I am a descendant of Dato' Seri Maharaja Khan-i-Khanan of Kedah. "Khan-i-Khanan" is a Persian term, meaning the "Lord of the Lords", a title awarded specifically in the Mughal empire to experts in their respective fields. The title must have been adopted by the Kedah kingdom 300 years ago not in the the similar context of the Mughal but specifically for the head of judiciary which will be equivalent to modern day Lord President.
According to my late aunt, our first Indian ancestor was called Ibrahim. In fact I had come across articles about Maula Ibrahim or Ibrahim Shah who had played an active role in Kedah politics in the 18th. century which coincide with the coming of Francis Light, the founder of colonial Penang. It is also believed that Maula Ibrahim or the Khan-i-Khanan was one of the negotiators representing the Sultan of Kedah in the lease of Penang deal with Francis Light.
Maula Ibrahim is said to be the nephew of the then Chief Qadi, Dato' Seri Maharaja Kadhi, Hafez Sab an Indian subject. When the Sultan of Kedah summoned the Kadhi to restore and refurbish the damaged Fort of Kuala Kedah, the Kadhi sought the assistance of his nephew, Maula Ibrahim to recruit labourers from India.
As Ibrahim was building a good rapport with the Kedahan royalty, he was married off to Tunku Jahara, a Malay woman of royal blood. The descendants of Ibrahim was granted by the Sultan of Kedah, a vast piece of land in Kubang Pasu district which presently known as Kampung Pulau Timbul.
According to my late aunt, the Maharaja Kadhi was buried in Tanjung Pauh near Jitra. Now the grave has become a pilgrimage site for certain quarters of the Indian Muslims. According to some sources, the Maharaja Kadhi hailed from Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, India. Legend has it that the Sultan Muhammad Jiwa of Kedah before becoming the ruler of the state had befriended the Kadhi and had toured India together. It was said that the Sultan was impressed with the irrigation system in India. Thanjavur today is known as the "Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu". The place that Sultan Muhammad Jiwa visited as a young man in India must have been Thanjavur. Maula Ibrahim being the nephew of the Maharaja Kadhi must have come from Thanjavur as well. Maula Ibrahim was said to be responsible for the legislation of law regulating the mercantile and maritime activities in Kedah back then, before the intervention of British rule in Kedah. Some scholars are of the opinion that the law was inspired by the Mughal law of India.
The ability of Ibrahim being a foreigner to mingle around with the Sultan and the Kedahan royal circle was remarkable. His encounter with Francis Light may suggest that he was a polyglot.
Maula Ibrahim is said to be the nephew of the then Chief Qadi, Dato' Seri Maharaja Kadhi, Hafez Sab an Indian subject. When the Sultan of Kedah summoned the Kadhi to restore and refurbish the damaged Fort of Kuala Kedah, the Kadhi sought the assistance of his nephew, Maula Ibrahim to recruit labourers from India.
As Ibrahim was building a good rapport with the Kedahan royalty, he was married off to Tunku Jahara, a Malay woman of royal blood. The descendants of Ibrahim was granted by the Sultan of Kedah, a vast piece of land in Kubang Pasu district which presently known as Kampung Pulau Timbul.
According to my late aunt, the Maharaja Kadhi was buried in Tanjung Pauh near Jitra. Now the grave has become a pilgrimage site for certain quarters of the Indian Muslims. According to some sources, the Maharaja Kadhi hailed from Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, India. Legend has it that the Sultan Muhammad Jiwa of Kedah before becoming the ruler of the state had befriended the Kadhi and had toured India together. It was said that the Sultan was impressed with the irrigation system in India. Thanjavur today is known as the "Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu". The place that Sultan Muhammad Jiwa visited as a young man in India must have been Thanjavur. Maula Ibrahim being the nephew of the Maharaja Kadhi must have come from Thanjavur as well. Maula Ibrahim was said to be responsible for the legislation of law regulating the mercantile and maritime activities in Kedah back then, before the intervention of British rule in Kedah. Some scholars are of the opinion that the law was inspired by the Mughal law of India.
The ability of Ibrahim being a foreigner to mingle around with the Sultan and the Kedahan royal circle was remarkable. His encounter with Francis Light may suggest that he was a polyglot.
2 comments:
tq but who is raja debar
me Muhd kamal launching together Yg Mulia Tuan Syed Idrus grandaughter of Sultan Muzaffar::TABUNG MEMBAIKPULIH MAKAM SULTAN at Merbok Kedah.2 month ago::together a company PRM global vision sdn bhd.CEO Dato Hj Hashim Ismail ::the renovation imclude surau and other facilities for tourism confort.
:;KAMAL::mmuhdkamal@gmail.com
Post a Comment