Sadaat-e-Bilgram
Encyclopedia
The Saadat-e-Bilgram are a Muslim
community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh
in India
. They also known as the Bilgrami Sayyid (or Syed), and Bilgrami is often used as a surname.
families who inhabit the historic town of Bilgram
in Hardoi District
. Saadat-e-Bilgram literally means the Sayyid
of the town of Bilgram
. Their ancestor, Syed Mohammad Sughra, a Zaidi Sayyid
of Iraq
arrived in India
during the rule of Sultan
Iltutmish
. The Sayyid
commanded a Muslim
army that overcame the Bhar
s, who were the traditional rulers of the Hardoi
region, and was granted an estate centred on the town of Bilgram
, where the Sayyid settled down. Sixth in decent from Syed Mohammad Sughra was Syed Abdul Farah of Wasit, who was the ancestor of the Saadat-e-Bara
, another community of Sayyid
s. The Bilgrami Sayyid were immportant power brokers in southern part of Awadh
, and remained an important and influential clan, throughout the Middle Ages. They provided several taluqdar
families, and were substantial landowners.
system by the newly independent India
in 1949 had a major impact on the Bilgrami Sayyid community. The larger estates were broken, and land given to the tillers. This led to some emigration of the Bilgrami to Pakistan
, as well to major urban centres in India
, such as Mumbai
and Delhi
. Many members of the community now cultivate their own land, and grow wheat, paddy, maize, pulses and vegetables. They are largely Shia, although a few families are Sunni. The Bilgrami remain associated with the town of Bilgram
, while others are found in twenty one villages near the town.
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 found in the state of 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...
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...
. They also known as the Bilgrami Sayyid (or Syed), and Bilgrami is often used as a surname.
Origin
The Sadaat Bilgram are a group of SayyidSayyid
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,...
families who inhabit the historic town of Bilgram
Bilgram
Bilgram is a city and a municipal board in Hardoi district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.-Geography:Bilgram is located at . It has an average elevation of 136 metres .-Demographics:...
in Hardoi District
Hardoi District
Hardoi disctrict is a district of Uttar Pradesh, India, and Hardoi town is the district headquarters. Hardoi district is a part of Lucknow division.-Economy:...
. Saadat-e-Bilgram literally means 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,...
of the town of Bilgram
Bilgram
Bilgram is a city and a municipal board in Hardoi district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.-Geography:Bilgram is located at . It has an average elevation of 136 metres .-Demographics:...
. Their ancestor, Syed Mohammad Sughra, a Zaidi 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,...
of 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....
arrived 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...
during the rule of 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...
Iltutmish
Iltutmish
Shams-ud-din Iltutmish was the third ruler of the Mamluk dynasty of Delhi of Turkic origin. He was a slave of Qutub-ud-din-Aybak and later became his son-in-law and close lieutenant. He was the Governor of Badaun when he deposed Qutub-ud-din's successor Aram Shah and acceeded to the throne of the...
. 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,...
commanded 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...
army that overcame the Bhar
Bhar
The Bhar are a Hindu caste found in North India. They are also known as Rajbhar. British historian General Cunningham said that Bhars are branch of the Ahir tribe.-History and origin:...
s, who were the traditional rulers of the Hardoi
Hardoi
Hardoi is a city and a municipal board in Hardoi district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of Hardoi District.-Geography:Hardoi is located at...
region, and was granted an estate centred on the town of Bilgram
Bilgram
Bilgram is a city and a municipal board in Hardoi district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.-Geography:Bilgram is located at . It has an average elevation of 136 metres .-Demographics:...
, where the Sayyid settled down. Sixth in decent from Syed Mohammad Sughra was Syed Abdul Farah of Wasit, who was the ancestor of the Saadat-e-Bara
Saadat-e-Bara
Sadat-e-Bara , sometimes pronounced Sadaat-e-Barha, are a community of Sayyids who inhabit a group of twelve villages situated in the Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh in India. This community had considerable influence during the latter days of the Mughal Empire. They were also found in...
, another community of 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. The Bilgrami Sayyid were immportant power brokers in southern part of Awadh
Awadh
Awadh , also known in various British historical texts as Oudh or Oude derived from Ayodhya, is a region in the centre of the modern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, which was before independence known as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh...
, and remained an important and influential clan, throughout the Middle Ages. They provided several taluqdar
Taluqdar
A taluqdar or talukdar , is a term used for Indian land holders in Mughal and British times, responsible for collecting taxes from a district...
families, and were substantial landowners.
Present Circumstances
The abolishment of the zamindarZamindar
A Zamindar or zemindar , was an aristocrat, typically hereditary, who held enormous tracts of land and ruled over and taxed the bhikaaris who lived on batavaslam. Over time, they took princely and royal titles such as Maharaja , Raja , Nawab , and Mirza , Chowdhury , among others...
system by the newly independent 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 1949 had a major impact on the Bilgrami Sayyid community. The larger estates were broken, and land given to the tillers. This led to some emigration of the Bilgrami 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...
, as well to major urban centres 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...
, such as Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
and 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...
. Many members of the community now cultivate their own land, and grow wheat, paddy, maize, pulses and vegetables. They are largely Shia, although a few families are Sunni. The Bilgrami remain associated with the town of Bilgram
Bilgram
Bilgram is a city and a municipal board in Hardoi district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.-Geography:Bilgram is located at . It has an average elevation of 136 metres .-Demographics:...
, while others are found in twenty one villages near the town.