Muslims of Manipur
Encyclopedia
The Manipuri Muslims locally known as Pangal
are a cultural group and religious minority who have been living peacfully with the majority community- the Meitei
who are co-valley dwellers and with hill inhabitants- Naga
and Kuki
who are Christians. Muslims have been living in Manipur
, North East India since early seven century AD. Now they form a population of 8.32 percent of the total state population; in 2001 government census, Muslims with 190,939 persons (Pangal or Meitei-Pangal as local names).
while Govinda Manikya too fled to Arakan
where he again met Shuja. On the breach of trust by Arakan king Sanda Sudama, Shuja fled back to Tripura whose king quickly dispatched Shuja to Manipur by supplying an elephant
in 1661, so that it might not antagonize the military force of Aurangzeb
led by Mir Jumla. The Mughals lately came to know of the situation but Shuja was already gone. The Mughal prince Shangkusum (Shah Shuja) reached Manipur in December 1661 according to Cheitharol Kumbaba
. The Mughals sent a three men embassy to Manipur in late December 1661, this time to retrieve the aggrieved family of Shuja. At that time Shuja was taking shelter in at Haignang of Kairang (east of Imphal
), now known as Shuja-lok (Shuja cave). In the meantime in Tripura, Chhatra Manikya was too dethroned and Govinda Manikya came back from Arakan to claim the throne and ruled Tripura again from 1667 to 1675. The Manipur king Khunjaoba sent back a three man embassy to the court of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1662 while a Mughal ambassador named Nur Beg was held back in Manipur by the Qazi of Manipur named Muhammad Sani so that the retreating two Mughal messengers named Dur Beg and Rustam Beg should not tell about Shuja’s existence in Manipur. Yet, Shuja was sent up to Ukhrul
hill with some Muslims (already settled in Manipur) as precautionary measure from Mughal informers. Thus Tripura and Manipur kings played crucial roles in saving the life of Shah Shuja probably because they did not like the Mughal expansionist policy of Aurangzeb.
Prince Shah Shuja had a wife named Praveen Banu (Piara Banu, Pai Ribanu), a sister namely Sabe Banu, three sons- Zainibuddin (Bon Sultan or Sultan Bang), Buland Akhtar and Zainul Abedin
, three daughters- Gulrukh Banu, Roshanara Begum
and Amina Begum. Shah Shuja lost the war of succession, and bid Hindustan
farewell on 6 June 1660 fleeing to Arakan via Tripura-Chittagong. Shuja carried two vessels of gold and silver, jewel, treasures and other royal appendages to Arakan. Shuja first arrived at Chittagong
and stayed for some time, from where he took the land route to Arakan which is still called Shuja Road. A thousand palanquins (carriers) carried the harem ladies and Shuja prayed the Eid prayer
at a place called Edgoung (Eidgah) in Dulahzara which is still in Chittagong on the way to Arakan. Shuja undertook the land journey for 13 days and 13 nights with a troubled mind on the eastern bank of Naf River
, half a mile north of Maungdaw
town which is still known as Shuja village. Some of Shuja’s retinues there were later retained by the British
army as archers army from 1826. The final day of the sea route took Shuja to Arakan where he was received by an envoy of Arakan king Sanda Sudamma and escorted to a separate quarter for the Mughal prince. Niccolai Manucci wrote: “The date of flight (of Shuja from Dacca) was June 5, 1660 and arrived in Arakan on August 26, 1660.” Harvey noted that Shuja came to Arakan as Sudamma promised to provide him some of his famous ships to take him to Mecca for pilgrimage. He broke the promise. When Shuja arrived in Arakan with half a dozen camel loads of gold and jewelry, the temptation was too great for the Arakan king. Princess Gulrukh Banu fell victim to Sudamma and she promptly died in suicide, while Sultan Bang and another brother died fighting. They ran amok, nearly succeeded in firing the royal palace of Sudamma in December 1660, while many Mughals were massacred. Arakan king mother was against the killing of Shuja, being a guest in the first instant. The Portuguese
who were well-known there as pirates did save Shuja while robbed him of gold and jewels. The surviving Mughals with Shuja escaped back to Tripura on 16 May 1661 with much difficulty and arrived in Manipur in December 1661. While Aurangzeb’s reconnaissance men were on the hunt for Shuja and for every bit of news. Conscious of this, Shuja’s men spread false news that Shuja died fighting in Arakan, while others rumoured he shipped to Mecca. There were a thousand different tales about Shuja’s fate and nothing could be conclusive. After all this trauma and travesty, Shuja helped by Mughals and Pathans of Arakan.
The Manipuri Muslims locally known as Pangal
are a cultural group and religious minority who have been living peacfully with the majority community- the Meitei
who are co-valley dwellers and with hill inhabitants- Naga
and Kuki
who are Christians. Muslims have been living in Manipur
, North East India since early seven century AD. Now they form a population of 8.32 percent of the total state population; in 2001 government census, Muslims with 190,939 persons (Pangal or Meitei-Pangal as local names).
while Govinda Manikya too fled to Arakan
where he again met Shuja. On the breach of trust by Arakan king Sanda Sudama, Shuja fled back to Tripura whose king quickly dispatched Shuja to Manipur by supplying an elephant
in 1661, so that it might not antagonize the military force of Aurangzeb
led by Mir Jumla. The Mughals lately came to know of the situation but Shuja was already gone. The Mughal prince Shangkusum (Shah Shuja) reached Manipur in December 1661 according to Cheitharol Kumbaba
. The Mughals sent a three men embassy to Manipur in late December 1661, this time to retrieve the aggrieved family of Shuja. At that time Shuja was taking shelter in at Haignang of Kairang (east of Imphal
), now known as Shuja-lok (Shuja cave). In the meantime in Tripura, Chhatra Manikya was too dethroned and Govinda Manikya came back from Arakan to claim the throne and ruled Tripura again from 1667 to 1675. The Manipur king Khunjaoba sent back a three man embassy to the court of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1662 while a Mughal ambassador named Nur Beg was held back in Manipur by the Qazi of Manipur named Muhammad Sani so that the retreating two Mughal messengers named Dur Beg and Rustam Beg should not tell about Shuja’s existence in Manipur. Yet, Shuja was sent up to Ukhrul
hill with some Muslims (already settled in Manipur) as precautionary measure from Mughal informers. Thus Tripura and Manipur kings played crucial roles in saving the life of Shah Shuja probably because they did not like the Mughal expansionist policy of Aurangzeb.
Prince Shah Shuja had a wife named Praveen Banu (Piara Banu, Pai Ribanu), a sister namely Sabe Banu, three sons- Zainibuddin (Bon Sultan or Sultan Bang), Buland Akhtar and Zainul Abedin
, three daughters- Gulrukh Banu, Roshanara Begum
and Amina Begum. Shah Shuja lost the war of succession, and bid Hindustan
farewell on 6 June 1660 fleeing to Arakan via Tripura-Chittagong. Shuja carried two vessels of gold and silver, jewel, treasures and other royal appendages to Arakan. Shuja first arrived at Chittagong
and stayed for some time, from where he took the land route to Arakan which is still called Shuja Road. A thousand palanquins (carriers) carried the harem ladies and Shuja prayed the Eid prayer
at a place called Edgoung (Eidgah) in Dulahzara which is still in Chittagong on the way to Arakan. Shuja undertook the land journey for 13 days and 13 nights with a troubled mind on the eastern bank of Naf River
, half a mile north of Maungdaw
town which is still known as Shuja village. Some of Shuja’s retinues there were later retained by the British
army as archers army from 1826. The final day of the sea route took Shuja to Arakan where he was received by an envoy of Arakan king Sanda Sudamma and escorted to a separate quarter for the Mughal prince. Niccolai Manucci wrote: “The date of flight (of Shuja from Dacca) was June 5, 1660 and arrived in Arakan on August 26, 1660.” Harvey noted that Shuja came to Arakan as Sudamma promised to provide him some of his famous ships to take him to Mecca for pilgrimage. He broke the promise. When Shuja arrived in Arakan with half a dozen camel loads of gold and jewelry, the temptation was too great for the Arakan king. Princess Gulrukh Banu fell victim to Sudamma and she promptly died in suicide, while Sultan Bang and another brother died fighting. They ran amok, nearly succeeded in firing the royal palace of Sudamma in December 1660, while many Mughals were massacred. Arakan king mother was against the killing of Shuja, being a guest in the first instant. The Portuguese
who were well-known there as pirates did save Shuja while robbed him of gold and jewels. The surviving Mughals with Shuja escaped back to Tripura on 16 May 1661 with much difficulty and arrived in Manipur in December 1661. While Aurangzeb’s reconnaissance men were on the hunt for Shuja and for every bit of news. Conscious of this, Shuja’s men spread false news that Shuja died fighting in Arakan, while others rumoured he shipped to Mecca. There were a thousand different tales about Shuja’s fate and nothing could be conclusive. After all this trauma and travesty, Shuja helped by Mughals and Pathans of Arakan.
The Manipuri Muslims locally known as Pangal
are a cultural group and religious minority who have been living peacfully with the majority community- the Meitei
who are co-valley dwellers and with hill inhabitants- Naga
and Kuki
who are Christians. Muslims have been living in Manipur
, North East India since early seven century AD. Now they form a population of 8.32 percent of the total state population; in 2001 government census, Muslims with 190,939 persons (Pangal or Meitei-Pangal as local names).
while Govinda Manikya too fled to Arakan
where he again met Shuja. On the breach of trust by Arakan king Sanda Sudama, Shuja fled back to Tripura whose king quickly dispatched Shuja to Manipur by supplying an elephant
in 1661, so that it might not antagonize the military force of Aurangzeb
led by Mir Jumla. The Mughals lately came to know of the situation but Shuja was already gone. The Mughal prince Shangkusum (Shah Shuja) reached Manipur in December 1661 according to Cheitharol Kumbaba
. The Mughals sent a three men embassy to Manipur in late December 1661, this time to retrieve the aggrieved family of Shuja. At that time Shuja was taking shelter in at Haignang of Kairang (east of Imphal
), now known as Shuja-lok (Shuja cave). In the meantime in Tripura, Chhatra Manikya was too dethroned and Govinda Manikya came back from Arakan to claim the throne and ruled Tripura again from 1667 to 1675. The Manipur king Khunjaoba sent back a three man embassy to the court of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1662 while a Mughal ambassador named Nur Beg was held back in Manipur by the Qazi of Manipur named Muhammad Sani so that the retreating two Mughal messengers named Dur Beg and Rustam Beg should not tell about Shuja’s existence in Manipur. Yet, Shuja was sent up to Ukhrul
hill with some Muslims (already settled in Manipur) as precautionary measure from Mughal informers. Thus Tripura and Manipur kings played crucial roles in saving the life of Shah Shuja probably because they did not like the Mughal expansionist policy of Aurangzeb.
Prince Shah Shuja had a wife named Praveen Banu (Piara Banu, Pai Ribanu), a sister namely Sabe Banu, three sons- Zainibuddin (Bon Sultan or Sultan Bang), Buland Akhtar and Zainul Abedin
, three daughters- Gulrukh Banu, Roshanara Begum
and Amina Begum. Shah Shuja lost the war of succession, and bid Hindustan
farewell on 6 June 1660 fleeing to Arakan via Tripura-Chittagong. Shuja carried two vessels of gold and silver, jewel, treasures and other royal appendages to Arakan. Shuja first arrived at Chittagong
and stayed for some time, from where he took the land route to Arakan which is still called Shuja Road. A thousand palanquins (carriers) carried the harem ladies and Shuja prayed the Eid prayer
at a place called Edgoung (Eidgah) in Dulahzara which is still in Chittagong on the way to Arakan. Shuja undertook the land journey for 13 days and 13 nights with a troubled mind on the eastern bank of Naf River
, half a mile north of Maungdaw
town which is still known as Shuja village. Some of Shuja’s retinues there were later retained by the British
army as archers army from 1826. The final day of the sea route took Shuja to Arakan where he was received by an envoy of Arakan king Sanda Sudamma and escorted to a separate quarter for the Mughal prince. Niccolai Manucci wrote: “The date of flight (of Shuja from Dacca) was June 5, 1660 and arrived in Arakan on August 26, 1660.” Harvey noted that Shuja came to Arakan as Sudamma promised to provide him some of his famous ships to take him to Mecca for pilgrimage. He broke the promise. When Shuja arrived in Arakan with half a dozen camel loads of gold and jewelry, the temptation was too great for the Arakan king. Princess Gulrukh Banu fell victim to Sudamma and she promptly died in suicide, while Sultan Bang and another brother died fighting. They ran amok, nearly succeeded in firing the royal palace of Sudamma in December 1660, while many Mughals were massacred. Arakan king mother was against the killing of Shuja, being a guest in the first instant. The Portuguese
who were well-known there as pirates did save Shuja while robbed him of gold and jewels. The surviving Mughals with Shuja escaped back to Tripura on 16 May 1661 with much difficulty and arrived in Manipur in December 1661. While Aurangzeb’s reconnaissance men were on the hunt for Shuja and for every bit of news. Conscious of this, Shuja’s men spread false news that Shuja died fighting in Arakan, while others rumoured he shipped to Mecca. There were a thousand different tales about Shuja’s fate and nothing could be conclusive. After all this trauma and travesty, Shuja helped by Mughals and Pathans of Arakan.
Pangal
The Pangals, also pronounced as Pangans are the minority ethnic group of people reside in Northeast India and also found in Bangladesh. Pangals are also known as Meitei -Pangal or Manipuri Muslim....
are a cultural group and religious minority who have been living peacfully with the majority community- the Meitei
Meitei people
The Meeteis or Meiteis are the majority ethnic group of Manipur, India, and because of this are sometimes referred to as Manipuris. Generally speaking, Meitei is an endonym and Manipuri is an exonym...
who are co-valley dwellers and with hill inhabitants- Naga
Naga people
The term Naga people refers to a conglomeration of several tribes inhabiting the North Eastern part of India and north-western Burma. The tribes have similar cultures and traditions, and form the majority ethnic group in the Indian state of Nagaland...
and Kuki
Kuki people
The Kukis are an ethnic group that spread throughout the Northeastern region of India, Northwest Burma and Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. In Northeast India they are present in all the states except Arunachal Pradesh. This dispersal across international borders is mainly attributed to the...
who are Christians. Muslims have been living in Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
, North East India since early seven century AD. Now they form a population of 8.32 percent of the total state population; in 2001 government census, Muslims with 190,939 persons (Pangal or Meitei-Pangal as local names).
Historical Background
The Mughals enthroned Chhatra Manikya (ruling 1661-66) in TripuraTripura
Tripura is a state in North-East India, with an area of . It is the third smallest state of India, according to area. Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on the north, south, and west. The Indian states of Assam and Mizoram lie to the east. The capital is Agartala and the main languages spoken are...
while Govinda Manikya too fled to Arakan
Rakhine State
Rakhine State is a Burmese state. Situated on the western coast, it is bordered by Chin State in the north, Magway Region, Bago Region and Ayeyarwady Region in the east, the Bay of Bengal to the west, and the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh to the northwest. It is located approximately between...
where he again met Shuja. On the breach of trust by Arakan king Sanda Sudama, Shuja fled back to Tripura whose king quickly dispatched Shuja to Manipur by supplying an elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
in 1661, so that it might not antagonize the military force 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...
led by Mir Jumla. The Mughals lately came to know of the situation but Shuja was already gone. The Mughal prince Shangkusum (Shah Shuja) reached Manipur in December 1661 according to Cheitharol Kumbaba
Cheitharol Kumbaba
Cheitharol Kumbaba, also spelled as Cheitharon Kumpapa, is the official royal chronicle of the kings of Manipur.It claims to trace the history of the meetei kingdom back to 33 CE, and it ends with the last king, Bodhchandra, in 1955...
. The Mughals sent a three men embassy to Manipur in late December 1661, this time to retrieve the aggrieved family of Shuja. At that time Shuja was taking shelter in at Haignang of Kairang (east of Imphal
Imphal
Imphal is the capital of the Indian state of Manipur.In the heart of the town and surrounded by a moat, are ruins of the old Palace of Kangla. Kangla Fort used to be the home of the Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force and on November 2004 it was handed over to state of Manipur by Prime minister Dr....
), now known as Shuja-lok (Shuja cave). In the meantime in Tripura, Chhatra Manikya was too dethroned and Govinda Manikya came back from Arakan to claim the throne and ruled Tripura again from 1667 to 1675. The Manipur king Khunjaoba sent back a three man embassy to the court of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1662 while a Mughal ambassador named Nur Beg was held back in Manipur by the Qazi of Manipur named Muhammad Sani so that the retreating two Mughal messengers named Dur Beg and Rustam Beg should not tell about Shuja’s existence in Manipur. Yet, Shuja was sent up to Ukhrul
Ukhrul
Ukhrul is a town in Ukhrul district in the state of Manipur, India. It is the administrative headquarter of the Ukhrul district. There are also four Sub-Divisions in the district for administering the villages in and around it. The villages however are govern by the 'Church' and the 'Village...
hill with some Muslims (already settled in Manipur) as precautionary measure from Mughal informers. Thus Tripura and Manipur kings played crucial roles in saving the life of Shah Shuja probably because they did not like the Mughal expansionist policy of Aurangzeb.
Prince Shah Shuja had a wife named Praveen Banu (Piara Banu, Pai Ribanu), a sister namely Sabe Banu, three sons- Zainibuddin (Bon Sultan or Sultan Bang), Buland Akhtar and Zainul Abedin
Zainul Abedin
Zainul Abedin was nitially a painter of India and became famous in 1944 with his Famine Series paintings of 1943; and after partition he moved to Pakistan; and finally when Bangladesh was created in 1971, he was rightly considered the founding father of Bangladeshi Art...
, three daughters- Gulrukh Banu, Roshanara Begum
Roshanara Begum
Roshanara Begum was the second daughter of the Mughal ruler, Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. Born on September 3, 1617, Roshanara was a brilliant woman, a talented poetess, the mastermind behind Aurangazeb's accession to the Mughal throne, and by the time of her death in 1671, one of the most...
and Amina Begum. Shah Shuja lost the war of succession, and bid Hindustan
Hindustan
Hindustan or Indostan, literal translation "Land of River Sindhu ", is one of the popular names of South Asia. It can also mean "the land of the Hindus"...
farewell on 6 June 1660 fleeing to Arakan via Tripura-Chittagong. Shuja carried two vessels of gold and silver, jewel, treasures and other royal appendages to Arakan. Shuja first arrived at Chittagong
Chittagong
Chittagong ) is a city in southeastern Bangladesh and the capital of an eponymous district and division. Built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, the city is home to Bangladesh's busiest seaport and has a population of over 4.5 million, making it the second largest city in the country.A trading...
and stayed for some time, from where he took the land route to Arakan which is still called Shuja Road. A thousand palanquins (carriers) carried the harem ladies and Shuja prayed the Eid prayer
Eid Prayer
The Eid prayer was prescribed in the first year after the hijra. It is Wajib and Muhammad always performed these prayers.-Procedure:...
at a place called Edgoung (Eidgah) in Dulahzara which is still in Chittagong on the way to Arakan. Shuja undertook the land journey for 13 days and 13 nights with a troubled mind on the eastern bank of Naf River
Naf River
Naf River It is an elongated estuary in the extreme southeast of Cox's Bazar district dividing the district from Arakan, Myanmar. It rises in the Arakan hills on the southeastern borders of the district and flows into the Bay of Bengal. Its width varies from 1.61 km to 3.22 km. The river...
, half a mile north of Maungdaw
Maungdaw
Maungdaw is a town in the Rakhine State of westernmost part of Myanmar. It it the administrative seat of Maungdaw Township and Maungdaw District.Since September 1995, border trade between Maungdaw of Myanmar and Teknaf of Bangladesh is formally established....
town which is still known as Shuja village. Some of Shuja’s retinues there were later retained by the 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...
army as archers army from 1826. The final day of the sea route took Shuja to Arakan where he was received by an envoy of Arakan king Sanda Sudamma and escorted to a separate quarter for the Mughal prince. Niccolai Manucci wrote: “The date of flight (of Shuja from Dacca) was June 5, 1660 and arrived in Arakan on August 26, 1660.” Harvey noted that Shuja came to Arakan as Sudamma promised to provide him some of his famous ships to take him to Mecca for pilgrimage. He broke the promise. When Shuja arrived in Arakan with half a dozen camel loads of gold and jewelry, the temptation was too great for the Arakan king. Princess Gulrukh Banu fell victim to Sudamma and she promptly died in suicide, while Sultan Bang and another brother died fighting. They ran amok, nearly succeeded in firing the royal palace of Sudamma in December 1660, while many Mughals were massacred. Arakan king mother was against the killing of Shuja, being a guest in the first instant. The Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
who were well-known there as pirates did save Shuja while robbed him of gold and jewels. The surviving Mughals with Shuja escaped back to Tripura on 16 May 1661 with much difficulty and arrived in Manipur in December 1661. While Aurangzeb’s reconnaissance men were on the hunt for Shuja and for every bit of news. Conscious of this, Shuja’s men spread false news that Shuja died fighting in Arakan, while others rumoured he shipped to Mecca. There were a thousand different tales about Shuja’s fate and nothing could be conclusive. After all this trauma and travesty, Shuja helped by Mughals and Pathans of Arakan.
The Manipuri Muslims locally known as Pangal
Pangal
The Pangals, also pronounced as Pangans are the minority ethnic group of people reside in Northeast India and also found in Bangladesh. Pangals are also known as Meitei -Pangal or Manipuri Muslim....
are a cultural group and religious minority who have been living peacfully with the majority community- the Meitei
Meitei people
The Meeteis or Meiteis are the majority ethnic group of Manipur, India, and because of this are sometimes referred to as Manipuris. Generally speaking, Meitei is an endonym and Manipuri is an exonym...
who are co-valley dwellers and with hill inhabitants- Naga
Naga people
The term Naga people refers to a conglomeration of several tribes inhabiting the North Eastern part of India and north-western Burma. The tribes have similar cultures and traditions, and form the majority ethnic group in the Indian state of Nagaland...
and Kuki
Kuki people
The Kukis are an ethnic group that spread throughout the Northeastern region of India, Northwest Burma and Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. In Northeast India they are present in all the states except Arunachal Pradesh. This dispersal across international borders is mainly attributed to the...
who are Christians. Muslims have been living in Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
, North East India since early seven century AD. Now they form a population of 8.32 percent of the total state population; in 2001 government census, Muslims with 190,939 persons (Pangal or Meitei-Pangal as local names).
Historical Background
The Mughals enthroned Chhatra Manikya (ruling 1661-66) in TripuraTripura
Tripura is a state in North-East India, with an area of . It is the third smallest state of India, according to area. Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on the north, south, and west. The Indian states of Assam and Mizoram lie to the east. The capital is Agartala and the main languages spoken are...
while Govinda Manikya too fled to Arakan
Rakhine State
Rakhine State is a Burmese state. Situated on the western coast, it is bordered by Chin State in the north, Magway Region, Bago Region and Ayeyarwady Region in the east, the Bay of Bengal to the west, and the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh to the northwest. It is located approximately between...
where he again met Shuja. On the breach of trust by Arakan king Sanda Sudama, Shuja fled back to Tripura whose king quickly dispatched Shuja to Manipur by supplying an elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
in 1661, so that it might not antagonize the military force 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...
led by Mir Jumla. The Mughals lately came to know of the situation but Shuja was already gone. The Mughal prince Shangkusum (Shah Shuja) reached Manipur in December 1661 according to Cheitharol Kumbaba
Cheitharol Kumbaba
Cheitharol Kumbaba, also spelled as Cheitharon Kumpapa, is the official royal chronicle of the kings of Manipur.It claims to trace the history of the meetei kingdom back to 33 CE, and it ends with the last king, Bodhchandra, in 1955...
. The Mughals sent a three men embassy to Manipur in late December 1661, this time to retrieve the aggrieved family of Shuja. At that time Shuja was taking shelter in at Haignang of Kairang (east of Imphal
Imphal
Imphal is the capital of the Indian state of Manipur.In the heart of the town and surrounded by a moat, are ruins of the old Palace of Kangla. Kangla Fort used to be the home of the Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force and on November 2004 it was handed over to state of Manipur by Prime minister Dr....
), now known as Shuja-lok (Shuja cave). In the meantime in Tripura, Chhatra Manikya was too dethroned and Govinda Manikya came back from Arakan to claim the throne and ruled Tripura again from 1667 to 1675. The Manipur king Khunjaoba sent back a three man embassy to the court of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1662 while a Mughal ambassador named Nur Beg was held back in Manipur by the Qazi of Manipur named Muhammad Sani so that the retreating two Mughal messengers named Dur Beg and Rustam Beg should not tell about Shuja’s existence in Manipur. Yet, Shuja was sent up to Ukhrul
Ukhrul
Ukhrul is a town in Ukhrul district in the state of Manipur, India. It is the administrative headquarter of the Ukhrul district. There are also four Sub-Divisions in the district for administering the villages in and around it. The villages however are govern by the 'Church' and the 'Village...
hill with some Muslims (already settled in Manipur) as precautionary measure from Mughal informers. Thus Tripura and Manipur kings played crucial roles in saving the life of Shah Shuja probably because they did not like the Mughal expansionist policy of Aurangzeb.
Prince Shah Shuja had a wife named Praveen Banu (Piara Banu, Pai Ribanu), a sister namely Sabe Banu, three sons- Zainibuddin (Bon Sultan or Sultan Bang), Buland Akhtar and Zainul Abedin
Zainul Abedin
Zainul Abedin was nitially a painter of India and became famous in 1944 with his Famine Series paintings of 1943; and after partition he moved to Pakistan; and finally when Bangladesh was created in 1971, he was rightly considered the founding father of Bangladeshi Art...
, three daughters- Gulrukh Banu, Roshanara Begum
Roshanara Begum
Roshanara Begum was the second daughter of the Mughal ruler, Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. Born on September 3, 1617, Roshanara was a brilliant woman, a talented poetess, the mastermind behind Aurangazeb's accession to the Mughal throne, and by the time of her death in 1671, one of the most...
and Amina Begum. Shah Shuja lost the war of succession, and bid Hindustan
Hindustan
Hindustan or Indostan, literal translation "Land of River Sindhu ", is one of the popular names of South Asia. It can also mean "the land of the Hindus"...
farewell on 6 June 1660 fleeing to Arakan via Tripura-Chittagong. Shuja carried two vessels of gold and silver, jewel, treasures and other royal appendages to Arakan. Shuja first arrived at Chittagong
Chittagong
Chittagong ) is a city in southeastern Bangladesh and the capital of an eponymous district and division. Built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, the city is home to Bangladesh's busiest seaport and has a population of over 4.5 million, making it the second largest city in the country.A trading...
and stayed for some time, from where he took the land route to Arakan which is still called Shuja Road. A thousand palanquins (carriers) carried the harem ladies and Shuja prayed the Eid prayer
Eid Prayer
The Eid prayer was prescribed in the first year after the hijra. It is Wajib and Muhammad always performed these prayers.-Procedure:...
at a place called Edgoung (Eidgah) in Dulahzara which is still in Chittagong on the way to Arakan. Shuja undertook the land journey for 13 days and 13 nights with a troubled mind on the eastern bank of Naf River
Naf River
Naf River It is an elongated estuary in the extreme southeast of Cox's Bazar district dividing the district from Arakan, Myanmar. It rises in the Arakan hills on the southeastern borders of the district and flows into the Bay of Bengal. Its width varies from 1.61 km to 3.22 km. The river...
, half a mile north of Maungdaw
Maungdaw
Maungdaw is a town in the Rakhine State of westernmost part of Myanmar. It it the administrative seat of Maungdaw Township and Maungdaw District.Since September 1995, border trade between Maungdaw of Myanmar and Teknaf of Bangladesh is formally established....
town which is still known as Shuja village. Some of Shuja’s retinues there were later retained by the 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...
army as archers army from 1826. The final day of the sea route took Shuja to Arakan where he was received by an envoy of Arakan king Sanda Sudamma and escorted to a separate quarter for the Mughal prince. Niccolai Manucci wrote: “The date of flight (of Shuja from Dacca) was June 5, 1660 and arrived in Arakan on August 26, 1660.” Harvey noted that Shuja came to Arakan as Sudamma promised to provide him some of his famous ships to take him to Mecca for pilgrimage. He broke the promise. When Shuja arrived in Arakan with half a dozen camel loads of gold and jewelry, the temptation was too great for the Arakan king. Princess Gulrukh Banu fell victim to Sudamma and she promptly died in suicide, while Sultan Bang and another brother died fighting. They ran amok, nearly succeeded in firing the royal palace of Sudamma in December 1660, while many Mughals were massacred. Arakan king mother was against the killing of Shuja, being a guest in the first instant. The Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
who were well-known there as pirates did save Shuja while robbed him of gold and jewels. The surviving Mughals with Shuja escaped back to Tripura on 16 May 1661 with much difficulty and arrived in Manipur in December 1661. While Aurangzeb’s reconnaissance men were on the hunt for Shuja and for every bit of news. Conscious of this, Shuja’s men spread false news that Shuja died fighting in Arakan, while others rumoured he shipped to Mecca. There were a thousand different tales about Shuja’s fate and nothing could be conclusive. After all this trauma and travesty, Shuja helped by Mughals and Pathans of Arakan.
The Manipuri Muslims locally known as Pangal
Pangal
The Pangals, also pronounced as Pangans are the minority ethnic group of people reside in Northeast India and also found in Bangladesh. Pangals are also known as Meitei -Pangal or Manipuri Muslim....
are a cultural group and religious minority who have been living peacfully with the majority community- the Meitei
Meitei people
The Meeteis or Meiteis are the majority ethnic group of Manipur, India, and because of this are sometimes referred to as Manipuris. Generally speaking, Meitei is an endonym and Manipuri is an exonym...
who are co-valley dwellers and with hill inhabitants- Naga
Naga people
The term Naga people refers to a conglomeration of several tribes inhabiting the North Eastern part of India and north-western Burma. The tribes have similar cultures and traditions, and form the majority ethnic group in the Indian state of Nagaland...
and Kuki
Kuki people
The Kukis are an ethnic group that spread throughout the Northeastern region of India, Northwest Burma and Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. In Northeast India they are present in all the states except Arunachal Pradesh. This dispersal across international borders is mainly attributed to the...
who are Christians. Muslims have been living in Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
, North East India since early seven century AD. Now they form a population of 8.32 percent of the total state population; in 2001 government census, Muslims with 190,939 persons (Pangal or Meitei-Pangal as local names).
Historical Background
The Mughals enthroned Chhatra Manikya (ruling 1661-66) in TripuraTripura
Tripura is a state in North-East India, with an area of . It is the third smallest state of India, according to area. Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on the north, south, and west. The Indian states of Assam and Mizoram lie to the east. The capital is Agartala and the main languages spoken are...
while Govinda Manikya too fled to Arakan
Rakhine State
Rakhine State is a Burmese state. Situated on the western coast, it is bordered by Chin State in the north, Magway Region, Bago Region and Ayeyarwady Region in the east, the Bay of Bengal to the west, and the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh to the northwest. It is located approximately between...
where he again met Shuja. On the breach of trust by Arakan king Sanda Sudama, Shuja fled back to Tripura whose king quickly dispatched Shuja to Manipur by supplying an elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
in 1661, so that it might not antagonize the military force 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...
led by Mir Jumla. The Mughals lately came to know of the situation but Shuja was already gone. The Mughal prince Shangkusum (Shah Shuja) reached Manipur in December 1661 according to Cheitharol Kumbaba
Cheitharol Kumbaba
Cheitharol Kumbaba, also spelled as Cheitharon Kumpapa, is the official royal chronicle of the kings of Manipur.It claims to trace the history of the meetei kingdom back to 33 CE, and it ends with the last king, Bodhchandra, in 1955...
. The Mughals sent a three men embassy to Manipur in late December 1661, this time to retrieve the aggrieved family of Shuja. At that time Shuja was taking shelter in at Haignang of Kairang (east of Imphal
Imphal
Imphal is the capital of the Indian state of Manipur.In the heart of the town and surrounded by a moat, are ruins of the old Palace of Kangla. Kangla Fort used to be the home of the Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force and on November 2004 it was handed over to state of Manipur by Prime minister Dr....
), now known as Shuja-lok (Shuja cave). In the meantime in Tripura, Chhatra Manikya was too dethroned and Govinda Manikya came back from Arakan to claim the throne and ruled Tripura again from 1667 to 1675. The Manipur king Khunjaoba sent back a three man embassy to the court of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1662 while a Mughal ambassador named Nur Beg was held back in Manipur by the Qazi of Manipur named Muhammad Sani so that the retreating two Mughal messengers named Dur Beg and Rustam Beg should not tell about Shuja’s existence in Manipur. Yet, Shuja was sent up to Ukhrul
Ukhrul
Ukhrul is a town in Ukhrul district in the state of Manipur, India. It is the administrative headquarter of the Ukhrul district. There are also four Sub-Divisions in the district for administering the villages in and around it. The villages however are govern by the 'Church' and the 'Village...
hill with some Muslims (already settled in Manipur) as precautionary measure from Mughal informers. Thus Tripura and Manipur kings played crucial roles in saving the life of Shah Shuja probably because they did not like the Mughal expansionist policy of Aurangzeb.
Prince Shah Shuja had a wife named Praveen Banu (Piara Banu, Pai Ribanu), a sister namely Sabe Banu, three sons- Zainibuddin (Bon Sultan or Sultan Bang), Buland Akhtar and Zainul Abedin
Zainul Abedin
Zainul Abedin was nitially a painter of India and became famous in 1944 with his Famine Series paintings of 1943; and after partition he moved to Pakistan; and finally when Bangladesh was created in 1971, he was rightly considered the founding father of Bangladeshi Art...
, three daughters- Gulrukh Banu, Roshanara Begum
Roshanara Begum
Roshanara Begum was the second daughter of the Mughal ruler, Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. Born on September 3, 1617, Roshanara was a brilliant woman, a talented poetess, the mastermind behind Aurangazeb's accession to the Mughal throne, and by the time of her death in 1671, one of the most...
and Amina Begum. Shah Shuja lost the war of succession, and bid Hindustan
Hindustan
Hindustan or Indostan, literal translation "Land of River Sindhu ", is one of the popular names of South Asia. It can also mean "the land of the Hindus"...
farewell on 6 June 1660 fleeing to Arakan via Tripura-Chittagong. Shuja carried two vessels of gold and silver, jewel, treasures and other royal appendages to Arakan. Shuja first arrived at Chittagong
Chittagong
Chittagong ) is a city in southeastern Bangladesh and the capital of an eponymous district and division. Built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, the city is home to Bangladesh's busiest seaport and has a population of over 4.5 million, making it the second largest city in the country.A trading...
and stayed for some time, from where he took the land route to Arakan which is still called Shuja Road. A thousand palanquins (carriers) carried the harem ladies and Shuja prayed the Eid prayer
Eid Prayer
The Eid prayer was prescribed in the first year after the hijra. It is Wajib and Muhammad always performed these prayers.-Procedure:...
at a place called Edgoung (Eidgah) in Dulahzara which is still in Chittagong on the way to Arakan. Shuja undertook the land journey for 13 days and 13 nights with a troubled mind on the eastern bank of Naf River
Naf River
Naf River It is an elongated estuary in the extreme southeast of Cox's Bazar district dividing the district from Arakan, Myanmar. It rises in the Arakan hills on the southeastern borders of the district and flows into the Bay of Bengal. Its width varies from 1.61 km to 3.22 km. The river...
, half a mile north of Maungdaw
Maungdaw
Maungdaw is a town in the Rakhine State of westernmost part of Myanmar. It it the administrative seat of Maungdaw Township and Maungdaw District.Since September 1995, border trade between Maungdaw of Myanmar and Teknaf of Bangladesh is formally established....
town which is still known as Shuja village. Some of Shuja’s retinues there were later retained by the 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...
army as archers army from 1826. The final day of the sea route took Shuja to Arakan where he was received by an envoy of Arakan king Sanda Sudamma and escorted to a separate quarter for the Mughal prince. Niccolai Manucci wrote: “The date of flight (of Shuja from Dacca) was June 5, 1660 and arrived in Arakan on August 26, 1660.” Harvey noted that Shuja came to Arakan as Sudamma promised to provide him some of his famous ships to take him to Mecca for pilgrimage. He broke the promise. When Shuja arrived in Arakan with half a dozen camel loads of gold and jewelry, the temptation was too great for the Arakan king. Princess Gulrukh Banu fell victim to Sudamma and she promptly died in suicide, while Sultan Bang and another brother died fighting. They ran amok, nearly succeeded in firing the royal palace of Sudamma in December 1660, while many Mughals were massacred. Arakan king mother was against the killing of Shuja, being a guest in the first instant. The Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
who were well-known there as pirates did save Shuja while robbed him of gold and jewels. The surviving Mughals with Shuja escaped back to Tripura on 16 May 1661 with much difficulty and arrived in Manipur in December 1661. While Aurangzeb’s reconnaissance men were on the hunt for Shuja and for every bit of news. Conscious of this, Shuja’s men spread false news that Shuja died fighting in Arakan, while others rumoured he shipped to Mecca. There were a thousand different tales about Shuja’s fate and nothing could be conclusive. After all this trauma and travesty, Shuja helped by Mughals and Pathans of Arakan.