Founded by SHAIKH ISSA KHAN Afghan – who had 4 sons.
The eldest son Shaikh Rukhnu-Din Khan Afghan was titled Sher Khan by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir when he was a prince, as he served in the army. He lost his arm in battle against Umr Singh I, the Rana of Udaipur.
He established the first village in Bara Basti known as Basi Bangar, located on the shores of Ganga. After his death, the emperor bestowed some portion of his rank and jagir to his brother, Shaikh Allu Khan Afghan during the reign of Emperor Jehangir /Shah Jahan. He moved from Basi Bangar to Nasirabad Ghuntu, in today’s Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh.
He changed its name from Nasirabad to Khanpur, fighting many battles in the service of Mughal Emperor Shahjahan. The battle that came in the light of history was fought against Raja Jagat Singh Pathania of Taragarh, Himachal Pradesh. He rebelled against the Mughal Shajahan, fortifying the forts of Nurpur, Mau, Taragarh of Himachal Pradesh. During this, he also battled Shaikh Allu Khan Afghan who perished. Only his head returned to Khanpur.
A Historic Alliance : The Mughal – Rajput Marriages !
Shaikh Allu Khan Afghan built the big fort at erstwhile Khanpur estate which had several majestic gates, a court, and a Mosque that was built with big blocks and the lakhauri bricks (Lahori) of mud.
Khanpur estate was the main headquarters of Bara Basti Pathans.
The Erstwhile Khanpur estate had around a hundred villages, landholding shares & parganas in Meerut, Budaun, Moradabad, Bulandshahr. It was a major Taluqdari estate.
The other villages that were settled are-Basi, Bahadurgarh, Bugarasi, Jalalpur, Chandiyana, Ghesipur, Umarpur, Sherpur, Hasanpur, Buklana, Mohammadpur.
The Khanpur family had an inherited feud with the Kuchesar family and fought many battles with them for landholding /parganas.
A Historical event
Nawab Mustafa Khan (pen name – Shefta) of Jahangirabad, a contemporary of Mirza Ghalib with close ties to Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, was expelled out from Jahangirabad fort by Thakur Bheem Singh of Guraoli, Bulandshahar. The Nawab then went to the Khanpur family seeking help. Munir Khan, the sole son of Azaam Khan went on elephant with many irregular cavalry troops, mostly recruited from the Pathans of Barabasti. Thakur Bheem Singh was defeated and Munir Khan put him behind his elephant to the Khanpur fort with a promise to never trouble the Nawab again.
Bahadur Shah Zafar, a Sufi King convicted as a Wahabi rebel.
There were three people from erstwhile Khanpur estate who fought against the Britishers:
Munir khan, who undertook a very prominent role during the First War of Independence of 1857 fighting many battles. He was fatally wounded and died on the battlefield.
Munir khan sole son of Azaam Khan
Azaam khan also had a very prominent role during the First War of Independence of 1857. He was given charge of the district by the Nawab of Malagarh. But he was subsequently caught by a Jat police officer by the name of Khushi Ram. He was later put on trial under military commission and many charges were framed against him including waging war against the amnesty. He was hanged to death.
A Burqa Clad Woman Commander of Indians in 1857
Abdul Latif Khan fought in a very different manner. He never came on the battlefield. He refused the sum of money to the Britishers giving shelter to revolutionaries who were coming from nearby places writing letters to the Emperor expressing his desire to help in any manner that he could in the area. The Britishers captured him and he was later deported to Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
After that the erstwhile Khanpur estate was confiscated. Its lion’s share was given to Sardaar Bahadoor Syeed Meer Khan, the uncle of the Nawab of Sardhana as a reward for their loyalty to the Britishers. The Khanpur family was expelled overnight. They returned back to the village that was first settled during the reign of Emperor Jahangir, Basi Bangar.
Khanpur Family’s Role in Freedom Struggle
Later on, the Khanpur family also participated in the freedom struggle. When the time came, the late Janab Saeed ur Rehman Khan sahab joined the Allama Mashriqi movement of the “khaakh saar fauj tehreekh”.
However, he was subsequently captured with ammunition and weapons at Basi when the army and the police surrounded the house during the late 40’s. He was then sent to the Bulandshehar jail for 2 or more years under the Safety Act.
If you seek to unlock more secrets about the erstwhile khanpur estate please contact Musa Munir Khan, a descendant of erstwhile Khanpur estate in Bulandshahr district.
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