What was remarkable was his bearing the legacy of two cultures — African and Asian, said Gopalkrishna Gandhi, the former Indian ambassador to Norway, on hearing the news of Cachalia's death.

[2] The senior Cachalia was the chairman of the Transvaal British Indian Association who was forced into bankruptcy due to his connection with the organization and the young Ismail grew up amidst anti apartheid struggles.

[1] He completed his primary education up to class 5 at Bree Street Indian School, Johannesburg and moved to Uttar Pradesh in India, and studied Scriptures and Arabic at the Muslim Theological college in Deoband to become an Aalim (priest).

[1][2][5] He is reported to have participated in the non-cooperation movement in India during that time but returned to South Africa in 1931 to join his brother, Yusuf Cachalia, in family business.

[1] By 1972, Cachalia retired from active politics due to ill health and shifted his residence to Kala Kacha, Navsari in the Indian state of Gujarat where his ancestors came from,[5] but divided his time between the two countries.

[2] He was present at the function of the dedication of the memorials of Thillaiaadi Valliammai and Swami Nagappen Padayachee[12] to the nation at the Braamfontein cemetery on 15 July 1994 along with Walter Sisulu and also during Jyoti Basu's visit to Johannesburg in 1997.