Some sayings from books I read.

1.  Some boys leave everything behind and never look back
2. People need a function
3. They were from a generation in which one was what one did and not what one talked about
4. Man caught in the wrong time
5. All of it was forgotten now, none of it mattered. All of them turned to dust.

Relic hunters find copper trove- New light to be shed on Assam's ancient script by archaeological quest The Daily Telegraph Kolkata, India, 3 March, 2006.

 Relic hunters find copper trove- New light to be shed on Assam's ancient script by archaeological quest The Daily Telegraph Kolkata, India, 3 March, 2006.

Relic hunters find copper trove - New light to be shed on Assam?s ancient script by archaeological quest OUR CORRESPONDENT File picture of Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi admiring the latest collections of the Assam State Museum in Guwahati. Picture by UB Photos Silchar, March 2: With the discovery of rare archaeological items in a long-neglected archives at a school here, new light is going to be shed on one of Assam?s oldest scripts ? the Hayungthal. A band of scholars, who were rummaging through a mass of musty documents and relics in the ramshackle century-old archives at a teacher?s training institute, stumbled upon the treasure trove, which includes an engraved copper plate. Amalendu Bhattacharjee, a senior lecturer of Bengali literature at a local college, is leading the scholars. The team has been engaged by the National Mission for Manuscripts, and is hunting for old but valuable manuscripts and relics now lying uncared-for in many nooks and crannies of houses and temples in south Assam. The find contained a worn-out copper plate engraved during the reign of King Harjar Barman of the Gupta era. King Harjar Barman?s name was first traced on a copper plate which, according to Bhattacharjee, was recovered from the south bank of the Brahmaputra near Tezpur town. The copper plate relics bore the telltale imprint of Guptaida age (the Gupta era). The copper plate had been preserved for so long at the Normal School, founded in 1905, and not much care has been taken of it. The scholars who had studied it came to the conclusion that it formed part of an array of such plates which were dug out from time to time from the sandy banks of the Brahmaputra. Attempts to decipher the scripts, engraved on the relics, were first initiated by a historian in erstwhile Sylhet district, now in Bangladesh, named Padmanath Bhattacharjee Vidyabinod. He wrote his masterpiece, Kamruper Shashanabali, in the last century. He had named this script Hayungthal since parts of the copper plate inscriptions written in this indecipherable script were discovered in the thirties of the last century at Hayungthal village, a hamlet in Karbi Anglong district inhabited by a Karbi tribe. Bhattacharjee said these relics were of immense historical value as they would definitely help unfold an almost forgotten chapter in the reign of the Gupta kings in Assam 1,100 years ago. Among the documents unearthed from Silchar?s neglected Normal School for the training of primary and middle-level schoolteachers is also a note ? a hand-written English translation of the Prithimpasa stone inscriptions, many of which had either been vandalised or lost. The landlords of the Prithimpasa zamindari enclave engraved these inscriptions. The enclave is now in Sylhet district of Bangladesh. Bhattacharjee said such new documents would provide a rare glimpse into the economic and social conditions of the people under the Sylhet landlords in the 16th century. The scions of the noble family of Prithimpasa arrived on Indian soil during the reign of the Lodi dynasty. They were granted rights to vast swathes of land on the banks of the Surma river. This family presided over a long lineage of zamindars, which reigned in this district in the 16th and 19th centuries. 

Bhattacharjee said the National Mission for Manuscripts, under the Union human resource development ministry, was now in the process of finalising a scheme for roping in many scholars to study these rare documents and relics with a view to ?filling in the gap in the continuity of Assam?s history?. 

 

Prithimpassa- its history and heritage Ali Hamid Khan Date: 23.03.16

 Prithimpassa- its history and heritage Ali Hamid Khan Date: 23.03.16 

Prithimpassa is replete with stories from antiquity. It is steeped in history and has many stories and anecdotes from the olden days which can instantly capture people’s attention and imagination. It has a glorious and vibrant past. Well, many of the new generation, the ones who are the post liberation generation have no clue about it and the younger generation is also oblivious of it. Most of the young people haven’t heard of this place, its people and stories from the pages of the life of this village. But there is always the wonder of internet, and Google is always at one’s finger tips to glean information. Google can always help and with one click the netizens can browse and find out enough information to help them know sufficiently about it. There are so many questions cropping up in the minds of the young who always have a desire to know; their quest for knowledge is insatiable. To start with Prithimpassa is a village in the remote north eastern part of the country in the Moulvibazar district, an hour drive from Srimangal. It is far away from the bustling cities and towns located in a quiet and peaceful environment. A sequestered and somnolent village though fast growing with all the paraphernalia of a modern world, trying to keep pace with the outside world.  Today it is in some forgotten part of the country but once upon a time till the sixties even seventies it was a bustling place with lots of activities. It was a happening place and flocks of visitors always crowded there. They were politicians, dignitaries, people from inside and outside the country, writers, poets, historians all came here and were guests of the zamindars of Prithimpassa. There were also guests who were interested in wild-life. They, on the invitation of the zamindar, lodged here and hunted in the demesne of the zamindar. Many came just for sightseeing going around looking at the place roaming around enjoying the forests, the tea gardens, wild-life and the relics and menagerie all belonging to the zamindar who was known far and wide. There was once a time when the Estate had a private armed contingent. In 1889 the zamindar was exempted of the Arms Act of 1870. Hence the family could possess arms without any license. There were lots of things to see and admire around the Estate. There was always a stream of visitors and all of them stayed for days as the Estate guests making the most by travelling around the land and enjoying the company of literati and dignitaries and savouring the cuisines prepared by the Estate chefs. Prithimpassa was in those days a very interesting place with lots of things happening. For someone who has a mind and eyes for history and heritage it still has in some ways an aura of mystique. The village history dates back to the times when Sultans and Mughals ruled in Delhi. During the sepoy mutiny it got involved with the mutineers and consequently after the quelling of the mutiny the zamindar faced backlash from the British. The name of the Zamindar was Gaus Ali Khan, he was prosecuted for supporting the mutineers of Chittagong. The mutineers took shelter in his Estate. After a long and hard legal battle Gaus Ali Khan was exonerated. Lot has been written about Prithimpassa for political involvement and being in the vanguard of political and social changes. It was a melting pot of cultures and languages where people from India and West Pakistan came and cultural and linguistic exchanges took place. It was a rich land in the context of culture, history and political contribution for the making of a nation whether it was the late 1930s or early seventies or even the late 1940s when there was a political storm brewing in the sub continent and India was to be carved into two separate independent parts- Pakistan and India. In the war of liberation in the early 1970s Prithimpassa zamindar family was at the forefront and spearheaded the struggle for freedom putting all their resources at stake and fought to liberate the land from the stifling rule of Pakistani forces. The zamindar was a proactive force in the Sir Sadullah ministry of Assam. They were change makers in many areas and avenues and always stood with the common people. They were catalysts politically and socially.  They were leaders who always contributed positively. They were of high integrity and adhered to high values and morals which bore good for the country and the people. They left their marks on history, led a nation to victory, sacrified for freedom and for all their contribution and selfless dedication are respected and honoured today. Prithimpassa stands proudly in the midst of paddy fields, and mountains on one side towering over the land. There is a bustling bazaar which witnesses economic, social and political activities and hosts myriad political and social events. This village was the seat of the zamindars and Nawab Ali Amjad Khan, one of the renowned and illustrious scions of this family, lived here. His contributions were many in different fields. He contributed to political changes, educational development and road and communication improvement and progress. Ali Amjad Khan established the tower clock of Sylhet which stands over the river Surma and this clock is known as Ali Amjad’s Ghari it was built circa late 1870s. The work was started by his father Ali Ahmed Khan. Ali Ahmed Khan built the Chandni ghat at Surma River. Nawab Ali Amjad Khan donated land for roads -1900, and established Prithimpassa dispensary in 1889. He set up Ali Amjad Girls High School at Moulvibazar and a co ed high school at Prithimpassa known as Ali Amjad High School. His son Nawab Ali Haider Khan was an eminent politician in the early thirties to mid sixties of the last century; he was a minister for Power and Agriculture in Sir Sadullah Ministry at Assam in the late 1930s. He played a prominent role in the referendum of Sylhet.  Prithimpassa is a fascinating place with rich history and heritage. The deeper we go into Prithimpassa’s past the more we are enchanted and awestruck by its history. Tea plantation was started in the region in the late 19th century by the zamindars. The main bazaar which is an epicenter of all economic activities was established by one of the ancestors of this zamindar family named Md. Ali Rabi Khan in 1756 hence it is named after him and is known as Rabi Bazaar. Since its inception Rabi Bazaar has spanned out in all directions and has become massive. It has a Jama Masjid established by one of the family members. There was development galore during those times. Ali Rabi Khan was known for his erudition and knowledge. He was given the title Danish Mand by the Nawab of Bengal along with other titles and sanads. From records it seems he was a spiritual leader and teacher; a savant with wide knowledge and intellectual mind, hence was given the Danish Mand title which literally means a learned and wise man who possesses trove of knowledge. He was given sanads (Imperial decrees) by the Moghal Emperors Aurangzeb, Ahmed Shah and Alamgir II. Through 

these sanads huge swathes of land, cultivable and forest areas were given to Moulavi Mohammad Rabi Khan. In his book The Rise of Islam and the Bengal Frontier, 1204-1760, Richard M. Eaton mentions the sanads given to him by Emperors Aurangzeb, Ahmed Shah and Alamgir II. There was a news item in The Daily Telegraph, Kolkata of 03 March 2006 that archaeologists stumbled upon ancient treasure trove in a school in Silchar, Assam, which included an engraved copper plate dating to the time of the Gupta kings some 1100 years ago and among those relics and documents the archaeologists also discovered a note, a hand-written English translation of the Prithimpassa stone inscriptions, many of which had either been vandalized or lost. The news further stated that the landlords of the Prithimpasa zamindari enclave engraved these inscriptions. It went on to write that the scions of the noble family of Prithimpasa arrived on Indian soil during the reign of the Lodi dynasty. They were granted rights to vast swathes of land on the banks of the Surma River. This family presided over a long lineage of zamindars, which reigned in this district in the 16th and 19th centuries. The homestead of the zamindar is picturesque, captivating and beautiful with two mansions and a massive pond of few acres in front. The Mosque is situated in front of the mansions and the Imambara is beside it where Moharram programmes are organized. The Estate had its own electricity, before electricity was introduced in 1974. The Estate wildlife was preserved and protected in the forests without anyone having the permission to hunt. Tigers, Leopards, wild fowls, pheasants and other wild birds and big game thrived; the jungle was teeming with wildlife. Even wild elephants roamed and some were occasionally caught and tamed for the Estate’s uses. Tigers were presented by the Estate to Kolkata and Karachi zoos. Head of State like the Shah (King) of Iran Reza Shah Pahelvi visited the Estate for four days being the personal guest of the zamindar in 1950 and with him came the Governor General of Pakistan Khwaja Nazimuddin. Ayub Khan, who later became the President of Pakistan, was in the entourage as GCO. Several hunting trips were arranged in the forests of the Estate and beatings for big game were organized. Ambassadors especially the American Ambassador, foreign dignitaries, high officials were regular guests and stayed in the Estate’s mansions. The Maharajah of Tripura visited the Estate during Nawab Ali Amjad Khan’s time at his invitation as he had very cordial relationship with him. Faiz Ahmed Faiz renowned Urdu poet who was nominated for the Nobel Prize for literature was once the guest of the family. Even Moulana Bhashani on the invitation of the the zamindar visited the Estate. The zamindars of Prithimpassa had strong blood and matrimonial relationship with Nawab Bahadur of Murshidabad Sir Syed wasif Ali Meerza, KCVO, KCSI, Nawab of Patna, Nawab of Rampur, Nawab of Awadh, Nizam of Hyderabad and Salar jung of Hyderabad. So, this is a brief write-up to tell the readers about a place called Prithimpassa. 

History Brief History of the Family Prithimpassa By Ali Hamid Khan

 History Brief History of the Family Prithimpassa is a small village situated few miles from Kulaura Upazila in Moulvibazar district. This place has a rich history and is a very popular place for people interested in heritage, history and visiting places of antiquity. This place is a tourist attraction because in this village is situated Prithimpassa Nawab Bari. The Nawab Bari has a rich history and the family is known and respected by the people in the region. The family has played many important roles and contributed hugely from time to time in the nation’s history – during the liberation war of 1971 the members of the family played a pivotal role and also when Pakistan became independent from India and later when Sylhet merged with East Pakistan through the 1948 referendum. The founder of the family was Sakhi Salamat who settled here from Persia in 1499. His son was Ismail Khan Lodhi titled Khan Jahan Khan who was called Khanja Khan in Bengalee. He was, during the reign of Sulaiman Shah father of Daud Shah, made governor of Orissa and was given the title Khanja Khan. When Daud Shah ascended the throne in A.D. 1573 or A.H. 980, he also confirmed him as governor of Orissa. During the reign of Akbar he was given Jagirs and was under the Moguls. In the reign of Jahangir in 1612 A.D Eastern Bengal was conquered and during that period all the Umaras under the Bengal King were brought under the Moghul king and were settled in the area with assurances to live peacefully under the Moghul ruler. Shamsui-Din was the son of Amir-ulUmara Nawab Khan Jahan Ismail Khan Lodhi who lived from 1624 to 1682 A.D. His son was Maulvi Mohammad Rabi Khan titled Danishmand. He was an erudite person and a highly respected and revered scholar of his time. He was the teacher of the children of Nawab Nazim of Bengal i.e., Nawab Sarfaraz Khan and Nawab Shahamat Jang and others. He obtained jagirs under sanad from Nawab Sarfaraz Khan and Nawab Ali Wardi Khan, Mahabat Jung’s nephew, Nawab Nawazish Muhammad Khan Shahamat Jang who was Naeb Subedhar of Dhaka. He obtained a Jagir from Nawab Qasim Ali Khan, Nazim of Bengal, also under a sanad and these sanads are still in the family in original. Maulavi Muhammad Rabi according to history emerges as a figure of considerable charismatic authority and organizational ability. He commanded considerable manpower in order to carry out his work. He received sanad from Moghul emperor Alamgir-II. He also obtained Jagir from Nawab Qasim Khan Nazim of Bengal. It was given by a Sanad. Ref: The Rise of Islam and the Bengal Frontier, 1204-1760. Richard M. Eaton. Danishmand had gained the confidence and respect of the Nawab Nazim of Bengal in the State of Murshidabad. He received jagirs in 1141 BS and 1156 BS. In 1756 he established Rabir Bazar. The Nazim of Bengal in recognition of his intellect and erudition gave him the title of "Danishmand". According to some reliable sources there was even a calendar in his honour in the reign of Nazims of Bengal. The capital of Bengal was then Murshidabad. Moulvi Mohammad Ali Khan great grandfather of Moulvi Nawab Ali Amjad Khan was the son of Moulvi Mohammad Rabi, titled Danishmand. He was the assistant Qazi of Sylhet district in 1773 and afterwards became a Qazi of Taraf. In 1793 he put down the rebellion of Naga and Koki tribes for which he obtained a Jagir and some authority of keeping troops and other honours from the British Government. In 1819 the Jagirs were made permanent with the family. In the sepoy mutiny of 1857 the family sided with the mutineers. Some 300 sepoys who revolted against the British looted the Chittagong Treasury and took shelter with Gaus Ali Khan the zamindar of Prithimpassa. Maulvi Mohammad Ali Khan’s son was Ghaus Ali Khan; his son was Ali Ahmad Khan who in 1869 (1275 BS) helped the British Government in the battle of Loshai. The British Government 

thanked him and as a token of its gratitude and appreciation exempted him from Arms Act. During his period the Estates revenue reached its peak and the powers and authorities of the Estate grew enormously. Nawab Ali Ahmed Khan constructed the Chandni Ghat at Sylhet on Surma River. He helped the then government in Loshai expedition with logistics and manpower. He received arms exemption from the British. He died in 1874. His son was Nawab Ali Amjad Khan and a daughter Latifa Banu. In 1278 BS- 3rd. Agrahan 1871. Nawab Ali Amjad Khan was born in Prithimpassa in the family Estate. His mother’s name was Umraonissa Khatun. Nawab Ali Amjad Khan was very successful in increasing the revenue of the Estate many fold. In 1304 BS i.e. 1897 there was a cataclysmic earthquake. The damage was colossal to the region and the Estate. The physiography of the region was seriously changed due to the earthquake, which struck on 12 July 1897. Nawab Ali Amjad Khan was an expert hunter and undertook many hunting expeditions in which he usually invited other zamindars and Nawabs from as far away as Murshidabad and Rampur in India. According to record he alone shot 43 tigers from his own jungle and other forests of Assam and Tripura. He also won trophies for marksmanship. Among many achievements one was the establishment of Rungicherra Tea Estate. He was one of the pioneers in Tea cultivation. He established Ali Amjad Girls High School. He considered education as the most vital organ of society for development and progress. He was always in the forefront in this area. He sanctioned stipends and scholarships to Karimganj High School and other schools of Assam and Chittagong. He presented gold medals to outstanding students in Tripura and offered financial assistance to poor and deserving students. He was the member of The Aligarh University Committee. In recognition of his contribution towards the development of education in Sylhet he received citations and accolades from the British government. In Prithimpassa apart from his contribution towards the area’s development in various fields he established Ali Amjad High School, which is a co-education institution. There are letters and certificates from that time praising him for his services to the public. Among the myriad areas where he contributed with finance and logistics Communication, Postal system, Medical, were some of them. He employed outstanding personnel and applied best methods in the management of his Estate. The British in recognition for his contributions to the region, in various areas, declared Nawab Ali Amjad Khan Honorary Magistrate. In 1901 Lord Curzon who was the Governor General of India visited Silchar and Nawab Ali Amjad Khan played a prominent role during the visit. In 1301 BS (1895) Chaitra he visited Nawab Bahadur of Murshidabad Syed Wasif Ali Meerza who was his close friend. They had a very successful tiger hunt in the hills near Bahadurpur Station in Assam. Nawab Ali Amjad Khan was an expert horse rider, Polo player and sharp shooter. The Sylhet tower clock popularly known as Ali Amjad’s Ghari was presented by his father Nawab Ali Ahmed Khan which he later constructed and completed during his lifetime. He was also a very generous and caring man and many stories relating to these qualities are still remembered. There is a popular story about him where he gave away his elephant to a small, poor boy of the area. In 1304 BS, 30th Jaistha (1898) a massive earthquake shook up the region. It was the 10th. Of Moharram the losses were huge. Many buildings and structures were destroyed. During his trip to Kolkata in 1312 BS, 14 Ashin (1905) he was struck with Enteric fever and on 10th. Agrahan, 1312 BS (1905) at 11 am he passed away. He left for his heavenly abode at a young age of 34 years and 7 days. It was a big blow for Prithimpassa, his Estate and the entire region. 

His sons Nawab Ali Haider Khan and Nawab Ali Asghar Khan also led exemplary lives. Nawab Ali Haider Khan was born in 1900 (Maagh 29, 1306) and died on June 30th, 1963. He and his brother married the daughters of the Honourable Ihtisham-ul- Mulk, Rais-ul-Dowla, Amir-ulOmrah, Nawab Asef Kudr Syed Wasif Ali Meerza, Khan Bahadur, K.C.S.I, K.C.V.O. Mahabut, Jung; Premiere noble of Bengal, Behar and Orissa; he was 38th in descent to the Prophet of Islam Hazrat Mohammad (SM). Nawab Ali Haider Khan was a minister in the cabinet of Sir Syed Muhammad Sadullah who was Premier of Assam from 1937 to 1938; again from 19391941. He was also was a minister in the G. Bardalai’s cabinet. Bardalai was Premier from 19381939 and again from 1946-1950, of Assam. He held different ministries in the two separate governments (Agriculture and Power and Water Development. from 1937 to 1939, November). Nawab Ali Haider Khan was the leader of the Independent Muslim Party- In 1945 he was, in the Parliamentary Board which was formed with Assam Congress Coalition and Independent Muslim Parliamentary Party of which he was the leader, along with Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (who later became the President of India), and G. Bardalai. (Muslims in Assam Politics by M. Kar 1990, Pg. 251). After partition he continued in politics as leader of Muslim League and contested elections. The Prithimpassa Estate’s library was established in 1921. In 1950 the Shah of Iran Reza Shah Pahalvi visited Prithimpassa Estate and stayed fro four days at the palace of the Nawabs and went to wild life hunting in the Estate’s forests. The then Governor General of Pakistan Khwaja Nazimuddin accompanied him in this trip. His children were Ali Safdar Khan, Sahebzadi Syedatunnessa Begum and Nawab Ali Sarwar Khan. Ali Safdar Khan was the eldest son born in 1917 in the Murshidabad Palace of his maternal grandfather. He died in 1974 on 16th July at Dhaka. He was popularly known as Raja Saheb. He was a leader in Ballisara peasant movement of the 60s. In 1971 he led the liberation war as commander of his regiment from the Tripura borders. Sahebzadi Sayeedunnessa Begum the only daughter was born in 1923 in Calcutta, died December 6th 1999. She was married to Prince Wahid Ali Mirza, direct descendant and heir apparent of ruler of Oudh Wajid Ali Shah. From him she had a son Sahebzada Asif Ali Mirza the great grandson of Prince Qamar Qadr and great greatson of Wajid Ali Shah the ruler of the Royal House of Awadh. After his premature death she married a very successful and honorable Police Officer, India Syed Amanat Hossain, who was a Barah Syed, the lineal descendant of the Prophat of Islam. He was superintendent of Special Police Department controlled by the Federal Govt. in Islamabad and in charge of East Pakistan. Nawab Ali Sarwar Khan was the youngest child born on 15th. May 1924 at Kolkata, at Sylhet House. He died in 1995, 21st July, at Dhaka. He was elected member of Provincial Assembly, which later became Constituent Assembly following the independence of Bangladesh, on December 9th. 1970. In 1973 he contested the election again and was elected Member of Parliament by a landslide. He was a freedom fighter. He was at the Tripura front. Nawab Ali Asghar Khan, was the second and youngest son of Nawab Ali Amjad Khan. He was born in 1903 (Poush 28, 1309 BS). He died in May 1984. He was MLC from Muslim League in undivided India. His son was Nawab Ali Yeawar Khan was born at Kolkata, India in 1925. He was MPA from 1958 to 1968 during the regime of Ayub Khan. He was the first chairman of No. 12 Prithimpassa Union. Prithimpassa is still visited by people from far away places who want to see for themselves this historical place and learn about its history. It is rich in history and architectural designs and still reminds one of the days from the past and the people who contributed to its richness.