Contribution of Muslims in Botanical Garden Road

 History of Muslims in Darjeeling with Mushtaq Usmani 

Muslims 

Contribution of Muslims in Botanical Garden Road

Author: Mushtaq Usmani and Nafis Ahmed

Evidential Documents of the community Provided by Mushtaq Usmani & references from other Historical books obtained by Nafis Ahmed.

We are bringing up this subject in the public domain almost 250 years later. The reasons include how the various communities of Darjeeling have consistently coexisted peacefully and how good the Gorkha people are with the Muslims of the hill, and consequently, the Muslims have also tied their fate to the Great Gorkhas and their legitimate rite. Our community values ​​our love and respect for each other

The Ging Rangeet Road was the most viable and convenient route from Darjeeling and its Terai to the Capital City of Sikkim and Tibet in ancient times. In the early 1700s, Muslim Traders from Kashmir, Peshawar, Avadh, and Benegal began to trade in this region mainly with woolen garments, silk, animal skins, jewelry, and carpets. with the passage of time, these traders built a traveler's house called Musafir Khana in 1775 with bamboo style Masjid for prayer purposes in Darjeeling at the present-day location of the Masjid and some of them have since made Darjeeling their home.

Contribution of Muslims in Botanical Garden Road
Badi Masjid Darjeelingof 1775, Photograph taken in 1850

The beautiful flower garden, bamboo storage, and several Naspatee trees on the sloping area were planted in front of the Masjid by Masjid Mutawalli Janab Lalmia Sb.

After a couple of decades with the rise of population several shops, and stores on slopy area of the MASJID were built and rented out by Masjid Motwali Janab Lalmia Sb, to raise money for Masjid and Musafir Khana (traveler's rest house) expenditures.

Later on, when Britishers arrived in Darjeeling and formed Municipality in the year 1850 with 44 acres of land. Britishers have started developing Darjeeling with several projects. In 1878. Mr. Okley, a British officer, needed a path that connect Botanical Garden through a narrow entrance in the Masjid Area. Mr. Okley was successful in persuading the Masjid Management Team of the advantages for both the Muslim community and the general public after several rounds of discussion.

By now Muslim Population has grown manifold. In Darjeeling town alone the Population of Muslim Man and girls have elevated greater than heaps and Muslims have one Graveyard and one greater village known as Butcher Busty (Now, Dr. Zakir Hussain Busty) as recorded in the Historical Book of Darjeeling since1835 known as "Concise History of Darjeeling SINCE 1835" and 1891 census Report.

Note: 

According to this book concise History of Darjeeling, the Masjid was not depicted on Col. Sherwill's 1851 map (as a domed building was not built at that time, as the mosque looked like a hut with travel accommodation)

(After clarification to the authorities):

Masjid finds its place in official Map published in 1862.

REF:

Concise Book of History since 1835 on Page No. 83 of British writer. E.C. DOZEY

Page 83 attached herewith: -

Concise Book of History since 1835 on Page No. 83 of British writer. E.C. DOZEY

Now, in the early 1900s, Mr. Robertson gave the order to overseer Mr. Prasanth Roy to erect an iron fence around the triangle-shaped parcel of land. The Muslim community halted the work, and the subject was brought before the Darjeeling District Superintend of Survey Department. 

In the office of the District Superintendent of Survey of Darjeeling, the following witnesses have been produced by the Masjid team:

1.    Miajaan Sheikh statement recorded on 20.11.1915

 I have been here in Darjeeling for 45 yrs. I know the Masjid Land when I came up.  There was no Road near the Masjid about 25 years ago. Mr. Oklay requested the Masjid authorities a passage to the Botanical Garden. The Road was constructed with the consent of the Masjid authorities. The disputed land was thus separated from   Masjid land. Joyal used to stalk his timber in that place. There were several Bamboo chirps that were planted by the Masjid authorities. Lalmia had planted several Nasptees trees, and one tree still exists there. Mr. Okely committed encroachment, so he went mad.

2.    Kuda Box statement recorded on 20.11.1915

I am 80 yrs. old and I have been here for 45 years. we saw the Masjid and Musafir Khana Before when we come there was no road leading to Botanical Garden near the    Masjid. The disputed land was attached to the Masjid. The Road was constructed by   Mr. Okley about 37 years ago. There was a proposal of making the road, the Mohammadians stopped it and the authorities assured that the Road will be beneficial to the Masjid and Public, so the Road was allowed to construct. The land in the disputed plot was rented to Joylal.  I was working in the Military Department, and I used to take leave and come to Darjeeling

 3.    Bhaktabir Rai Statement recorded on 20.11.1915

Lal Mia was the mutawalli of the Masjid. I used to work under him as a peon. The disputed land belongs to Masjid.I know this from 1849 to1886 as a chaprasi of  Lalmia. I used to realize the rent for the land from the tenants. I used to sell bamboo.

4.    Narsing Das Statement recorded on 20.11.1915

I have had a timber business for 26 or 27 yrs. I kept the timber first in the shop and afterward in the disputed plot. We removed the timber from the disputed plot after they were kept for 12 Years. We used to pay Rs 3 per month, 5m per month to the Majeed authorities for 12 years. In 1894, I paid Rs 48 for 16 months as rent.  (Shows Acct Book). In 1896, we paid Rs 5 per month to the Masjid authorities. There were bamboo Chirps in the disputed land. we used to purchase from Masjid authorities.

5.      Chabilal Statement recorded on 20.11.1915

I am a Lohar. Lalmia gave me lands for shop near the disputed land. The disputed land was in charge of Lalmia. There were bamboo and flower garden in the   disputed land. Bhaktabir used to sell the Bamboos. The land was slope.

After hearing all the parties, the surveyor's office decides in favor of Masjid. This question is not intended to bring up past issues for discussion, but to learn from the past. As part of the community, we are grateful to everyone whose names are mentioned above for their firm stands in difficult times. We are especially grateful to Sri Bhaktabir Rai (1849-1886 his service tenure) who was associated with Administrator Masjid and produced productive results. He also worked with the great Lala Mia Sb at the start of his carrier.