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Bangladesh Political History

Society and Religion lender the Bengle Sultanate The evolution of the muslim society in Bengal was mainly began with the conquest and establishment of the muslim kingdom, which eventually led to the growth of muslim society in this country. From the earlier time uptil now the population of Bengal was mainly composed of the Hindus, the Buddhists, aboriginals and a few gains. Later on, gradually a few passes, the Portuguese and the Americans were joined or added to the existing population. The aboriginals kept themselves aloof from the rest of the society. The Portuguese and the Jains slowly tried to assimilate in the society while the gains slowly accepted Hinduism. Eventually, it was noticeable that Hindus outnumbered other religious communities and were also politically and economically advanced. Above all the caste system dominated the Hindu social order very strictly, including their manners, morals and thoughts. There existed four hereditary occupational groups. The Brahmans (priestly class), the khatriyas (the political and military class), the Vaisyas (in charge of trade, agriculture and commerce) and sundras (service groups of material works), had existed for a long time. It seemed that each was separated from the other group by its obligatory rules and social contacts in any form were prohibited. In fact, the oppression of the lower caskes by the Brahmin had a very demoralizing effect on the existing society, lender these circumstances after the conquests of Bengal by Bakhtiyar Khalji in the early thirteenth century, the muslim population began to grow. So the society was then composed of local converts as well as the muslims who came from outside and settled in Bengal. The muslim rulers their families, relatives, officials and the thousands of soldiers who came in various muslim invasions; ultimately settled in this land, soon many other immigrants from Turkey, Iran, Abyssinia, central Asia, Arabia, Afghanistan and upper India and joined them. They, infact all formed the immigrant muslims along with the hundred of sufis who also arrived by that time in Bengal along with their followers. Needless to say that the muslim rulers played a very significant role in building the muslim society in Bengal. The purpose of the muslim rulers, the sultans not only to continue their rule properly but to build institutions and initiate works that helped muslim society, their community and their culture. However, powerful courtier Syed Hosain established himself as the sultan with the title Alauddin Hosain Shah.With his ascendency Hosain Shahi Bengal history began and from 1493 to 1538 four of Hosain Shahi Sultans ruled. It appeared to be that these Hosain Shahi dynasties originated from Arabia and settled in Murshidabed (west Bengal, India). He worked under Muzaffar Shah at Gaud and gradually rose to power. He appointed muslim noble men from Turkey, Arabia and Afghanistan and the local Hindus in high government posts. Alauddin Husain shah was the greatest sultan of his dynasty. He brought internal peace and stability by suppressing the Habshis (Negros). He was an efficient ruler and brought prosperity to Bengal. He was also a great patron Courtesy by: Kaisar Syed

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Bangladesh Political History

of arts and learning, under his liberal patronage many books were written in Bengali language. Mahabharata and Bhaghwal Gita were also translated into Bengal, Various literary works of his period earned distinction for the country. He created many buildings including mosques, madrasas, khanqas and tombs. Chota sona masjid of gaur and other buildings constructed during his period showed his taste of architecture. He created a mosque in Pandua in honour of Sufi Nur Kutub Alam and contributed land and money for his dargah. Due to his tolerance for other religions earned him the title of and respect of “Sri Chaitanya Dev” the founder of Vaishnavism. Worship of satyapur in his time was his distinct liberal ideas. It was During this period which witnessed the beginning of significant historical forces affected the political and economic history of Bengal. It was said that “Mughal rule touched only the outer fringe of Bengal politics and European trade was yet to have a proper beginning. But the period in question showed the signs of a new Bengal to be brought into existence through the working of these forces”. Within less then a century of muslim rule in the principality of Lakhnauti expanded which included the regions on either’s side of the Bhagirathi river. The first phase of the independence in Bengal was represented by the Ilyas Shahi rule these rulers who wanted to remain independent of the Delhi Sultanate had to depend upon regional people for political support. Thus, in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, there was a considerable number of non-muslims held high posts under the muslim rulers and had formed a landed aristocracy of the country. In this way ultimately the sultans made significant contributions to the growth of a Hindu middle class “with all its economic and cultural paraphernalia”. Thus with the foundations of the Independent Sultanate parts like Satgaon, Sonargaon, Chittagong came into prominence. These and a number of mint towns greatly encouraged Bengals maritime trades with the outside world. Hence, the muslim rule and especially the Husain and Ilyas Shahi dynastic rule brought “Bengal from rural to urban place of civilization based on the introduction of money economy”. The Bengal sultan considered their most important duties were towards the administration of justice and protection of life and property of subjects. Many of the sultans have already inscribed their coins and inscriptions of being “the rist sultan” and “the most–learned man” on their coins etc, like sultan Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah (13391358 A.D.) Sikander Shah(1358-1390 A.D.) and all the sultans who successed them to rule the sultanate from 1442-1552 A.D.). Benevolent Activities: The sultans were alive to moral well-being of the people. It is recorded that sultan Iwad Khalji (1213-1227) had constructed series of embankments to protect the city of Lakhnauti and its environs from the annual floods during rainy season. He also had two frontier cities of Deokot in Dinajpur and Lakhnur in Birbhum connected with the capital city by a trunk road. His successors continued these public works throughout the country. Nasir uddin Mahmud Shah (1442-1459 A.D.) Courtesy by: Kaisar Syed

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Bangladesh Political History

brought a greater part of southern Bengal which was covered with forests, under settlement and cultivation. Two big tanks were made near Bagerhat in Khulna district the wonder of these two trunks were used for drinking water and they are still being used. Mahmud Shah also construct two bridges One at Bhagalpur in Bihar and the other at Gaud, which is still known as “Kotwali gate”, even Barbak Shah had the construction of a canal and a “Middle gate” at Gaur known as “Nim Darwaza”,according to the inscription. The greatest ruler was Ala-al-Din Husain Shah(1493-1519A.D.), who was credited both by epigraphic records and literary sources that he had contracted a number of Tanks in different parts of the country for providing drinking water for the people and bridges to maintain communication by roads such as in Haiderpur in (Maldah) Mangalkot in Burdwan (in W.Bengal ,India) Jangipur in Murshidabad district and Birbhum. It must be said that, the Muslim rulers and sultans played a significant role in building the Muslim society in Bengal. They built institutions, Mosques etc to provide and establish Muslim societyand culture right at the places of prayers, which are the fundamental pillars of Islam faith. For example, Adina Mosque in pardna, Khan Jahan Mosque at Bagerhat, Jafar Khan Mosque at Tribeni are grand example. They also built and mainpaened almshouses (rest house for travelers), Sarai khanas where all aimed to ease the travelers and distreies of the common people and the travelers. The ulama and the spiritual leaders sufi saints gane religious instructions to everybody they infact had a tremendous influence over the society as spiritual leaders and comforts of people who were in distress and gave moral preaching to masses who wanted their help.

Courtesy by: Kaisar Syed

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