Raja Syed Irfan Ali Choudhury

Raja Syed Irfan Ali Choudhury was the 6th ruler of the quasi princely state of Tarakote in Odisha.[1] He's known for the wide social reforms that he had brought in the state. He was a staunch supporter of female education and had undertaken active steps to impart formal education to girls. He built the first girls school in Jajpur district in 1886. His reign had witnessed one of the bloodiest battles fought in the history of Tarakote State.[2][3][4]

Raja Syed Irfan Ali
6th Raja Miyan of Tarakote State
Reign21 January 1869 – 11 July 1890
PredecessorRaja Miyan Syed Nuruddin Ali Choudhury
SuccessorChoudhury Mohammed Dabiruddin (adopted)
Born1842
Santsahi, Tarakote State
Died11 July 1890,
Tarakote State
Burial
Shahi Qabristan, Barundai, Tarakote State
ConsortBibi Badi Begum Saheb
Spouse3 including Bibi Badi Begum Saheb
Full name
Meherban Raja Miyan Syed Shamsuddin Mohammed Irfan Ali Choudhury Saheb
HouseSayyid
ReligionIslam

Early life

Miyanzada Syed Irfan Ali was born on 21 January 1869 into the ruling family of Tarakote State to Raja Miyan Syed Nurrudin Ali Choudhury. At the age of 8 he contracted small pox which took away his vision. At the age of 27, upon his father's death, he ascended the throne to become the 6th Zamindar of Tarakote State.[5]

Reign

Raja Miyan Irfan Ali lost a majority of villages of Tarakote State to the British under the land revenue settlement act. Some of the villages were even auctioned and sold out to outsiders by the British Government[5] A major portion of Tarakote State was carved out and a new state called Pacchikote was created.[6] The newly made Raja of Pacchikote is said to have fought a bloody battle against Tarakote near the Purbakot haat, Kantor. It is said that Raja Irfan Ali had participated in the war himself and had defeated the Raja of Pacchikote. In popular opinion it is believed that, one fine night the Diwan of the Raja of Pacchikote was returning to Pacchikote Garh with some essential commodities, he happened to cross Tarakote State. The soldiers of Tarakote Raj mistook him to be a dacoit and arrested him for intruding the state's borders. The Raja of Pacchikote got furious at this and attacked Tarakote state. Raja Syed Irfan Ali was successfully able to defend the state with the help of the Pathan soldiers from Bhadrak.[2]

Social Reforms

Raja Irfan Ali promoted female education, he himself was a great patron of Arabic and Odia languages. In 1880 he commissioned Jajpur's first girls school. He was successfully able to suppress the Qazis voice who was against the idea of starting a 'girls school'. In 1886, the school was constructed and opened to impart education to girls. Presently it is known as Tarakote girl's school Makhtab.[3][7]

References
  1. Lethbridge, Sir Robert. The Golden Handbook. p. 246.
  2. RATH, SRINIBAS (1992). "Some Socio-Economic Aspects of Abolition of Zamindari System in Orissa". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 53: 436–439. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44142822.
  3. "TARAKOT URDU GIRLS MAKTAB TARAKOTE BARUNDEI KORAI JAJPUR". www.odishahelpline.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  4. "Tarakote Raj".
  5. "Top 3 Land Tenure Systems during the British Rule in India". History Discussion - Discuss Anything About History. 4 November 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  6. Chaurasia, Radhey Shyam (2002). History of Modern India, 1707 A. D. to 2000 A. D. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. ISBN 978-81-269-0085-5.
  7. "TARAKOT URDU GIRLS MAKTAB, KORAI". www.schoolsworld.in. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
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