Ulfat Ghazi
Ulfat Ghazi | |
|---|---|
| Vizier Zamindar of Nazirpur | |
| In office 1559 | |
| Monarch | Jahangir |
| Personal details | |
| Children | Sayyid Qutb Shah |
| Military career | |
| Battles / wars | Conquest of Bakla (1611) |
Sayyid Ulfat Ghazi was a 17th-century nobleman, naval commander, and vizier to the Mughal emperor Jahangir (r. 1605–1627). He is particularly remembered for his role in the Mughal conquest of Bakla and his lasting legacy in the Barisal region of present-day Bangladesh.
Biography
Ulfat Ghazi hailed from a noble Muslim family of Sayyids, tracing their lineage to Fatima, the daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It has been variously asserted that his origins lie in regions as disparate as Delhi, Ghazipur, and Bihar, with no singular consensus prevailing among sources.[1][2][3][4] Nevertheless, he resided in the city of Jahangir Nagar, now known as Dhaka, during his political and military service.[1] He also contributed to the propagation of Islam in the Barisal region.[2]
Ulfat Ghazi played a crucial role in the Mughal conquest of Bakla in 1611, a key military campaign that consolidated Mughal authority in southern Bengal. While he is generally regarded as a vizier in the court of Jahangir, he has also been described as serving in a naval command capacity, reflecting the strategic importance of riverine and coastal warfare in Bengal during this Baro-Bhuiyan period.[5] In recognition of his services, Emperor Jahangir separated the Tappe Nazirpur pargana from the larger Chandradwip pargana, thereby establishing a new administrative unit. This land grant was awarded to Sayyid Ulfat Ghazi, who became the Zamindar of Nazirpur, in what is now Barisal District.[6] The toponymic origin of Wazirpur, literally translating to “City of the Vizier”, has been attributed by some to Wazir Sayyid Ulfat Ghazi, whose prominence in the Mughal administration may have lent the area its name; however, this interpretation remains contested, with alternative etymologies proposed by others.[7]
His son and successor Sayyid Jan, better known by the spiritual title Sayyid Qutb Shah, settled in the village of Terachar and served as a spiritual guide to Sabi Khan, the Faujdar of Bakla. Ghazi's grandson, Sayyid Husayn Jan migrated to Nalchira, a village that would remain the family seat for generations. The Miah family of Nalchira, his descendants, maintained a prominent presence in the history of Barisal, often occupying influential positions for centuries.[8]
See also
- Niamat Khan, an earlier vizier in Bakla/Barisal
- Mirza Agha Baqer, jagirdar of Buzurg-Umedpur and Salimabad
- Syed Hakim, faujdar of Bakla
- Kirtinarayan Basu, fifth King of Chandradwip
- Hayat Mahmud, military commander of Chandradwip
References
- ^ a b Ahmed, Siraj Uddin (2010). বরিশাল বিভাগের ইতিহাস (in Bengali). Bhāskara Prakāśanī.
- ^ a b Rashid, Ahmad (1976). তায্কেরাতুল আওলিয়া (in Bengali). Shireen Publication. p. 19.
- ^ Abdul Jalil, A. F. Mohammad (1968). সুন্দরবনের ইতিহাস [History of the Sundarbans] (in Bengali). Vol. 2–3. Liṅkamyāna Publications. p. 507.
- ^ Asghar, Saikat; Saif Uddin, Mohammad, eds. (1990). বাকেরগঞ্জ জেলার ইতিহাস [History of Baqerganj District] (in Bengali). Baqerganj Zelar Itihas Prakalpa. p. 188.
- ^ Sardar, Masud (12 August 2024). "অযত্নে ক্রমশই ধ্বংস হয়ে যাচ্ছে গৌরনদীর প্রাচীন স্থাপত্য 'সাবিহ খাঁর হুজরা'" [The ancient architecture of Gournadi, 'Sabih Khan's Hujra', is gradually being destroyed due to carelessness.]. Sangbad Sarabela (in Bengali). Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ Muhsin, Muhammad (11 May 2019). "বরিশালের বিস্মৃত বীর সন্তানেরা" [Unforgettable heroic children of Barisal]. Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
- ^ Nuru, Nur Mohammad, উজিরপুর: ইতিহাস ঐতিহ্যে সমৃদ্ধ আমাদের উপজেলা (in Bengali)
- ^ Bulbul, Saiful Ahsan (2012). বৃহত্তর বরিশালের ঐতিহাসিক নিদর্শন [Historic signs of Greater Barisal] (in Bengali). Dhaka: Gotidhara.