this country's economic life, often serving as all-important go-betweens in the sometimes immensely difficult relations between Hindus and Muslims, and between India and Pakistan.
They've been hugely influential in being a middleman for the tough to manage relationship between Hindus and Muslims.
Farther on is the unassuming village of Le Pracheur, where another island girl who made good spent her childhood years Madame de Maintenon, second wife of Louis XIV.