Burhanpur

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?Burhanpur बुरहानपुर Madhya Pradesh • India
<span title="Detailed aerial imagery of Burhanpur बुरहानपुर (Google Maps)">Burhanpur बुरहानपुर
Coordinates: 21°10′N 76°10′E / 21.17, 76.17
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	• 750 m (2,461 ft)
District(s)	Burhanpur
Mayor
Codes • Telephone • Vehicle	• +07325 • MP-xx
Website: www.burhanpur.nic.in

Coordinates: 21°10′N 76°10′E / 21.17, 76.17 Burhanpur is a town in Madhya Pradesh state, India. It is the administrative seat of Burhanpur District. It is situated on the north bank of the Tapti River 310 miles (499 km) northeast of Mumbai.

1 History
2 Dargah-E-Hakimi
3 Geography
4 Demographics
5 External links
6 References

[edit] History

It was founded in 1400 by a Muslim prince of the Farukhi dynasty of Khandesh, whose successors held it for 200 years, when the Faruqi kingdom was annexed to the Mughal empire by Akbar in 1601. It formed the chief seat of the government of the Deccan provinces of the Mughal empire till Shah Jahan removed the capital to Aurangabad in 1635. Burhanpur was plundered in 1685 by the Marathas, and repeated battles were fought in its neighborhood in the struggle between the Marathas and the Mughals for the supremacy of India. In 1739 the Mughals finally yielded to the demand of the Marathas for a fourth of the revenue, and in 1760 the Nizam of the Deccan ceded Burhanpur to the Peshwa, who in 1778 transferred it to Sindhia. In the Second Anglo-Maratha War the army under General Arthur Wellesley, afterwards the Duke of Wellington, took Burhanpur (1803), but the treaty of the same year restored it to Sindhia. It remained a portion of Sindhia's dominions till 1860?, when, in consequence of certain territorial arrangements, the town and surrounding estates were ceded to the British government. Under the Mughals the city covered an area of about 5 mile² (13 km²), and was about 11 mile (18 km) in circumference. In the Ain-t-Akbari it is described as a large city, with many gardens, inhabited by all nations, and abounding with craftsmen. Sir Thomas Roe, who visited it in 1614, found that the houses in the town were only mud cottages, except the prince's house, the chans and some few others. In the city contained 8000 houses, with a population of 34,137, which had decreased to 33,343 in 1901.

Burhanpur was celebrated for its muslins, flowered silks, and brocades, which, according to Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, who visited it in 1668, were exported in great quantities to Persia, Egypt, Turkey, Russia and Poland. The gold and silver wires used in the manufacture of these fabrics are drawn with considerable care and skill; and in order to secure the purity of the metals employed for their composition, the wire-drawing under the native rule was done under government inspection. The town of Burhanpur and its manufactures were long on the decline, but in the early twentieth century they made a slight recovery.

The buildings of Interest in the town are a palace, built by Akbar, called the Lal Kila or the Red Fort, and the Jama Masjid or Great Mosque, built by Ali Khan, one of the Faruqi dynasty, in 1588. A considerable number of Dawoodi Bohras, a class of Muslim merchants, reside here.

Burhanpur holds an important place among the historical cities of India. Naseeruddin Farooqi has built this city in 1407 A.D or 809 Hijr by the name of his religious leader Hazrat Shah Burhanuddin Gharib Khuladabadi. Farooqi dynasty has ruled this city for over 200 years. During this period they built forts, gardens, mosques, etc. which still depicts the architectural marvels of that time. Shahi Jama Masjid, Shahi Qila, Aasirgarh fort, Salem Shahi Eidgah, Bibi ki Masjid to name few of them. Farooqi's ruled from the fort of Aasirgarh, which remained unconquered during their time.

It is said that Hazrat Burhanuddin Gharib started his journey from Delhi to Daulatabad on summon from his Murshid Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya Dehlvi. His caravan reached amid dense forests at the bank of river Tapti where they stayed in a small village called Vasanna or Basanna. He was very much impressed by the tranquility and beauty of this place. In evening Hazrat Burhanuddin held prayers at this place and prayed to Allah to have a city at this place. Next morning his caravan took off towards Daulatabad and reached here on 720 Hijr. He spread his teachings and worked for the welfare of the people for rest of his life. He died in 1338 A.D. or 738 Hijr.

According to the historical extracts, Malik Raja Ibn Khan "wazir of Daulatabad" of Farooqi dynasty was the follower of Hazrat Sayed Zainuddin Daud Shirazi In the period of Firoze shah Togloqe he was appointed the governor of Khandesh. At the request of Malik Raja Ibn Khan Hazrat Sayyed Zainuddin Daud Shirazi gave permission to build a city of Zainabad on the other side of the river Tapti in the name of his pir-o-murshid. Unfortunately Malik Raja Ibn Khan could not start the work in his lifetime. He passed on this responsibility to his son Naseer khan. When Naseer khan Farooqi became the ruler of Khandesh, first he conquered Aasirgarh fort in 801 Hijr then according to the will of his father and desire of his pir-o-murshid he laid the foundation of the City of Burhanpur in 1407 A.D or 809 Hijr. The prayers of Hazrat shah Burhanuddin Gharib Khuladabadiwere answered.

After the fall of Farooqi dynasty came Mughals. They ruled Burhanpur for over 150 years. Mughal emperor Akbar attacked Aasirgarh using his full might but could not conquered fort for 11 months. Finally he conquered it by bribing and by other means in 1601 A.D or 1009 Hijr. Since Burhanpur was known as the gateway to Deccan, therefore it held an important place during the Mughal period, where at one or the other time either Mughal prince or their ambassadors were appointed.

[edit] Dargah-E-Hakimi

Burhanpur is a historical place and have followers of all religion. And all the religions are equally respected. Thousands of Bohras from Bohra community live here. About 3 KM from Burhanpur There is a village called Lodhi which was founded by a king from Lodhi family. Here is the cemetery for Dawodi Bohra Muslims which is famous by the name Dargah-E-Hakimi. It is also a religious shrine for the community. It has a huge and beautiful gate. As we enter the gate, In the front is a beautiful garden surrounded by small and large rooms for the Pilgrims. It provides free food and accommodation to the Pilgrims. On the left is a small but beautiful gate which leads to the shrine. The campus is surrounded by the wall and the floor is white marble tiled. In the front is a small tomb which is beautifully made of marble. The Marble is engraved with flowers and leaves. In the middle of this tomb is the initial grave of Syedi Abdulqadir Hakimuddin (AQ). It is believed that there was a dispute regarding the burial of his body and three weeks later the grave was dug again. The crowd there at that time was surprised and amazed to see that the dead body was so live, fresh and tidy and there was nothing else but the body. They were ashamed for what they had done and he was reburied to the present place a few yards away in the same campus.

Syedi Abdulqadir Hakimuddin (AQ) was born in Rampura on 14 Jamadil Awal 1077 Hijri. His father Bawa Khan Saheb sent him to Ahmedabad under the parential guidance of Syedna Abdul Tayyid Zakiuddin Saheb (AQ). Syedna Safiuddin Saheb, son of Syedna Abdul Tayyib Zakiuddin Saheb (AQ) took the responsibility of his education. He was a very intelligent and at a very young age learnt the Quranand committed it to memory. He came to Burhanpur in 1142 Hijri on his way of preaching Islam. He served the community up to his last breath. He was a great learned person in his time. He was a great writer in Urdu, Sanskrit, Persian and Arabic. He translated the contents of some Sanskrit books in to Arabic in a book called "Qalila Wadhima". He died at the age of 65 on 5 Shawal 1142 Hijri (1730). The 39th Dai (head) of Bohra community Syedna Ibrahim Vajihuddin Saheb (AQ ) is the son of Syedi Abdulquadir Hakimuddin Saheb (AQ). The present Dai Syedna Burhanuddin saheb is the 52nd dai in that line of succession.

[edit] Geography

Burhanpur is located at 21.3° N 76.23° E^[1]. It has an average elevation of 233 metres (764 ft).

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census^[2], Burhanpur had a population of 194,360. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Burhanpur has an average literacy rate of 64%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 69% and female literacy of 57%. 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.