Padamdi Nawab Estate
Encyclopedia
Padamdi Nawab Estate is an estate in Bangladesh
.
It was established in 1607 by a decree from the Mughal
Emperor Jahangir
. The land to the title was given as a donation to the religious clergy Syed Shah Pahlowan, an immigrant from Iraq
.
The family was composed of Muslim preachers and missionaries. But was widely accepted as one of their owns by people from all religions and walks of life. Legends abound the locality even till date about the extraordinary powers of the founder of the Estate - Syed Shah Pahlowan - buried in Shikara (a local principality under the Rajbari region). Hazrat Syed Fateh Ali Shah (locally known as Fateh Ali), one of the kins of Hazrat Syed Shah Pahlowan, lies buried in Bogra
(a city in the north of Bangladesh). The tomb
of Hazrat Fateh Ali Shah is next to the oldest Hindu Temple (dedicated to Goddess Kali) of the city - exemplifying the harmony amongst all religions that the missionaries from the family preached.
Marital ties between the Padamdi Estate and the Estate of Deldwar (situated in Tangail
, Bangladesh
) have been traced by local historians - which give the family the widest genealogical reach amongst the Muslim gentry of the undivided Bengal.
Situated beside the river Padma
(Ganges
) in Bangladesh
, the Estate produced some of the finest Muslim rulers and writers of the area during the British Raj - during which, most members (including the ruling Nawab) of the family collaborated with the British. Notable coming from the family during the British Raj are Mir Mosharraf Hossain
(the first eminent Muslim playwright, famous for his plays - Bishad Shindhu (the River of Sadness), Jaminder Darpan (Mirror of the Landlord) and Syed Meer Sirazul Huq.
The members of the Syed
family that ruled the estate took two titles simultaneously; Syed
for the lineage that they claim goes back to the Prophet of Islam and Meer
that was bestowed on them by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan for commanding Mughal
Artillery
. Syed Shamsul Huq, the heir and the eldest son of Syed Meer Sirazul Huq was the first one from the Estate to earn a commission in the Royal Indian Army in 1941. He served with the Guards (under command of Lt. Col. Langstone
) in Lucknow
as the "Station Transport Officer" for the duration of the World War II
. Syed Shamsul Huq was promoted to the rank of Captain before joining the Civil Service of Pakistan.
The estate was taken by the Government in 1954, after the then Pakistan Government seized all landed estates vide a decree to equitably re-distribute the property to the landless poor ("Praja Swatwa Aieen" - The Law of Land Rights for Peasants). The estate was divided into two Thanas (smallest Administrative Units in Bangladesh) - Baliakandi and Pangsha under the district of Rajbari
.
In 1971, members of the Estate actively took part in the War of Liberation
for Bangladesh
. The heir to the Estate Lt. Col. Syed Ali Imam Al Mamun (son of Syed Shamsul Huq; and then a Captain in the IV Punjab Corps, Pakistan Army) was imprisoned by the Pakistan authorities in the legendary Sagai Fort till 1973 for high treason (in spite of his earlier gallantry service to the Army for capturing "Kaiser-e-Hind" with a battery
from the 35 Heavy Artillery Regiment) and also as the Aide-De-Camp
of General Bahadur Shah (the IV Corps
Commander
).
The family ruling (and holding much of the landed property still) the Estate produced many distinguished professionals and leaders for the country. Members of the family still serve in the Public Service - Diplomatic Corps - and the Military of Bangladesh and Great Britain.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
.
It was established in 1607 by a decree from the Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
Emperor Jahangir
Jahangir
Jahangir was the ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1605 until his death. The name Jahangir is from Persian جهانگیر,meaning "Conqueror of the World"...
. The land to the title was given as a donation to the religious clergy Syed Shah Pahlowan, an immigrant from Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
The family was composed of Muslim preachers and missionaries. But was widely accepted as one of their owns by people from all religions and walks of life. Legends abound the locality even till date about the extraordinary powers of the founder of the Estate - Syed Shah Pahlowan - buried in Shikara (a local principality under the Rajbari region). Hazrat Syed Fateh Ali Shah (locally known as Fateh Ali), one of the kins of Hazrat Syed Shah Pahlowan, lies buried in Bogra
Bogra
Bogra is a town, and one of the oldest towns in northern Bangladesh. It is a centre of commerce and trade within the Bogra District and located under the Rajshahi Division. Bogra is sometimes described as the nerve centre of Northern Bangladesh. Amongst many notable activities, it has been hosting...
(a city in the north of Bangladesh). The tomb
Tomb
A tomb is a repository for the remains of the dead. It is generally any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes...
of Hazrat Fateh Ali Shah is next to the oldest Hindu Temple (dedicated to Goddess Kali) of the city - exemplifying the harmony amongst all religions that the missionaries from the family preached.
Marital ties between the Padamdi Estate and the Estate of Deldwar (situated in Tangail
Tangail
Tangail is a town in Tangail District located in central region of Bangladesh. It consists of 5 corporations, 8 municipalities, 72 wards, 211 mahallas. It is located on the banks of Louhajang River, and is part of the Dhaka Division.-Education:...
, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
) have been traced by local historians - which give the family the widest genealogical reach amongst the Muslim gentry of the undivided Bengal.
Situated beside the river Padma
Padma River
The Padma is a major trans-boundary river in Bangladesh. It is the main distributary of the Ganges , which originates in the Himalayas. The Padma enters Bangladesh from India near Chapai Nababganj...
(Ganges
Ganges River
The Ganges or Ganga, , is a trans-boundary river of India and Bangladesh. The river rises in the western Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, and flows south and east through the Gangetic Plain of North India into Bangladesh, where it empties into the Bay of Bengal. By discharge it...
) in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, the Estate produced some of the finest Muslim rulers and writers of the area during the British Raj - during which, most members (including the ruling Nawab) of the family collaborated with the British. Notable coming from the family during the British Raj are Mir Mosharraf Hossain
Mir Mosharraf Hossain
Mir Mosharraf Hossain was a Bengali language novelist, playwright and essayist in 19th century Bengal. He is principally known for his famous novel Bishad Sindhu...
(the first eminent Muslim playwright, famous for his plays - Bishad Shindhu (the River of Sadness), Jaminder Darpan (Mirror of the Landlord) and Syed Meer Sirazul Huq.
The members of the Syed
Syed
Syed is a masculine given name derived from the title Sayyid, it is not to be confused with the similar looking name Sayid...
family that ruled the estate took two titles simultaneously; Syed
Syed
Syed is a masculine given name derived from the title Sayyid, it is not to be confused with the similar looking name Sayid...
for the lineage that they claim goes back to the Prophet of Islam and Meer
Meer
*Meer may refer to:*Fatima Meer, South African writer and anti-apartheid activist*Simon van der Meer*Mir Taqi Mir, an Urdu poet*Meer in the Netherlands*Meer in the Netherlands*Mir, a Canadian rock band, pronounced "meer"...
that was bestowed on them by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan for commanding Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
Artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
. Syed Shamsul Huq, the heir and the eldest son of Syed Meer Sirazul Huq was the first one from the Estate to earn a commission in the Royal Indian Army in 1941. He served with the Guards (under command of Lt. Col. Langstone
Langstone
Langstone is a village near Havant, Hampshire in the south east of England, between Portsmouth and Chichester. It has good railway connections to London, Southampton, Portsmouth and Brighton, from the nearby Havant railway station. There are many large gated detached houses on the main road,...
) in Lucknow
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
as the "Station Transport Officer" for the duration of the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Syed Shamsul Huq was promoted to the rank of Captain before joining the Civil Service of Pakistan.
The estate was taken by the Government in 1954, after the then Pakistan Government seized all landed estates vide a decree to equitably re-distribute the property to the landless poor ("Praja Swatwa Aieen" - The Law of Land Rights for Peasants). The estate was divided into two Thanas (smallest Administrative Units in Bangladesh) - Baliakandi and Pangsha under the district of Rajbari
Rajbari District
The district of Rajbari consists 3629 mosques, 18 temples and nine churches.-See also:*Districts of Bangladesh*Dhaka Division...
.
In 1971, members of the Estate actively took part in the War of Liberation
War of liberation
A War of liberation is a conflict which is primarily intended to bring freedom or independence to a nation or group. Examples might include a war to overthrow a colonial power, or to remove a dictator from power. Such wars are often unconventional...
for Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. The heir to the Estate Lt. Col. Syed Ali Imam Al Mamun (son of Syed Shamsul Huq; and then a Captain in the IV Punjab Corps, Pakistan Army) was imprisoned by the Pakistan authorities in the legendary Sagai Fort till 1973 for high treason (in spite of his earlier gallantry service to the Army for capturing "Kaiser-e-Hind" with a battery
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
from the 35 Heavy Artillery Regiment) and also as the Aide-De-Camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
of General Bahadur Shah (the IV Corps
IV Corps (Pakistan)
The IV Corps is one of military administrative corps of Pakistan Army. Having established in 1965 after the Indo-Pakistani September War, it is currently stationed in Lahore, Punjab Province of Pakistan. Its current core commander is Lieutenant-General Rashad Mahmood.-History:The corps was formed...
Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
).
The family ruling (and holding much of the landed property still) the Estate produced many distinguished professionals and leaders for the country. Members of the family still serve in the Public Service - Diplomatic Corps - and the Military of Bangladesh and Great Britain.