Book on Ashfaqullah Khan

Guntur: Prof. Abdul Noor Basha of Nagarjuna University released a book titled Shaheed-e-Azam Ashfaqulla Khan, written by noted Telugu writer Syed Naseer Ahmed at Mangalagiri Press Club Hall on August 18, 2002. The book release function was organized by Mangalagiri Press Club.

Speaking on the occasion Prof. Basha said that the sacrifices and the role of Muslims in the freedom struggle should be brought to the notice of Non-Muslim brethren. If the publications are in regional languages, the message will reach to the public at large, he said. Guntur Zilla Parishad Chairman Sri. Pathuri Nagabhushanam appreciated the work of Syed Naseer and advised him to write more on the supreme sacrifices of Muslims not only in the freedom struggle but also in the development of the country, so that people come to know their share of contributions for the country.

Prabhudas, chairman of Andhra Pradesh Dalitha Mahasabha and a noted advocate asked the Muslim writers to counter and prevent the spread of the hatred theory of Sangh Pariwar in the country, by bringing the historical facts and sacrifices of the heroes like Ashfaqulla Khan to the notice of the Non-Muslims. Andhra Pradesh working journalist’s union president Sr. Simhadri Srinivasa Reddy presided over the meeting. He informed the audience about some other books of Syed Naseer.

Founder of Shahjahanpur

In Bar-Bar, a Kasbah of Peshawar city in Afghanistan, there lived a famous person named, Darya Khan, he belonged to the Baker Zai tribe and was a chief of his tribe. He was a farmer and trader of horses. Once in connection with the trade of horses he came to Hassanpur district Muradabad. Rukan-ud-deen Khan the brother of Hasan Khan married his daughter with the Daria Khan. The daughter of Rukan-ud-deen Khan gave the birth to three sons named Sir Abdal Khan (Bahadur Khan) who was the founder of Shahjahanpur. Second one was Jalal khan (Delayer Khan the founder of Shahbad) and third one was Enayat Khan (administrator of Bahadur Ghar in Muradabad).

The city of Shahjahanpur was inhabited by the Nawab Bahadur Khan (then he was the Nawab of Kanaog) in the time of Shahjahan the place was covered with dense forests and it was called as Chotta-Duaba, the Gujar Aheer were the inhabitants of this area. There ware three small Rajas, named as Manghee Singh, Bhola Singh & Cheppy Singh. These Rajas ware rulers in their areas these Gujar Aheer were militant nature and used to plunder the caravans, which passed through this area. Not only this but also many time the attacked the Mugal army from the behind in gorilla style. Their aggressions of gorilla attacks went on increasing day by day. These aggressions annoyed Shahjahan the emperor of India. He deputed Nawab Bahadur Khan to suppress and crush these Gujars.

Emperor Shahjahan ordered Nawab Bhadur Khan to clean this forest and rehabited this area. Bahadur Khan went to Afghanistan and persuaded the Afghan tribes to migrate and rehabilitated this area. In the first badge of migration about 13000 afghan marched toward this area. This number included 52 tribes and Khel viz Eman Zai, Bakar Zai, Nasar Zai, Taju Khel, Mohammad Zai, Sin Zai, Baru Zai, Wafa Zai, Bangash, Lodi, Tareen, Khaleel, Sarbnd…etc. This place was distributed in 52 Mohallas. Most of these Molalla ware named on the named of tribes and rest on the name of the Nawab Bhadur Khan's & his brother's and relative's and relative's named Viz. Jalal Nagar, Shahbaz Nagar Bhadurganj etc.In the out word area of this place Phathan tribes ware inhabited for the protection of the city. And the Khatries who had also migrated from Afghanistan were inhabited in the center of the city. There was only the wall of flash and boons of the Afghan Pathan to protect the city by the enemies.

This was the end of Gujar robbers for good this place was named in the name of Shahjahan. And it was called as Shahjahanpur.

Most of the migrated Pathan joined the army of Nawab and this army was subjected to the Mughal Emperor. Some adopted the occupation of agriculture on the awarded lands.

After the coronation of Shahjahanpur, Bahadur Khan was awarded the title of Nawabi. In several battles Bhadur Khan fought from the Mughal force bravely. Conquered. Many place. On his faithfulness to the emperor. The title of Chugta that was the highest award of Mughal kingdom was awarded to him and princess Tamuria was married with him and the state of Kanooj and Kalpi was also awarded to him .in the campaigned of Qandhar the full charged was handed over to Nawab Bhadur khan. After making the all necessary arrangement the time of early in the morning was fixed for the attack but unfortunately Nawab Bhadur Khan expired in the night of 19 Jamadus Sani 1959 Hijri and according to his will his dead body brought to Shahjahanpur with the royal honor he was buried in Mohalla Bhadurganj Maqbara was constructed and which is still in that area. At the time of death he was only of 42 year old. In this young age he had gained too much prestige and honor and the history of that period is full of his adventures.