Cowlas Family
Cowlas is the name of a feudal aristocratic and noble family belonging to the erstwhile Princely State of Hyderabad. They derived their name from their ancestral home, Kowlas Fort. The family bore the title of Castellan of Kowlas or Kiladar of Kowlas. [1][2][3]
| Cowlas family | |
|---|---|
| KOWLAS CREST 2 | |
| Parent house | Timurid Dynasty |
| Country | Pakistan, India |
| Current region | South Asia |
| Founded | 1915 |
| Current head | Haris Cowlas |
| Final ruler | Moinuddin Cowlas |
| Titles | Castellan of Kowlas |
| Estate(s) | Kowlas Fort |
| Deposition | 1948 |
Origins
The Cowlas family can trace their origins back to the Timurid dynasty, counting their generations back to Emir Timur's firstborn son Prince Umar Sheikh Mirza. The family's ancestor Muhammad Jamil Beg first arrived in India during the 18th century, and served the First Nizam of Hyderabad as a Jamedar (Military General). Several generations of this family had served the Nizams of Hyderabad in military ranks, and as feudal lords. [4][1][2][3]
History
The family's ancestor Maulvi Muhammad Jamaluddin Sheikh was ennobled by the 7th Nizam of Hyderabad as the Hereditary Castellan of Kowlas in 1915, following the premature death of the last Raja of Kowlas, Durjan Singh. Maulvi Jamaluddin Sheikh had his firstborn son in 1915 at Kowlas Fort, named Moinuddin Sheikh. [4][3][1]
Moinuddin succeeded his father as the 2nd Castellan of Kowlas, and alongside his hereditary duties he became a professional Journalist. In 1940, Moinuddin Sheikh adopted a new surname of Kowlas, replacing Sheikh. Moinuddin Kowlas was one of the youngest members of the All-India Muslim League, a staunch supporter of the Pakistan Movement.[3][1]
In 1948, when the Annexation of Hyderabad by Indian forces took place, Moinuddin Kowlas was detained for his support of Pakistan, and once released he was forced to migrate. Upon landing in Karachi, Pakistan, Moinuddin decided to anglicize his surname from Kowlas to Cowlas, becoming the progenitor of the Cowlas family. [1][2]
The Family
Moinuddin Cowlas would father 4 children, including 2 sons and 2 daughters. He remained the titular Castellan of Kowlas until his death in 1981, and was succeeded by his sons Waris Cowlas and Haris Cowlas. The current Head of the Cowlas family is Haris Cowlas, the titular Castellan of Kowlas. [1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 https://familypedia.fandom.com/wiki/Cowlas_Family
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 https://medium.com/@acowlas/the-noble-family-of-cowlas-and-kowlas-fort-remembering-a-pakistani-legacy-ee01ed9ce7ff
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 https://www.telangana360.com/2023/09/kaulas-fort.html
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaulas_Fort
