to him was nothing better than a term of contempt. To interpret it to mean a master amounted to an insult!
I was hence known as a “coolie barrister.” The merchants were known as “coolie merchants.” The original meaning of the word “coolie” was thus forgotten, and it became a common appellation for all Indians. The Mussalman merchant would resent this and say: “I am not a coolie, I am an Arab,” or “I am a merchant,” and the Englishmen, if courteous, would apologize to him.
The question of wearing the turban had a great importance in this state of things. Being obliged to take off one’s Indian turban would be pocketing an insult. So I thought I had better bid goodbye to the Indian turban and begin wearing an English hat, which would save me from the insult and the unpleasant controversy.
But Abdulla Sheth disapproved of the idea. He said, “If you do anything of the kind, it will have a very bad effect. You will compromise those insisting on wearing Indian turbans. And an Indian turban sits well on your head. If you wear an English hat, you will pass for a waiter.”