Shah Ismail Ghazi


Shah Ismail Ghazi was a Quraish born in Mecca. He was a preacher of Islam as well as a warrior. He came to India in the mid-fifteenth century during the reign of Sultan Barbak Shah and settled at Gaur.

Life

Shah Ismail Ghazi was of Arab origin and a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. He settled in the city of Gaur. During this time Sultan Rukunuddin Barbak Shah was building a dam across the river Jhatiya-Bhatiya or Chutiaputia. All the engineers and craftsmen tried for long seven years but could not complete the dam. After hearing this Ismail approached the Sultan and suggested a scheme. After his solution proved successful, Ismail became one of the most important men in the Sultan's army, and many battles were won under his command.

Battles

Shah Ismail Ghazi's first campaign was against Gajapati Kapilendra, the king of Orissa on the south-western frontier. He defeated Gajapati and Mandaran was recovered, and he constructed a fort there. After defeat at the hands of Kameshwar, king of Kamatapur, Barbak Shah decided to send Shah Ismail. He was victorious; the king surrendered to the Sultan and converted to Islam.

Death

There are two theories regarding the death of Shah Ismail Ghazi. One is that he was slain in a war in 1474. Another theory says that after so many victories Bhandsi Rai, the commandant of Ghoraghat, was jealous of him and reported to the Sultan that Shah Ismail Ghazi was in collusion with the Raja of Kamrup. After hearing this the Sultan immediately ordered Ismail's execution in 1474 A.D. There are six shrines dedicated to the memory of the saint; one at Mandaran, one at Ghoraghat, and four in Pirganj in the district of Rangpur, one of those being in Baradarga.