Najib-ul-Daula

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Najib-ud-daula was a Rohilla tribal chief in 18th century, who founded the city of Najibabad in Bijnor district India, several architectural reamins of Rohilla magnificence is still present in the present city ^[1].

He belonged to the umarkhel section of Yousafzais. He migrated from Swabi in the northwest to Rohilkhand in 1739. He made progress and estlablished the state of Najibabad independent from other Rohilla tribes. In the Third battle of Panipat, during the Imperial Maratha Conquests, he allied himself with the Durranis against the Marathas. Najib Khan was shrewd enough to understand changed ground realities after third battle of panipat.

His cunning political acumen was used by Ahmed Shah Abdali to isolate Marathas & preventing them from getting even single ally during their conflict with durrani power. His opposition to signing of treaty, with Marathas was the main cause of battle being fought at Panipat. After the war he was made vazier of Mughal emperor.^[clarify]. He had to become vazir of Delhi state with empty treasury & territory confining to boundaries of Delhi city .He negotiated bought peace with marathas in 1768 by surrendering Doab.

Najib Khan was an Afghan soldier of fortune, who had attained the hand of the daughter of Dundi Khan, one of the chieftains of the Rohilkhand Pathans. Rewarded by this ruler with the charge of a district, now Bijnor, in the north-west corner of Rohilkhand, he had joined the cause of Safdar Jang, when that minister occupied the country; but on the latter's disgrace had borne a part in the campaigns of Ghazi-ud-din. When the Vazir first conceived the project of attacking the government, he sent Najib in the command of a Moghul detachment to occupy the country, about Saharanpur, then known as the Bawani Mahal, which had formed the jagir of the Ex-Vazir Khan Khanan.

This territory thus became in its turn separated from the Empire, and continued for two generations in the family of Najib. He ruled the dwindled Empire for nine years, and died a peaceful death, leaving his charge in an improved and strengthened condition, ready for its lawful monarch. He was highly esteemed by the British in India.

He died in 1770 and was succeeded by his son Zabita Khan. His cemetry is still in present day, Najibabad is the fort and place built by him.