Hazari Estate
Hazari Estate is a private estate owned by the Hazari family of Dohazari, Chittagong. The resources of the estate include land properties, commercial space, shopping centres, housing estates and industrial places.
History[edit]
Hazari family is the cadet branch from the dynasty of the Raja of the Gaur Rajput clan; this makes the family more than a thousand years old, with royal lineage. The Hazari family has owned the estate for nearly 350 years. The founder of this cadet branch came from the Rajput territory of northern India under Mughal authority and settled here. Since the Mughal Era this area has been controlled by this family as the centre of their domain.
The Mughal Subahdar Shaista Khan expelled the Arakanese from Chittagong in 1666 and established Mughal rule there. After the Arakanese expulsion, Islamabad, as the area came to be known, made great strides in economic progress. In 1666, Buzurg Umed Khan, the son of the Subahdar, led the invasion of the Mughal Army to expel the Arakanese. In this campaign, there were thirteen Mughal army commanders, consisting of both Mansabdars and Army generals. They invaded Chittagong and won a vast territory starting from modern day Feni to Cox's Bazar. After the invasion they settled there to ensure the security and ruling of the territory.
One Mansabdar among them was Rajkumar Lakhsman Singh Hazari. His original name was Lakhsman Singh. He was a Gaur Rajput prince from the dynasty of the Raja of the Gaur Rajputs, and one of the Suryavanshi lineage Rajput ruling family of Rajputana under Mughal authority. For the royal Gaur Rajput lineage he was addressed as Rajkumar. He was a Mansabdar of Hazari rank (commander of two thousand sowar or soldiers) in the Mughal administration, and this designation title was added with his name. Lakhsman Singh and a Mughal general Adhu Khan's joint force were responsible for the conquest of the southern area. They made their conquest till Ramu.
After dividing the territory, Lakhsman Singh Hazari was awarded a Mansabdari of South Chittagong under Mughal authority; it was a territory starting from Hashimpur, a few miles before of Dohazari[1] to nearly the middle of Cox's Bazar. Lakshman Singh Hazari was the founder of Dohazari. He established a fort there and it was the centre of his Mansabdari. It is said that Dohazari was named because there was an army camp of two thousand soldiers (fort and including areas); this was Lakhsman Singh's command post.
After being appointed as the Mansabdar of Dohazari (Hashimpur to Ramu region), his position was the same as a Rajput Maharaja regarding territory, military, and authority, although he was under Mughal authority.
Rajkumar Lakhsman Singh Hazari and other rulers after him were addressed as Maharaj Babu of this territory from Mughal period. This was a title similar to any title for a Rajput prince who holds a princely state of his own.
Their title was dismissed by the East India Company when it was awarded the diwani or overlordship of Bengal by the empire following the Battle of Buxar in 1764. At this time every ruling family of Bengal were maintaining their own military forces for a long time as a duty and royal tradition. They were ordered to stop maintaining. The Hazari family of Dohazari were maintaining their own military force consists of more than two thousand soldiers including sowars (cavalry), elephants, siege equipment and artillery. This force was specialized for frontier force. By the decree of the new Dewan, the Hazari family had to stop maintaining their military forces.
After the establishment of Permanent Settlement Act by East India Company at 1793, the Hazari family lost their Mansabdari authority and a large part of their territory. They became Zamindar under Company Rule. Though they lost their title, army, authority and a large part of their territory they were addressed as Maharaj Babu until 1940. Monohor Singh Hazari was the last person who was addressed as their old title, Maharaj Babu. During the British Raj era, they were one of the leading Zamindars of Chittagong.
During the British period, their Zamindari was known as Hazari Estate. The estate was smaller than their previous Mughal territory, but it was one of the vast and great Zamindar estates of the region. After the demolishing of the Zamindari system, the Hazari Estate started to deal with the business sectors related to their land properties.
Holdings and activities[edit]
The estate owns many structures, commercial spaces, housing estates and some large shopping centres. Hazari Tower is the second largest shopping centre of Chittagong district and division, and the largest in the southern territory outside Chittagong City. Hazari Shopping Centre is the fourth largest shopping complexes of Chittagong. A large part of commercial spaces of Dohazari is owned by the Hazari Estate which can be said as half of the town is owned by the estate.
In social service activities, Hazari Estate donated and helped to establish two schools, one college, mosque, and temples at Dohazari. The estate donated a large area of land for establishing two schools and had a strong role in establishing a hospital. Late Babu Bhagirath Singh Hazari was the pioneer of these social service activities. Lakhsman Singh Hazari was the founder of Dohazari and his descendant Bhagirath Singh Hazari was the pioneer and architect of making Dohazari a city. Bhagirath Singh Hazari made the first attempt and made strong steps to make Dohazari a city.
The estate had a great influence in the development of the area, and as a result, Dohazari is now the most influential business centre and a municipality of Chittagong.
Hazari family lineage[edit]
The Hazari family lineage is more than 1200 years old (800 AD - Present Day). The Dohazari branch is the direct cadet branch of the Royal house of the Raja of the Gaur Rajputs. The record of the lineage starts from the Raja of the Gaur Rajputs period (800 AD).
Raja of the Gaur Rajputs (800 AD- ):
Muni title branch (cadet branch of the lineage):
10. Sri ZamadKona Muni - son of Sri Raja Ramchandra
11. Sri Varadwaj Muni
12. Sri Atul Muni
13. Sri Parashar Muni
Hazari title, Mughal Mansabdars, Dohazari lineage (1666-present):
14. Rajkumar Lakhsman Singh Hazari - Mughal mansabdar, commander of two thousand soldiers and sowars; one of the commanders during the expulsion of the Arakanese from Chittagong; founder of Dohazari.
15. Zorawar Singh Hazari - son of Lakhsman Singh Hazari; one of the most famous rulers of his time; led many battles against the Maghs and Arakanese; founder of Zorwarganj[2] after battle and conquest at modern day Mirasarai area; Nowajish Khan (নওয়াজিশ খান) wrote a book about him, জোরওয়ার সিংহ কীর্তি. He was head of the Mansabdari.
16. Karkosh Singh Hazari - addressed as Maharaj Babu; head of the Mansabdari.
17. Feri Singh Hazari - addressed as Maharaj Babu; head of the Mansabdari.
18. Gopal Singh Hazari - addressed as Maharaj Babu; head of the Mansabdari.
19. Tarwal Singh Hazari - addressed as Maharaj Babu; head of the Mansabdari.
20. Omrao Singh Hazari - addressed as Maharaj Babu; head of the Mansabdari; later his Mansabdari became Zamindari after the Diwani of East India Company started at Bengal.
21. Tarayen Singh Hazari - Zamindar of Hazari Estate; one of the main zamindars of entire Chittagong; addressed as Maharaj Babu.
22. Gamir Singh Hazari - Zamindar of Hazari Estate; was very popular among the people; made various contribution for developments of various localities in Chittagong.
23. Monohor Singh Hazari - Zamindar of Hazari Estate, the last to be addressed as Maharaj Babu; made various donations and social activities for development and prosperity; one of the mightiest personalities of his time and from the lineage.
24. Bhagirath Singh Hazari - the last Zamindar of Hazari Estate; after the demolishing of the zamindari system, he continued the estate as a business establishment based on land properties; later he became the Chairman of Dohazari; donated many properties for establishing important structures and institutions; made strong contribution for the socio-economic development of Dohazari; the architect of making Dohazari a city; his father was Sheubir Singh Hazari, brother of Monohor Singh Hazari.
Current members of the family[edit]
- Dr. Swaroj Kanti Singh Hazari - son of Bhagirath Singh Hazari; Vice Chancellor of BGC Trust University; chairperson of Hazari Estate; chemistry scholar; former Professor of University of Chittagong; has one son and one daughter, both of whom live in the United States:
- Kallol Singh Hazari
- Kakoli Dey
- Manoj Singh Hazari - son of Bhagirath Singh Hazari; made various contributions in socio-economic and political arena; lives in the United States; has one son and one daughter, both of whom live in the United States:
- Dabraj Singh Hazari
- Nondita Hazari
- Pijush Singh Hazari - son of Bhagirath Singh Hazari; Managing Director of Hazari Estate; mostly responsible for the establishment of Hazari Shopping Centre,Hazari Tower,Hazari Market and all the commercial structures of the estate; chairperson of various social service based establishments; lives in Dohazari; has one daughter and two sons:
- Shantosree Singh Hazari - lives in Dubai, UAE
- Gourob Singh Hazari - Lawyer; working as Apprentice Lawyer of a Senior Advocate at Supreme Court of Bangladesh; lives in Dhaka
- Tanoy Singh Hazari - lives in Dohazari
- Tushar Singh Hazari - son of Bhagirath Singh Hazari; lawyer; works at Chittagong Judge's Court; chairperson of various social service based organizations; lives in Chittagong; has two sons:
- Shantonu Singh Hazari - doctor, Medical Officer at Government Hospital; lives in Chittagong
- Shaown Singh Hazari - studying; lives in Dhaka
- Dipak Singh Hazari - son of Bhagirath Singh Hazari; businessman and academic; professor at a government institution; lives in Dohazari; has one son:
- Pramit Singh Hazari - studying; lives in Dhaka
References[edit]
- ↑ Zaker, SM Abu (2012). "Chandanaish Upazila". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Search this book on
- ↑ http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Mirsharai_Upazila
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