By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net
What is the Sitapur Endowment?
George Toynbee, Magistrate & collector of District Hooghly wrote in 1888 in his book `A Sketch of the Administration of the Hooghly district from 1795 to 1845 some account’. In Chapter VII under the Education, The Sitapur Endowment in page 119-120, Tonybee mentions the Sitapur Endowment.
“SITAPORE ENDOWMENT AND MADRSASA: the Sitapore Madrasa is situated in village Sitapore, in Serampur subdivision and is maintained out of a government grant which owes its … assignment of Rs 4-8 per diem made by Governor Cartier in … revenue of Mouzahs Kamdeopur, Goneshhat, Ratirambati-Balia Pargana, Barunda, Sirkar and Selimabad in Chakla Burdwan. The grant was a yomiau or daily allowance to Moulavis Amsuddin, Masihaddin, to be held by them and their heirs for ever for the expense of a musjid and madrassa. The sunned making making grant is on the day of 26th January 1772. After some interruption to the possession the grant was renewed in 1781 by Warren Hastings (whose demi-office… is reproduced below) with the addition of 8 anas, making the grant Rs. 5 per diem, or Rs. 152 per monsem. The matwalli, … present draws Rs 158-13-5 a month from the Hooghly treasury under a permanent order from the Accountant General. Original grant was in sicca rupees, of which the above sum is the ……”
Sitapur Madrasa: teacher & teaching subjects
Sitapur Madrasa is the oldest madrasa in Bengal. Toynbee, in his book `A Sketch of the Administration of the Hooghly district from 1795 to 1845 some account’ about the teachers of this madrasa, `The Madarssa is now conducted by the matwalli…, assisted by a number of teachers. In it are taught Arabic, Parsian, Urdu. The course prescribed by Mr. Blochman, Assistance professor in the Calcutta Madrassa, is used, except Arithmatic which is … taught in any of the classes. The committee has since then introduced this subject.’
Sitapur Mosque at Sitapur village in Hooghly District.
Maulana Amsauddin was not only the Mutawalli of the Sitapur Madrasa, he was a teacher of Persian language of the madrasa. In this regards Warren Hastings wrote an official letter to George V and on 2nd June, 1774. Toynbee published that letter in his book. `Dear Sir- Moulavi Amsauddin, who has … been occasionally employed in translating Arabic letters to Persian , and vice versa, in the Persian Translator’s office, had …. allowance of Rs. 5 per day allotted him out of the District magistrate Hooghly and Hidgely for the support of a school in Burdwan… . This by an indulgence of Mr Cartier, was tranferred to … in the Pergunnah of Ballea Bussendra…. . He now complains that Mr. Cartier has … Government it has never been paid him…. I more particularly wish it shortly to be done …. His service in the translation of a work out of the … Persian language and he agree to accept of this … compensation for his trouble.’
Mutawalli of Sitapur madrasa endowment (Waqf)
As per government documents Ali Vardi Khan gifted the 2555 land to the Mutawalli Maulana Amsauddin and Masauddin. They are founder mutwallis. Acoording to M. A Taylor’s report, ` In consideration of this Governor Cartier gave a daily allowance of Rs. 4.8 to him and to his heirs for ever’. Amsauddin and Masauddin requested East India Company to increase the allowance. In 1781 it was increased it to Rs. 5 and annas 13. About the grant of Sitapur Madrasa & Mosque, Hooghly Collectorate issued a letter to the Mutawalli Maulana Mohammad Khabeer in 18th july, 1863 that under the Act of XXIs. 1429 Mohammad Khabeer petitioned the Commissioner of Burdwan District in 18th February 1858 that, his father and previous Mutawalli Maulana Khazeer has been died on 3rd December of 1857. So, he will be the next mutawalli of the Sitapur Endowment. The Accountant General of Bengal issued an official letter in 14 July, 1900 that the pension will go toh the next mutawalli after the death of the present Mutawalli.
Sitapur Endowment Senior Madrasa at Sitapur village in Hooghly District.
Maulana Abul Barkat, the heir of Amsauddin and Masauddin, Maulana Khabeer & Khazeer was mutawalli till his death on 13th May, 1999.
The son of Maulana Abul Barkat, Abu Nayeem Siddiqui told TwoCircles.net that, His father Maulana Abul Barkat got monthly `territorial political pension’ according to lease deed of East India Company as well as the British government.
Nayeem has appealed from APJ Abul Kalam to Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Jyoti Basu, Buddhadev Bhattacharya, but nothing has worked. Pesident APJ Abdul kalam forwarded his appeal to concern authority but no progress after that.
Sitapur old madrasa hostel building and mutawalli’s home.
Present situation of Sitapur Madrasa
Sitapur Madrasa, Mosque & hostel is situated at Sitapur of Hooghly District. Sitapur Madrasa is now called Sitapur Endowment Senior Madrasa, recognized by West Bengal Board of Madrasa Education. From the British period administrative power were given to the District Magistrate. After Left front government this madrasa is controlled by Government body, representative of Panchayet etc.
Neglected by the government, madrasa is now in ruins. No renovation has been made on either madrasa or the hostel. Only mosque is in control of the mutawalli Aby Nayeem Siddiqui.
Sitapur Endowment has not been included in State Waqf board. West Bengal has another Endowment Haji Mohammad Mohsin Endowment. This endowment made by Haji Mohd Mahasin during the British period. West Bengal Government utilizing this fund through Waqf Board for scholarships to the Muslim students. But since 1999 no income has been made to the Sitapur Endowment
Heir of 2555 bigha lands of Sitapur MadrasaEendowment: Abu Nayeem Siddiqui in front of his residence at Abdul Halim lane, Kolkata.
Heir of 2555 bigha property Abu Nayeem
Abu Nayeed earns his living by repairing air-condition units, he has been living in Kolkata since his childhood. He is living at Abdul Halim Lane, beside the State head Office of CPIM. The hundred-year old house is called `Baghdad House’ . TwoCircles.net visited his small home in Kolkata where he showed all his documents. Documents more than two-hundred years old are in a fragile conditions.
Abu Nayeem Siddiqui can be contacted at 09433233819.
First part: http://twocircles.net/2012may03/rent_2555_bigha_waqf_land_kolkota_wb_govt_paid_only_rs159month.html