Majnu Shah
Encyclopedia
Majnu Shah or Faqir Majnu Shah Burhan (died 1787) was a faqir (Sufi saint) from the present-day Uttar Pradesh
, who actively participated in the Fakir-Sannyasi Rebellion
, which, according to a number of scholars, was an early war for India's independence
and joined in many battles against the British East India Company
with his 'pious team'.
Sufi order founded by Syed Badiuduin Qutb-ul Shah Madar. His headquarters was at the shrine of Shah Madar in Makanpur
near Kanpur. His first encounter with the British East India Company
army on 25 February 1771 with the sepoys led by Lieutenant Feltham in Dinajpur was unsuccessful and he fled to the dargah
at Mahasthangarh
in Bogra district
. In the winter of 1773, Majnu Shah and his team of faqirs reappeared in Rajshahi district
and joined up with a body of sannyasis. On 23 December 1773 they had an encounter with the four companies of sepoys of the British East India Company army. The company army repulsed them again.
In the Battle of Udhuanala (1761) and the Battle of Buxar
(1764), Majnu gathered a great number of Muslim
faqirs and Hindu
sannyasis against the East India Company
who took over power in Bangla from the Nawab of Bengal
in 1757.
His center was in Dinajpur
and in Bogra District
. He used to inspire people to liberation, religion and unity. He was wounded in a battle on 8 December 1786. Probably, he died in 1787.
After his death, his nephew Musa Shah led the faqirs and carried out attacks with muskets and rockets till he was killed in an encounter in 1792.
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...
, who actively participated in the Fakir-Sannyasi Rebellion
Sannyasi Rebellion
The Sannyasi Rebellion or Sannyasi Revolt is a term used to describe activities of sannyasis and fakirs, or Hindu and Muslim ascetics respectively, in Bengal, India in the late 18th century...
, which, according to a number of scholars, was an early war for India's independence
Indian independence movement
The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
and joined in many battles against the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
with his 'pious team'.
Life
Majnu Shah was a faqir of the MadariyaMadariya
The Madariyya are members of a Sufi order popular in North India, especially in Uttar Pradesh, the Mewat region, Bihar and Bengal, as well as in Nepal and Bangladesh. Known for its syncretic aspects, lack of emphasis on external religious practice and focus on internal dhikr, it was initiated by...
Sufi order founded by Syed Badiuduin Qutb-ul Shah Madar. His headquarters was at the shrine of Shah Madar in Makanpur
Makanpur
Makanpur is a town in Kanpur district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Makanpur is a town in the tehsil of Bilhaur. Makanpurpur is well connected by rail and road....
near Kanpur. His first encounter with the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
army on 25 February 1771 with the sepoys led by Lieutenant Feltham in Dinajpur was unsuccessful and he fled to the dargah
Dargah
A Dargah is a Sufi shrine built over the grave of a revered religious figure, often a Sufi saint. Local Muslims visit the shrine known as . Dargahs are often associated with Sufi meeting rooms and hostels, known as khanqah...
at Mahasthangarh
Mahasthangarh
Mahasthangarh is the earliest urban archaeological site so far discovered in Bangladesh. The village Mahasthan in Shibganj thana of Bogra District contains the remains of an ancient city which was called Pundranagara or Paundravardhanapura in the territory of Pundravardhana...
in Bogra district
Bogra District
Bogra is a northern district of Bangladesh, in the Rajshahi Division. It is called the gateway to the north Bengal. It is an industrial city where many small and mid sized industries are housed. Bogra district was a part of the ancient Pundravardhana territory and Bogra was the capital of...
. In the winter of 1773, Majnu Shah and his team of faqirs reappeared in Rajshahi district
Rajshahi District
Rajshahi District is a district in north-western Bangladesh. It is a part of the Rajshahi Division. The metropolitan city of Rajshahi is in Rajshahi District.-Geography:...
and joined up with a body of sannyasis. On 23 December 1773 they had an encounter with the four companies of sepoys of the British East India Company army. The company army repulsed them again.
In the Battle of Udhuanala (1761) and the Battle of Buxar
Battle of Buxar
The Battle of Buxar was fought on 22 October 1764 between the forces under the command of the British East India Company, and the combined armies of Mir Qasim, the Nawab of Bengal; Shuja-ud-Daula Nawab of Awadh; and Shah Alam II, the Mughal Emperor...
(1764), Majnu gathered a great number of 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...
faqirs and 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...
sannyasis against the East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
who took over power in Bangla from the Nawab of Bengal
Nawab of Bengal
The Nawabs of Bengal were the hereditary nazims or subadars of the subah of Bengal during the Mughal rule and the de-facto rulers of the province.-History:...
in 1757.
His center was in Dinajpur
Dinajpur District, Bangladesh
Dinajpur is a district in Northern Bangladesh. It is a part of the Rangpur Division.- Geography :Dinajpur is bounded by Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts in the north, Gaibandha and Joypurhat districts in the south, Nilphamari and Rangpurdistricts in the east, and the state of West Bengal, India...
and in Bogra District
Bogra District
Bogra is a northern district of Bangladesh, in the Rajshahi Division. It is called the gateway to the north Bengal. It is an industrial city where many small and mid sized industries are housed. Bogra district was a part of the ancient Pundravardhana territory and Bogra was the capital of...
. He used to inspire people to liberation, religion and unity. He was wounded in a battle on 8 December 1786. Probably, he died in 1787.
After his death, his nephew Musa Shah led the faqirs and carried out attacks with muskets and rockets till he was killed in an encounter in 1792.