Former Muslim Kambohs of Meerut
Encyclopedia
The Muslim Kamboh of Uttar Pradesh
are a Muslim
community that is part of the wider Kamboh ethnic group of South Asia
. They are also known as Zubairi
. The Muslim Kamboh are found mainly in the Rohilkhand
and Doab
region. They are entirely Sunni and speak Urdu
. As much as half the community has emigrated to Pakistan
, and are now found mainly in Karachi
.
origin, others claim Arab
origin, while others simply claim to be Muslim
converts from the Hindu
Kamboh caste
.
origin seems more prevalent among the Kamboh of Saharanpur District
. According to their traditions, during the early years of Islam
in India
, one of the groups of this clan
embraced Islam at the instance of Shaikh Bahauddin Zakariya Suhrawardi
(of Multan
) and his son Shaikh Sadruddin. Their tradition refers to their migration from Multan
to Saharanpur
under the Lodhi dynasty
. It is interesting that Saharanpur District
is also home to a large community of Hindu
Kambohs, and may be the site of their earliest settlement in Uttar Pradesh
..
origin is more common among the Kamboh of Etah
and Bareilly
districts. They generally now prefer to be known as Zubairi
. Zubairi literraly means in Arabic a descendent of Zubair, and the Zubairi Kamboh claim descent Zubair ibn al-Awam
. Zubair ibn al-Awam
was the first cousin of the Prophet but was also one of his closest companions. He was known for his valor and bravery and is remembered as the conqueror of Egypt
in 19 AH. He embraced martyrdom in 36 AH. Zubair was laid to rest in Basra
, near the borders of Kuwait
and Iraq
. This town was named as Al-Zubair. Zubair had twelve sons and nine daughters. Three of his famous sons were Abdullah, Musab and Urwah. Abdullah was a Muslim caliph at Makkah, Musab was the governor of Kufa
in 73 AH and Urwa was the first Muslim historian.
After almost fifty years of the conquest of Sindh
by Muhammad Bin Qasim
, Zuberis started migrating from Makkah and Medina
towards Sindh
. Most of them settled at place near modern Dadu. By the end of 4th century AH Zuberis started migrating from Sindh to Multan
. During 14th century AD portion of Zuberi clan migrated to Delhi
. Sheikh Samauddin Zuberi was a famous Sufi who led this migration.
Afterwards Zuberi family flourished in Lahore
, Panipat
, Delhi
and Sambhal
. During the regime of Mughal
Emperor Akbar Zuberis also got settled in Meerut. Marehra
also became centre of the family activities in 15th century AD. In Marehra “Kanboh Mohallah” was having largest concentration of Zuberis. Around a hundred of the houses at Marehra were then owned by Zuberis.
had a tradition that they belonged to a distinguished Kamboh (Sanskrit
Kamboj
) family of Ghazni
which had come to India in early eleventh century in the invading army of Sulatn Mahmud of Ghazni (rule: 997 AD - 1030 AD). According to their own accounts the name "Kamboh" of the family is derived from that of their original home (i.e. Kamboh in Afghanistan
--Ancient Kamboja). The Muslaman Kambohs of Meerut stated that that one of their ancestors, Hasan Mahmudi Kamboh
was the Wazir (minister
) of Sultan Mahmud Ghazni and came to India
in first decade of eleventh century AD in the army of the Sultan
. Their ancestors succeeded in capturing the city of Meerut from Raja Mai of Meerut . Hassan Mahmudi Kamboh built the Jama Masjid in the city and around it stand buried the Kamboh heroes from Ghazni who fell in the attack on Meerut. The Masjid was later repaired in 16th century during the rule of Mughal
Emperor
Humayun
. The early members of the Kamboh family built the Sangi Mahal which was later known as Permit House and another elegant palace known as Rangi Mahal-- the remains of both these once-elegant palaces are still in existence.
and Moghul rule. Miyan Jumman Khan Kamboh was "Hajib-i-Khas" (Special Lord of Bed Chamber) , Umar Khan Kamboh was Amir-i-Akhur (Minister of Cavalry department) and Miyan Ladan Khan Kamboh was an Imam and Royal Nadim of Sikandar Lodhi
. Shaikh Itmad-ul-Malik Sambhal was Amir-i-Arz (Paymaster General) and then Prime Minister of Sher Shah Suri
. General Shahbaz Khan Kamboh
was the most capable and trusted general of the Akbar . He had been "Mir Tozak" (Quarter Master General/Master of Ceremonies), "Mir Bakshi" (Lord Pay Master General/Chief Military Adviser), and "Wakil" (Highest Mughal Administrative Officer, Prime Minister) of Emperor Akbar . As a Governor of Bengal
in 1581, Shabaz Khan had distinguished himself greatly and had commanded 9000 strong cavalry in Bengal when operating in Brahmputra,. Shaikh Gadai Kamboh
had been "Sadru-s-Sadur" or "Sadar-i-Jahan" (Administrator General or Lord Chief Justice) in Akbar's reign.. Nawab Saddullah Khan Chanyoti was the Prime Minister and General Nawab Bahadur Kamboh had been very active and intelligent military officer and Vizier (Minister
) in the court of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan
. General Nawab Khair Andesh Khan
held a mansab of 5000 horsemen during reign of Aurangzeb
and of 6000 during Bahadur Shah
's reign and had been governor
of Katehr (Rohilkhand
), Bihar
, Etawah, Bengal
, Kalabagh and Hamuiri at different times of his life .
Numerous other Kamboj are known to have occupied very key military and civil positions during Lodhi
, Pashtun
and the Moghul reign in India. "The Sayyid
s and the Kambohs among the Indian Muslims were specially favored for high military and civil positions during Moghul rule" .
"The Kambo, Indian Shaikhzada
s and local Saiyid
nobles rose to prominence during the period under review" (i.e. Lodi dynasty of Delhi) .
Muhammad Umar writes: "The (Muslim) Kamboh distinguished themselves by their courage, generosity and high spirits. They were famous for their excellent manners and were particularly gifted with wisdom and nobility....In terms of social stratification, the Kambohs were counted among the Shaikhs.....Among the Indian Muslims, the Kambohs were regarded as the noblest of all. However, perhaps with a view to maintaining the purity of their descent, or because of pride of nobility, they confined their matrimonial relationships within their own groups and did not establish marriage connections with other Muslim
groups including even the Saiyids and the Mughals. Some members of this clan like Shahbaz Khan Kamboh, Nawab Abu Muhammad Khan, Bahadur Khan and Nawab Khair Andesh Khan rose to high positions during the reign of Mughals" .
Ain-i-Akbari
of Abu-Al-Fazal Alami (Trans. H. Blochman) informs us that it was a matter of distinction to belong to the Kamboh lineage during the reigns of Mughal emperors like Akbar and Jahangir .
The Kambohs held Nakodar
in Jullundur and Sohna in Gurgaon
some centuries ago; and the tombs and mosque
s that they have left (in Sohna) show that they must have enjoyed considerable position.
, Moradabad
, Jyotiba Phule Nagar, Saharabpur
, Meerut
and Etah
. In Moradabad District
, they are found in the towns of Sambhal
and Hasanpur
, and the Sambhal
Kambohs were at one time substantial landowners. In Jyotiba Phule Nagar District
, the Kamboh families of the city of Amroha
have also played an important role in the affairs of that city. The Kamboh of Saharanpur District
are found mainly in villages near the city, and differ from other Kambohs as they are largely farmers.In Etah District
, there are several families in the town of Marehra
. Other Kamboh communities are found in the cities of Bareilly
, Meerut and Ghaziabad.
This Meerut Kamboh family had produced many distinguished nobles during Mughal rule in India.
Besides the above, there were many other members of the family who occupied distinguished positions and served with distinction during the Mughal
and British
reigns.
There was another family of Musalman Kambohs of Meerut related to the above which was headed by Khan Bahadur Muhammad Sadik (born 1833 AD). This family traced descent from Nawab Asad Khan who settled in Meerut three centuries ago and was Wazir (minister
) during time of Mughal Emperors. Muhammad Sadik's father Haji Mumtaz Ali Khan Kamboh who has served the Government as Revenue Officer and Honorary Magistrate. Muhammad Sadik had been Deputy Magistrate in irrigation department and received Sanad in Darbar as well as Khilat from Lord Cunning. He also received Certificate at the Imperial Assemblage of Delhi
in 1877 on the occasion of Proclamation of Her Most Gracious Majesty as Empress of India
and a title of Khan Bahadur in 1887 on the occasion of Jubilee of Her Majesty's reign .
The important Gate of Meerut known as Kamboh Gate was built by Nawab Abu Mohammad Khan Kamboh (1658 AD) belonging to this family. Mausoleum
or Maqbara
of Abu Muhhamad Kamboh is also located in Meerut which was built by his family members in 1688 AD. There is another Maqbara
of the same family containing the remains of Abu Yar Muhhamad in Meerut (1039H).
, the all descendants of the above Kamboh families threw their lot with Pakistan and migrated to Karachi
during 1947.
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
are a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
community that is part of the wider Kamboh ethnic group of South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
. They are also known as Zubairi
Zubairi
Zubairi or Zubayri or Zuberi or Zebari is a family name in Middle East and South Asia. In Arabic Zubair means Superior...
. The Muslim Kamboh are found mainly in the Rohilkhand
Rohilkhand
Rohilkhand is a region of northwestern Uttar Pradesh state of India.Rohilkhand lies on the upper Ganges alluvial plain and has an area of about 25,000 km²/10,000 square miles...
and Doab
Doab
A Doab is a term used in India and Pakistan for a "tongue" or tract of land lying between two confluent rivers...
region. They are entirely Sunni and speak Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
. As much as half the community has emigrated to Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, and are now found mainly in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
.
Origin
There are a number of different traditions as to the origin of the Kamboh. Some Kamboh claim AfghanAfghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
origin, others claim Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
origin, while others simply claim to be Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
converts from the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
Kamboh caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
.
- Those who claim Indian ancestry claim descent from Raja Sodakhsh of KambojaKambojasThe Kambojas were a kshatriya tribe of Iron Age India, frequently mentioned in Sanskrit and Pali literature.They were an Indo-Iranian tribe situated at the boundary of the Indo-Aryans and the Iranians, and appear to have moved from the Iranian into the Indo-Aryan sphere over time.The Kambojas...
, an ancient Indian kingdom. The Rajah was a descendent of the god Chandra Verman, and the KambojasKambojasThe Kambojas were a kshatriya tribe of Iron Age India, frequently mentioned in Sanskrit and Pali literature.They were an Indo-Iranian tribe situated at the boundary of the Indo-Aryans and the Iranians, and appear to have moved from the Iranian into the Indo-Aryan sphere over time.The Kambojas...
are referred to in the MahabharataMahabharataThe Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
. They are said to have inhabitted AfghanistanAfghanistanAfghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, which was known as Kamboja desa, or land of the Kamboh.
- Those who claim AfghanAfghanistanAfghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
origin, claim to belong to the famous Kayani dynasty of ancient IranIranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. The word Kamboh is said to be a compound of the word Kai Ambo, after an ancestor. The descendents of this king were known as the Kamboh, and GhazniGhazniFor the Province of Ghazni see Ghazni ProvinceGhazni is a city in central-east Afghanistan with a population of about 141,000 people...
in AfghanistanAfghanistanAfghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
was a centre of their power.
- Those who claim ArabArabArab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
ancestry claim descent from Zubair ibn al-AwamZubair ibn al-AwamZubair ibn al-Awwam, was a companion of Muhammad, father to Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr and later one of the most successful commanders of the Rashidun army and served under the Rashidun caliphs Abu Bakr and Umar.Zubair, who was a cousin of the prophet Muhammad, was an early convert to Islam.He served...
, the first cousin of the Prophet Mohammad. According to this tradition, the original homeland of the Kamboh was MultanMultanMultan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
and not AfghanistanAfghanistanAfghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
Hindu Origin
The tradition of an HinduHindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
origin seems more prevalent among the Kamboh of Saharanpur District
Saharanpur District
Saharanpur district is the northernmost of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state, India. Bordering the states of Haryana and Uttarakhand, and close to the foothills of Shivalik range, it lies in the northern part of the Doab region...
. According to their traditions, during the early years of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, one of the groups of this clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
embraced Islam at the instance of Shaikh Bahauddin Zakariya Suhrawardi
Baha-ud-din Zakariya
Baha-ud-din Zakariya was a Sufi of Suhrawardiyya order . His full name was Al-Sheikh Al-Kabir Sheikh-ul-Islam Baha-ud-Din Abu Muhammad Zakaria Al-Qureshi Al-Asadi Al Hashmi....
(of Multan
Multan
Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
) and his son Shaikh Sadruddin. Their tradition refers to their migration from Multan
Multan
Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
to Saharanpur
Saharanpur
Saharanpur is a city and a Municipal Corporation in the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Saharanpur District as well as Saharanpur Division...
under the Lodhi dynasty
Lodhi dynasty
Lodi Dynasty was a Pashtun dynasty that was the last dynasty to rule the Delhi Sultanate. The dynasty founded by Bahlul Lodi ruled from 1451 to 1526...
. It is interesting that Saharanpur District
Saharanpur District
Saharanpur district is the northernmost of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state, India. Bordering the states of Haryana and Uttarakhand, and close to the foothills of Shivalik range, it lies in the northern part of the Doab region...
is also home to a large community of Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
Kambohs, and may be the site of their earliest settlement in Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
..
Arab Origin
The tradition of an ArabArab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
origin is more common among the Kamboh of Etah
Etah District
Etah district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Etah town is the district headquarters. Etah district is a part of Aligarh Division. It is dominated by Yadavs and Rajputs.-Economy:...
and Bareilly
Bareilly District
Bareilly district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. City of Bareilly is the district headquarters. The district consists of six tehsils. These are: Aonla, Baheri, City of Bareilly, Faridpur, Meerganj and Nawabganj. Bareilly district is a part of Bareilly Division....
districts. They generally now prefer to be known as Zubairi
Zubairi
Zubairi or Zubayri or Zuberi or Zebari is a family name in Middle East and South Asia. In Arabic Zubair means Superior...
. Zubairi literraly means in Arabic a descendent of Zubair, and the Zubairi Kamboh claim descent Zubair ibn al-Awam
Zubair ibn al-Awam
Zubair ibn al-Awwam, was a companion of Muhammad, father to Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr and later one of the most successful commanders of the Rashidun army and served under the Rashidun caliphs Abu Bakr and Umar.Zubair, who was a cousin of the prophet Muhammad, was an early convert to Islam.He served...
. Zubair ibn al-Awam
Zubair ibn al-Awam
Zubair ibn al-Awwam, was a companion of Muhammad, father to Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr and later one of the most successful commanders of the Rashidun army and served under the Rashidun caliphs Abu Bakr and Umar.Zubair, who was a cousin of the prophet Muhammad, was an early convert to Islam.He served...
was the first cousin of the Prophet but was also one of his closest companions. He was known for his valor and bravery and is remembered as the conqueror of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
in 19 AH. He embraced martyrdom in 36 AH. Zubair was laid to rest in Basra
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
, near the borders of Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
and 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....
. This town was named as Al-Zubair. Zubair had twelve sons and nine daughters. Three of his famous sons were Abdullah, Musab and Urwah. Abdullah was a Muslim caliph at Makkah, Musab was the governor of Kufa
Kufa
Kufa is a city in Iraq, about south of Baghdad, and northeast of Najaf. It is located on the banks of the Euphrates River. The estimated population in 2003 was 110,000....
in 73 AH and Urwa was the first Muslim historian.
After almost fifty years of the conquest of Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
by Muhammad Bin Qasim
Muhammad bin Qasim
Muhammad bin Qasim Al-Thaqafi was a Umayyad general who, at the age of 17, began the conquest of the Sindh and Punjab regions along the Indus River for the Umayyad Caliphate. He was born in the city of Taif...
, Zuberis started migrating from Makkah and Medina
Medina
Medina , or ; also transliterated as Madinah, or madinat al-nabi "the city of the prophet") is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, and...
towards Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
. Most of them settled at place near modern Dadu. By the end of 4th century AH Zuberis started migrating from Sindh to Multan
Multan
Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
. During 14th century AD portion of Zuberi clan migrated to Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
. Sheikh Samauddin Zuberi was a famous Sufi who led this migration.
Afterwards Zuberi family flourished in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, Panipat
Panipat
Panipat بَنِبَت is an ancient and historic city in Panipat district, Haryana state, India. It is 90 km north from Delhi and 169 km south of Chandigarh on NH-1. The three battles fought at the city were turning points in Indian history. The city is famous in India by the name of "City of...
, Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
and Sambhal
Sambhal
Sambhal is a town and tehsil and headquarters of Bhimnagar district in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Sambhal is an ancient settlement that was also important during the period of Muslim rule and was one of Sikandar Lodi ’s provincial capitals in the late 15th and early 16th...
. During the regime of 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 Akbar Zuberis also got settled in Meerut. Marehra
Marehra
Marehra is a city and a municipal board in Etah district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-----About Marehra:Marehra or better known as Marehra Shaif is a famous religious site for Muslims from all over the world.Marehra is also famous for its delicious mangoes-Demographics: India census,...
also became centre of the family activities in 15th century AD. In Marehra “Kanboh Mohallah” was having largest concentration of Zuberis. Around a hundred of the houses at Marehra were then owned by Zuberis.
Afghan Origin
The Muslim Kambohs of Meerut, in Uttar PradeshUttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
had a tradition that they belonged to a distinguished Kamboh (Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
Kamboj
Kamboj
The Kambojs , also Kamboh, are an ethnic community of the Punjab region. They may relate to the Kambojas, an Iranian tribe known to the people of Iron Age India and mentioned in ancient Sanskrit texts and epigraphy. Kamboj is frequently used as a surname in lieu of the sub-caste or the gotra name...
) family of Ghazni
Ghazni
For the Province of Ghazni see Ghazni ProvinceGhazni is a city in central-east Afghanistan with a population of about 141,000 people...
which had come to India in early eleventh century in the invading army of Sulatn Mahmud of Ghazni (rule: 997 AD - 1030 AD). According to their own accounts the name "Kamboh" of the family is derived from that of their original home (i.e. Kamboh in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
--Ancient Kamboja). The Muslaman Kambohs of Meerut stated that that one of their ancestors, Hasan Mahmudi Kamboh
Hasan Mahmudi Kamboh
Hasan Mahmudi Kamboh was an ancestor of the Kamboh Nawabs od Meerut. He was a Wazir of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni and came to India during one of Sultan's war expeditions against the India during tenth/eleventh centuries. Hasan Mahmudi Kamboh captured the city of Meerut from its Raja Mai...
was the Wazir (minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
) of Sultan Mahmud Ghazni and came to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in first decade of eleventh century AD in the army of the Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
. Their ancestors succeeded in capturing the city of Meerut from Raja Mai of Meerut . Hassan Mahmudi Kamboh built the Jama Masjid in the city and around it stand buried the Kamboh heroes from Ghazni who fell in the attack on Meerut. The Masjid was later repaired in 16th century during the rule of 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
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
Humayun
Humayun
Nasir ud-din Muhammad Humayun was the second Mughal Emperor who ruled present day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of northern India from 1530–1540 and again from 1555–1556. Like his father, Babur, he lost his kingdom early, but with Persian aid, he eventually regained an even larger one...
. The early members of the Kamboh family built the Sangi Mahal which was later known as Permit House and another elegant palace known as Rangi Mahal-- the remains of both these once-elegant palaces are still in existence.
History
Muslim Kambojs were influential during LodhiLodhi
Lodhi is a Batani Pashtun tribe mainly found in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They were part of a wave of Pashtuns who pushed east into what is today Pakistan. Often accompanying the Timurids who conquered South Asia, the Lodhi established themselves during the Islamic period as a Muslim ruling class...
and Moghul rule. Miyan Jumman Khan Kamboh was "Hajib-i-Khas" (Special Lord of Bed Chamber) , Umar Khan Kamboh was Amir-i-Akhur (Minister of Cavalry department) and Miyan Ladan Khan Kamboh was an Imam and Royal Nadim of Sikandar Lodhi
Sikandar Lodhi
Sikandar Lodi , born Nizam Khan, was the second ruler of the Afghan Lodi Dynasty, who reigned over Sultanate of Delhi from 1489 to 1517.-Biography:...
. Shaikh Itmad-ul-Malik Sambhal was Amir-i-Arz (Paymaster General) and then Prime Minister of Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri , birth name Farid Khan, also known as Sher Khan , was the founder of the short-lived Sur Empire in northern India, with its capital at Delhi, before its demise in the hands of the resurgent Mughal Empire...
. General Shahbaz Khan Kamboh
General Shahbaz Khan Kamboh
Shahbaz Khan Kamboh was one of the most capable and trustworthy Generals of Mughal Emperor Akbar. He participated in some of the most difficult expeditions of Akbar and annexed numerous territories to the empire...
was the most capable and trusted general of the Akbar . He had been "Mir Tozak" (Quarter Master General/Master of Ceremonies), "Mir Bakshi" (Lord Pay Master General/Chief Military Adviser), and "Wakil" (Highest Mughal Administrative Officer, Prime Minister) of Emperor Akbar . As a Governor of Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
in 1581, Shabaz Khan had distinguished himself greatly and had commanded 9000 strong cavalry in Bengal when operating in Brahmputra,. Shaikh Gadai Kamboh
Shaikh Gadai Kamboh
Shaikh Gadai Kamboh was the son, disciple and successor of famous scholar, philosopher and poet-laureate Shaikh Jamali Kamboh of Delhi and brother of the 'Master of Expression' --Shaikh Abd-al-Hai Hayati. His real name was Abdur Rehman but he became famous as Gadai. He was well-renowned for his...
had been "Sadru-s-Sadur" or "Sadar-i-Jahan" (Administrator General or Lord Chief Justice) in Akbar's reign.. Nawab Saddullah Khan Chanyoti was the Prime Minister and General Nawab Bahadur Kamboh had been very active and intelligent military officer and Vizier (Minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
) in the court of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan Shah Jahan (also spelled Shah Jehan, Shahjehan, , Persian: شاه جهان) (January 5, 1592 – January 22, 1666) Shah Jahan (also spelled Shah Jehan, Shahjehan, , Persian: شاه جهان) (January 5, 1592 – January 22, 1666) (Full title: His Imperial Majesty Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan...
. General Nawab Khair Andesh Khan
General Nawab Khair Andesh Khan
General Nawab Khair Andesh Khan was son of Nawab Muhabbat Khan. He was the most noted member of the illustrious family of the Kamboh Nawabs of Meerut and flourished during the reign of Shah Jehan and Aurangzeb....
held a mansab of 5000 horsemen during reign of Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
and of 6000 during Bahadur Shah
Bahadur Shah
Bahadur Shah may refer to*Bahadur Shah of Gujarat *Bahadur Shah I , Mughal Emperor*Bahadur Shah II , the last Mughal Emperor and final ruler of the Timurid dynasty...
's reign and had been governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Katehr (Rohilkhand
Rohilkhand
Rohilkhand is a region of northwestern Uttar Pradesh state of India.Rohilkhand lies on the upper Ganges alluvial plain and has an area of about 25,000 km²/10,000 square miles...
), Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, Etawah, Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
, Kalabagh and Hamuiri at different times of his life .
Numerous other Kamboj are known to have occupied very key military and civil positions during Lodhi
Lodhi
Lodhi is a Batani Pashtun tribe mainly found in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They were part of a wave of Pashtuns who pushed east into what is today Pakistan. Often accompanying the Timurids who conquered South Asia, the Lodhi established themselves during the Islamic period as a Muslim ruling class...
, Pashtun
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
and the Moghul reign in India. "The Sayyid
Sayyid
Sayyid is an honorific title, it denotes males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husain ibn Ali, sons of the prophet's daughter Fatima Zahra and his son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib.Daughters of sayyids are given the titles Sayyida,...
s and the Kambohs among the Indian Muslims were specially favored for high military and civil positions during Moghul rule" .
"The Kambo, Indian Shaikhzada
Shaikhzada
The Shaikhzada are a Muslim community found in the Uttar Pradesh state of India. Many members of the Shaikhzada community migrated to Pakistan after independence, settling in Karachi and Sindh.-History and origin:...
s and local Saiyid
Sayyid
Sayyid is an honorific title, it denotes males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husain ibn Ali, sons of the prophet's daughter Fatima Zahra and his son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib.Daughters of sayyids are given the titles Sayyida,...
nobles rose to prominence during the period under review" (i.e. Lodi dynasty of Delhi) .
Muhammad Umar writes: "The (Muslim) Kamboh distinguished themselves by their courage, generosity and high spirits. They were famous for their excellent manners and were particularly gifted with wisdom and nobility....In terms of social stratification, the Kambohs were counted among the Shaikhs.....Among the Indian Muslims, the Kambohs were regarded as the noblest of all. However, perhaps with a view to maintaining the purity of their descent, or because of pride of nobility, they confined their matrimonial relationships within their own groups and did not establish marriage connections with other Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
groups including even the Saiyids and the Mughals. Some members of this clan like Shahbaz Khan Kamboh, Nawab Abu Muhammad Khan, Bahadur Khan and Nawab Khair Andesh Khan rose to high positions during the reign of Mughals" .
Ain-i-Akbari
Ain-i-Akbari
The Ain-i-Akbari or the "Institutes of Akbar", is a 16th century, detailed document recording the administration of emperor Akbar's empire, written by his vizier, Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak...
of Abu-Al-Fazal Alami (Trans. H. Blochman) informs us that it was a matter of distinction to belong to the Kamboh lineage during the reigns of Mughal emperors like Akbar and Jahangir .
The Kambohs held Nakodar
Nakodar
Nakodar is a city and a municipal council in Jalandhar district in the Indian state of Punjab.The city is almost 424 km from Delhi, 24 km from Jalandhar, 45 km from Ludhiana, and about 114 km from Amritsar. Surrounding villages include[Mehatpur]Nawan Pind Jattan, Heran, Bir...
in Jullundur and Sohna in Gurgaon
Gurgaon
Gurgaon is the second largest city in the Indian state of Haryana. Gurgaon is the industrial and financial center of Haryana. It is located 30 km south of national capital New Delhi, about 10 kilometers from Dwarka Sub City and 268 km south of Chandigarh, the state capital...
some centuries ago; and the tombs and mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
s that they have left (in Sohna) show that they must have enjoyed considerable position.
Distribution
The Muslim Kamboh are found in the districts of, BareillyBareilly District
Bareilly district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. City of Bareilly is the district headquarters. The district consists of six tehsils. These are: Aonla, Baheri, City of Bareilly, Faridpur, Meerganj and Nawabganj. Bareilly district is a part of Bareilly Division....
, Moradabad
Moradabad District
Moradabad district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Moradabad town is the district headquarters. Moradabad district is a part of Moradabad division...
, Jyotiba Phule Nagar, Saharabpur
Saharanpur District
Saharanpur district is the northernmost of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state, India. Bordering the states of Haryana and Uttarakhand, and close to the foothills of Shivalik range, it lies in the northern part of the Doab region...
, Meerut
Meerut District
Meerut district , is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Meerut is the district headquarters. Meerut district is a part of Meerut division.-Demographics:...
and Etah
Etah District
Etah district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Etah town is the district headquarters. Etah district is a part of Aligarh Division. It is dominated by Yadavs and Rajputs.-Economy:...
. In Moradabad District
Moradabad District
Moradabad district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Moradabad town is the district headquarters. Moradabad district is a part of Moradabad division...
, they are found in the towns of Sambhal
Sambhal
Sambhal is a town and tehsil and headquarters of Bhimnagar district in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Sambhal is an ancient settlement that was also important during the period of Muslim rule and was one of Sikandar Lodi ’s provincial capitals in the late 15th and early 16th...
and Hasanpur
Hasanpur
Hasanpur is a city and a municipal board in Jyotiba Phule Nagar district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-Education:RGM Computer Education & V.T.I. Near munsifi Branch...
, and the Sambhal
Sambhal
Sambhal is a town and tehsil and headquarters of Bhimnagar district in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Sambhal is an ancient settlement that was also important during the period of Muslim rule and was one of Sikandar Lodi ’s provincial capitals in the late 15th and early 16th...
Kambohs were at one time substantial landowners. In Jyotiba Phule Nagar District
Jyotiba Phule Nagar District
Jyotiba Phule Nagar district is one of the 72 districts of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. Amroha town is the district headquarters. According to Government of India, the district is one of the Minority Concentrated District in India on the basis of the 2001 census data on population,...
, the Kamboh families of the city of Amroha
Amroha
Amroha is a small town in the north-western Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. It is located north-west of Moradabad, near the Sot River...
have also played an important role in the affairs of that city. The Kamboh of Saharanpur District
Saharanpur District
Saharanpur district is the northernmost of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state, India. Bordering the states of Haryana and Uttarakhand, and close to the foothills of Shivalik range, it lies in the northern part of the Doab region...
are found mainly in villages near the city, and differ from other Kambohs as they are largely farmers.In Etah District
Etah District
Etah district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Etah town is the district headquarters. Etah district is a part of Aligarh Division. It is dominated by Yadavs and Rajputs.-Economy:...
, there are several families in the town of Marehra
Marehra
Marehra is a city and a municipal board in Etah district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-----About Marehra:Marehra or better known as Marehra Shaif is a famous religious site for Muslims from all over the world.Marehra is also famous for its delicious mangoes-Demographics: India census,...
. Other Kamboh communities are found in the cities of Bareilly
Bareilly
Bareilly is a prominent city in Bareilly district in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Standing on the Ramganga river, it is the capital of the Bareilly division and the geographical region Rohilkhand...
, Meerut and Ghaziabad.
Prominent Kamboh personages of Meerut
Soon afterward, all the Kambohs except Khawaja-ud-din and Khawaja Meta left Meerut and from these two, the Kambohs of the later-day Meerut derived their origin.This Meerut Kamboh family had produced many distinguished nobles during Mughal rule in India.
- Hasan Mahmudi KambohHasan Mahmudi KambohHasan Mahmudi Kamboh was an ancestor of the Kamboh Nawabs od Meerut. He was a Wazir of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni and came to India during one of Sultan's war expeditions against the India during tenth/eleventh centuries. Hasan Mahmudi Kamboh captured the city of Meerut from its Raja Mai...
: Hasan Mahmudi (or Mahdi) Kamboh was a WazirVizierA vizier or in Arabic script ; ; sometimes spelled vazir, vizir, vasir, wazir, vesir, or vezir) is a high-ranking political advisor or minister in a Muslim government....
(ministerMinister (government)A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
) of Mahmud of GhazniMahmud of GhazniMahmud of Ghazni , actually ', was the most prominent ruler of the Ghaznavid dynasty who ruled from 997 until his death in 1030 in the eastern Iranian lands. Mahmud turned the former provincial city of Ghazni into the wealthy capital of an extensive empire which covered most of today's Iran,...
(971 A.D. - 1030 A.D) and came to IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
during one of latter's war expeditions against the country during tenth/eleventh centuries. Hasan Mahmudi Kamboh captured the city of Meerut from its Raja Mai. Many Kamboh soldiers of his regiment are stated to have fallen during the attack. To perpetuate their memory, Husan Mahmudi in 1019 AD erected Jama Masjid adjacent to where his Kamboh soldiers fell fighting during attack on Meerut. The Masjid was later repaired by MughalMughal EmpireThe 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...
EmperorEmperorAn emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
HumayunHumayunNasir ud-din Muhammad Humayun was the second Mughal Emperor who ruled present day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of northern India from 1530–1540 and again from 1555–1556. Like his father, Babur, he lost his kingdom early, but with Persian aid, he eventually regained an even larger one...
in sixteenth century.
- Shaikh Abdul Moman Dewan: Though he was a noble from Sambhal, but otherwise was related to Meerut Kambohs. He held the office of Dewan-e-tan (Accountant General) under Shah JahanShah JahanShah Jahan Shah Jahan (also spelled Shah Jehan, Shahjehan, , Persian: شاه جهان) (January 5, 1592 – January 22, 1666) Shah Jahan (also spelled Shah Jehan, Shahjehan, , Persian: شاه جهان) (January 5, 1592 – January 22, 1666) (Full title: His Imperial Majesty Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan...
. He performed the duties of granting and taking back the grants and pensions and promoting or demoting the officers of the Crown. Two of his sons also held the offices of Dewan-e-tan and Dewan-e-Khals under Nawab Saddula Khan Chanyoti, the Prime MinisterPrime ministerA prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of Shah Jahan. The Muslim nobles of Meerut trace their lineage to Dewan-e-tan Shaikh Abdul Moman Kamboh . Nawab Vakar Almalik Maulvi Mushtaq Hussain (Kamboh), a well-known Muslim leader of pre-independence days, the founding father of Muslim League was also from the lineage of Shaikh Abdul Moman Kamboh. - Nawab Dadan Khan Kamboh: He was a governor of LahoreLahoreLahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
. He descended from the line of Hasan Mahmudi Kamboh and has his MaqbaraMaqbaraThe Arabic word Maqbara is derived from the word Qabr, which means grave. Though maqbara refers to the graves of all Muslims, it refers especially to the graves of religious figures or Waliyullahs who dedicated their life to Islam, striving to be true Muslims and training others to follow Islam...
at Meerut. - Nawab Muhabbat Khan Kamboh: He was grandson of Nawab Dadan Khan Kamboh and remained a governor of PeshawarPeshawarPeshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan....
. His MaqbaraMaqbaraThe Arabic word Maqbara is derived from the word Qabr, which means grave. Though maqbara refers to the graves of all Muslims, it refers especially to the graves of religious figures or Waliyullahs who dedicated their life to Islam, striving to be true Muslims and training others to follow Islam...
is located in Meerut. - Nawab Khair Andesh Khan: He was son of Nawab Muhabbat Khan and is the most noted member of the Kamboh family of Meerut who flourished during the reign of Shah Jehan and AurangzebAurangzebAbul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
. He held a five thousand mansab under AurangzebAurangzebAbul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
and later six of thousand under Bahadur ShahBahadur ShahBahadur Shah may refer to*Bahadur Shah of Gujarat *Bahadur Shah I , Mughal Emperor*Bahadur Shah II , the last Mughal Emperor and final ruler of the Timurid dynasty...
. He was conferred the title of Khair Andesh Khan and was also awarded a prize of seven lakh Dirhams. Nawab Muhabbat Khan alias Khair Andesh Khan Kamboh built the Khairnagar Gate and Fort in the city of Meerut. He also built a fine MosqueMosqueA mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
called Kheir-ul-Masjid wald Muahib in 1691 AD and founded Khairandesh Pur in EtawahEtawahEtawah is a city on the Yamuna River in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. It is the administrative headquarters of Etawah District. The city was an important center for the Revolt of 1857 . Also is the place of sangam or confluence between Yamuna and Chambal...
and also gave his own name to Mohallas in Etawaha and DelhiDelhiDelhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
. He had been governor of Katehr (RohilkhandRohilkhandRohilkhand is a region of northwestern Uttar Pradesh state of India.Rohilkhand lies on the upper Ganges alluvial plain and has an area of about 25,000 km²/10,000 square miles...
), BiharBiharBihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, Etawah, BengalBengalBengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
, Kalabagh and Hamuiri at different times of his life
- Nawab Khair Andesh Khan SaniNawab Khair Andesh Khan SaniNawab Khair Andesh Khan Sani was son of Nawab Khair Andesh Khan and belonged the illustrious family of the Kamboh Nawabs of Meerut. His original name was Muhammad Masih. He held a manasab of five thousand and the title of Nek Andesh Khan under Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Later under Emperor Bahadur...
: He was son of Nawab Khair Andesh Khan. His original given name was Muhammad Masih. He held five thousand manasab and the title of Nek Andesh Khan under Mughal Emperor AurangzebAurangzebAbul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
and also a six thousand mansab and a title of Khair Andesh Khan under Emperor Bahadur Shah. He built Khair Nagar in Bareilly and also built an Idgah, a Mubarak palace and many other buildings in Khair Nnagar. He also waged war against king of Bundelkhand and reduced him. His son was given the title of Nek Andesh Khan and a big fief or Jagir in Bareilly .
- Nawab Khairiyat Andesh Khan: He was second son of Khair Andesh Khan. Held a mansab of five thousand and remained governor of KashmirKashmirKashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
where he constructed a Bazar known as Nawab Bazar.
- Khair Andesh Khan Salas: He was third son of Khair Andesh Khan and brother Nawab Khairiyat Andesh Khan. He received title of Khair Andesh Khan Salas under Mughal Emperor Ahmad Shah and also held the governorship of Kashmir.
- Afiyat Andesh Khan: He was another son of Khair Andesh Khan and remained deputy governor of Etawah.
- Nawab Waqar-ul-Mulk Kamboh (or Nawab Waqarul Mulq Maulvi Mushtaq Hussain) : He was born in the Meerut in 24 March 1841 and came of lineage of Shaikh Abdul Momin Kamboh who held the office of Dewan-e-Tun in Shah JahanShah JahanShah Jahan Shah Jahan (also spelled Shah Jehan, Shahjehan, , Persian: شاه جهان) (January 5, 1592 – January 22, 1666) Shah Jahan (also spelled Shah Jehan, Shahjehan, , Persian: شاه جهان) (January 5, 1592 – January 22, 1666) (Full title: His Imperial Majesty Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan...
's reign. Vaqar Mulq did his engineering from Engineering College Roorki and served as a Law Secretary in the Government of Hyderabad Daccan for some time and then joined Revenue Department. Later he was appointed Governor of newly established State of "VRARANGLE" and with his untiring efforts, the state soon became very prosperous. Waqaul Mulq received the title of Nawab Intezar Jung from the Government of Hydrabad. Then he was appointed Revenue Secretary with the orders of Nizam of Daccan. He served as Secretary, Personal Secretary & Advisor to the Prime Minister Nawab Bashirul Daulla and eventually became deputy Prime MinisterPrime ministerA prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of Hydrabad.. On December 9, 1890, he was conferred the title of Nawab Waqarul Mulq. On October 1892, Nawab Waqarul Mulq joined M.A.O. college in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. In December 1906, the quartet Nawab Waqarul Mulq, Sir Agha Khan, Sir Shafi of Lahore and Nawab Salimullah Khan of Dhaka organized a Mohammdan Educational Conference in Calcutta and on the same occasion, they also launched a new party called All India Muslim League of which Nawab Waqarul Mulq became the first General Secretary. In 1907, he was appointed Honorary Secretary of M.A.O. College. In the same year he resigned from the Secretaryship of the All India Muslim League on health grounds. In 1908, the Government of India honored him with the title of Nawab. It was the magnetizing personality of Nawab Waqarul Mulq which had induced Quaid-e-Azam to join the All India Muslim League which fact changed the history of Indian sub-continent. The welcome address given by Nawab Waqarul Mulq on this occasion is an important document for the MuslimMuslimA Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s. On account of bad health, Nawab Waqarul Mulq gave up the Secretaryship of Aligarh in 1912 and after a prolonged illness, he died on January 27, 1917. Nawab Waqarul Mulq also remained a member of Scientific Society since 1866 .
- Other important personages of this Kamboh family included Azamu-du-din, Mohammad Muazam, Farhat Andesh Khan; Mubarak Ali Khan; Ahmad Ullah Khan; and Nawab Khan Bahadur Asadullah Khan, Altaf Ali Khan, and Sheikh Lali, Aijaz Hussain Kamboh, Sir Yamin Khan etc. etc. Azamu-du-din and Mohammad Muazam were class I Umras during MughalMughal EmpireThe 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 Bahadur ShahBahadur ShahBahadur Shah may refer to*Bahadur Shah of Gujarat *Bahadur Shah I , Mughal Emperor*Bahadur Shah II , the last Mughal Emperor and final ruler of the Timurid dynasty...
. Mubarak Ali Khan held the office of honorary MagistrateMagistrateA magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
and died in 1876. His son Ahmad Ullah Khan was also honorary Magistrate and exercised special Magisterial powers throughout the whole district. He was conferred the title of NawabNawabA Nawab or Nawaab is an honorific title given to Muslim rulers of princely states in South Asia. It is the Muslim equivalent of the term "maharaja" that was granted to Hindu rulers....
by Indian Government and died in 1892. The next representative of the family was Nawab Asadullah Khan, who, like his father, was also an honorary Magistrate as well as Vice-Chairman and then a Chairman of the Meerut Municipal Boards. He was conferred the title of Khan Bahadur in 1888 and that of Nawab in 1895 by the Indian Government. Islamulla, brother of Asadullah Kahan was District Superintendent of Police in the erstwhile provinces and his another brother Saifullah Khan was also a deputy collector. Altaf Ali Khan was from the lineage of Khair Andesh Khan Sani and was great aristocrat of Bareilly where he held a big Jagir (fief). Aijaz Hussain Kamboh, a descendant relative the Kamboh Nawabs of Meerut was unanimously elected Chairman of the District Board in 1835 AD. Sheikh Lali had constructed the Lala Bazar of Meerut.
- Nawab Sir Muhammad Yamin KhanNawab Sir Muhammad Yamin KhanMuhammad Yamin Khan was an Indian bar-at-law, statesman and politician in the period before the Partition of India. Khan served as a parliamentarian and one of the senior most members of the All India Muslim League. An ethnic Kamboh, Khan was a close relative of the Kamboh Nawabs of...
: a near relative of the Kamboh Nawabs, was a prominent legal luminary, statesman, politician, parliamentarian and one of the senior most members of the All India Muslim League. British Government recognized him for his outstanding social and legal services and conferred upon him the titles of "Sir" and "Nawab". A close confidant of Quaid-e-Azam, Sir Yamin Khan was a member of the working committee of All India Muslim League. He also remained Deputy President of the Indian legislative Council. Sir Muhammad Yamin Khan was also the President of the third Kamboh Conference held in Bareilly in 1936. His brother Chaudhry Muhammad Yamin Khan was also a highly educated person and a prominent Judge of pre-independence period. After partition, the family had moved to Karachi, Pakistan where Yamin Khan soon died. Muhammad Yamin was the second KambojKambojThe Kambojs , also Kamboh, are an ethnic community of the Punjab region. They may relate to the Kambojas, an Iranian tribe known to the people of Iron Age India and mentioned in ancient Sanskrit texts and epigraphy. Kamboj is frequently used as a surname in lieu of the sub-caste or the gotra name...
member to be knighted as Sir and also was the second Kamboj member of the Indian Parliament (M.P.). He had also been a member of the Municipal Board since 1918 and served it as Vice-Chairman & Chairman for a long time. The Chairmanship of the Meerut Municipal Board remained for the first half century of its existence with the Nawab family of the Meerut Kambohs .
Besides the above, there were many other members of the family who occupied distinguished positions and served with distinction during 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...
and British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
reigns.
There was another family of Musalman Kambohs of Meerut related to the above which was headed by Khan Bahadur Muhammad Sadik (born 1833 AD). This family traced descent from Nawab Asad Khan who settled in Meerut three centuries ago and was Wazir (minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
) during time of Mughal Emperors. Muhammad Sadik's father Haji Mumtaz Ali Khan Kamboh who has served the Government as Revenue Officer and Honorary Magistrate. Muhammad Sadik had been Deputy Magistrate in irrigation department and received Sanad in Darbar as well as Khilat from Lord Cunning. He also received Certificate at the Imperial Assemblage of Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
in 1877 on the occasion of Proclamation of Her Most Gracious Majesty as Empress of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and a title of Khan Bahadur in 1887 on the occasion of Jubilee of Her Majesty's reign .
The important Gate of Meerut known as Kamboh Gate was built by Nawab Abu Mohammad Khan Kamboh (1658 AD) belonging to this family. Mausoleum
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
or Maqbara
Maqbara
The Arabic word Maqbara is derived from the word Qabr, which means grave. Though maqbara refers to the graves of all Muslims, it refers especially to the graves of religious figures or Waliyullahs who dedicated their life to Islam, striving to be true Muslims and training others to follow Islam...
of Abu Muhhamad Kamboh is also located in Meerut which was built by his family members in 1688 AD. There is another Maqbara
Maqbara
The Arabic word Maqbara is derived from the word Qabr, which means grave. Though maqbara refers to the graves of all Muslims, it refers especially to the graves of religious figures or Waliyullahs who dedicated their life to Islam, striving to be true Muslims and training others to follow Islam...
of the same family containing the remains of Abu Yar Muhhamad in Meerut (1039H).
After partition
After partition and creation of PakistanPakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, the all descendants of the above Kamboh families threw their lot with Pakistan and migrated to Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
during 1947.
General references
- Statistical, descriptive and historical account of the North-western, 1876, North-western provinces
- District Gazetteers of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, 1904 edition
- The Golden Book of India: A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles, and Other Personages, Titled Or Decorated of the Indian Empir, 1900, Roper Lethbridge
- A Cultural History of India, 1975, Arthur Llewellyn Basham - History
- Abu Al Fazl Alami, The Aina-i-Akbari, Trans H Blochman, 1989 ed. D. C. Phillot.
- Chaudhry Muhammad Yusuf Hasan, Tarikh-i-Qaum Kamboh, 1996.
- S Kipal Singh, The Kambojas Through the Ages, 2005
- S Kirpal Singh , These Kamboj People, 1978.
- H. S. Thind, Kamboj Itihas, 1972.
- A Draft on Kamboj Itihaas, Roshan Din Nizampur (Pakistan) (yet to be published)
- Rajindraraja Mitra, Indo-Aryans, Contribution Towards the Elucidation of Their Ancient and Mediaeval History, 1969.
- Hakim Anayat Hussain Mahravi, Silsila Aliya
- Al-Badauni, Muntakhab al-Tawarikh (trans. Wolseley)
- Denzil Charles Ibbetson, Punjab Castes (1970 Edition)
- H. A. Rose, Glossary of Tribes and Castes of Punjab & N.W.F Province, 1882
- Chaudhry Wahabuddin, Tarikh-i-Kambohan (Urdu), 1917, Amritsar.
- C. A. Storey, Persian Literature, part II, 1999 edition
- Statistical, descriptive and historical account of the North-western, 1876, North-western provinces
- Leadership and Local Politics: A Study of Meerut District in Uttar Pradesh, 1979, Shree Nagesh Jha - Social Science
- Muslims in India: A Biographical Dictionary, 1983, Naresh Kumar Jain - Muslims
- Urban Politics in India, 1987, Mohamed Ahmad Hussain
- Aligarh Muslim University: Perfect Past and Precarious Present, 2001, Anil Maheshwari
- Indo-Aryans: Contributions Towards the Elucidation of Their Ancient and Mediaeval History, 1881, Rājendralāla Mitra
- Memoirs on the History, Folk-lore, and Distribution of the Races..., 1869, Henry Miers Elliot - Ethnology
- Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals Part - II, ISBN 8124110662, Satish Chandra
- The Tribes and Castes of the North-western Provinces and Oudh, 1896, W. Crooke
- Leadership and Local Politics: A Study of Meerut District in Uttar Pradesh, 1979, Shree Nagesh Jha
- District Gazetteers of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, 1904, H. R. Nevill, I.C.S.
- Uttar Pradesh District Gazetteers: Lucknow, 1959, Uttar Pradesh (India)
- The Golden Book of India: A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the Biography & Autobiography, 2001, Roper Lethbridge
External links
- District Gazetteers of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh:http://books.google.com/books?id=eNxP7M4HRRAC&pg=PA87&dq=Sangi+kambohs
- Statistical, descriptive and historical account of the North-western: http://books.google.com/books?id=CJ4IAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA292&dq=Sangi+kambo