- Mirza Agha Bakar
-
Agha Bakar Mirza Born Aga Bakar
BengalNationality Indian Occupation Persian nobleman
ZamindarTitle Nobleman title Mirza Children Aga Sadeq Agha Bakar Mirza an 18th century Persian noble and Zamindar of parganas Buzurg Umedpur and Salimabad constituting major part of modern greater Barisal District.[1][2]
Contents
Early life
Mirza Agha was the son-in-law of Mirza Murshid Quli Khan (Rustam Jang). Famous for his firmness and courage, Agha Bakar had an adventurous role in the conflict between Rustam Jang and Alivardi Khan over the possession of Orissa.[2]
History
Alivardi became the Nawab of Bengal after the fall of Sarfaraz Khan, but Orissa continued to be held by Rustam Jang. Mirza Bakar accompanied his father-in-law and proceeded towards Balasore from Cuttack to face Alivardi with the object of re-conquering Bengal and encamped at Phulwari (December 1740). The Mirza launched the attack, but was wounded and defeated on 3 March 1741. Rustam Jang fled with the wounded Mirza to Masulipatam. Their family members were saved from being captured by Alivardi's men through the timely aid of a friend of Rustam Jang, who was the Zamindar of Khurda district. Rustam Jang's general Shah Murad safely conducted them to Mirza Bakar. They had to spend their days in the Deccan in a destitute condition. Alivardi left Orissa for Murshidabad leaving his nephew and son-in-law Sayed Ahmad as Naib Nazim of Orissa.
After his recovery Mirza Bakar, along with Mir Habib, reached Cuttack with a batch of Maratha infantry in August 1741, held Sayed Ahmad with his family, kept them confined and captured Midnapore and Hijli.
Alivardi, hearing of this discomfiture, marched against the Mirza, inflicted a defeat upon him at Raipur on the southern bank of the Mahanadi (December 1741) and compelled him to return to the Deccan with his Maratha allies.[2]
Aga Bakar seems to have surrendered to Alivardi Khan sometime at the beginning of 1742 and was granted a fief in the Buzurg Umedpur and Salimabad parganas which he held till his death in 1754 AD. He established a Big Ganj (mart) in Buzurg Umedpur, which was named Bakarganj after him. Bakarganj grew up into an important port-town where Persians, Armenians and Kashmiri Khwajas used to trade in salt and hide. Perhaps Aga Bakar controlled his estate through a deputy, himself residing in Dhaka.[2]
Aga Bakar and his son Aga Sadeq appear to have been involved in the palace intrigue in Murshidabad and were in clear alignment with Siraj ud-Daula. Nawazish Muhammad Khan, the Naib Nazim of Dhaka, had two deputies named Husain Quli Khan and his nephew Husain ud-Din Khan. Siraj charged Husain Quli and Husainuddin with conspiracy and got Husain ud-Din murdered through his agent Aga Sadeq in 1754 AD. In retaliation Mirza Ali Naqi, a relation of Husain ud-Din and the Kotwal of Dhaka, raided the residence of Aga Bakar. Aga Sadeq fled by the back door leaving his old father a victim to the infuriated mob (1754).
Agha Bakar lies buried in a tomb to the north of Aga Sadeq Maidan in Dhaka.[3][4]
See also
References
- ^ begpeople, Persian nobleman, Mirza Agha Bakar, Dubbagol.com: Source news, "Retrieved: 2011-07-25"
- ^ a b c d Muazzam Hussain Khan, Mirza Agha Bakar, Banglapedia: The National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, "Retrieved: 2011-05-10"
- ^ BENGAL, Mirza A. Bakar
- ^ Pakistan forum, Bangladesh, Mirza Bakar
Categories:- People executed by the Mughal Empire
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