The Daudpur Zamindari

The Daudpur Zamindari estate traces its origins to the early 16th century in the region of Dildarnagar Kamsar, located in present-day Uttar Pradesh, India. This area was initially part of the Kamsaar Jagir, a significant zamindari estate established by Raja Narhar Khan, a descendant of the Sikarwar Rajput king Maharaja Kam Dev Misir. Raja Narhar Khan, originally known as Raja Narhar Dev Rao, converted to Islam in 1542 AD, influenced by the Sufi saint Sayyid Shah Junaid Qadri. Under his leadership, the Kamsaar Jagir expanded, encompassing several villages, including Reotipur, Sherpur, and Bara, and many other villages, which now form part of Dildarnagar Kamsar. The Kamsar estate became a prominent center of administration during the Mughal era, with Raja Narhar Khan's descendants, such as Quttul Khan, further consolidating its influence. 

The village of Dewaitha, situated in the fertile Kamsar-O-Bar region, holds significant historical value. It once served as the capital of the Daudpur Zamindari Estate, established by Dewan Raja Daud Khan Zamindar, a great-grandson of Narhar Khan, the founder of the Kamsar region. Narhar Khan had five sons, and the third son, Bahbal Khan, also had five sons, each of whom founded several villages across the Kamsar area. The youngest son, Chand Khan, inherited the southern part of Kamsar, where he established the village of Jaburna. Later, he divided his estate among his five sons: Daud Khan, Hateem Khan, Tajat Khan, Qasim Khan, and Taj Khan. Hateem and Tajat Khan settled in Jaburna, while Qasim Khan established Karmahari and Baraura. However, Qasim Khan’s descendants later moved to Daltonganj, abandoning these villages. Taj Khan founded the hamlet of Kesruva, but he passed away without leaving heirs, and his property was redistributed among his brothers. In 1605 AD, Daud Khan received the land of Dewaitha and created the ilaka Daudpur.

A letter written in Farsi, by Raja Quttul Khan to Man singh Rai of Reotipur in 1602AD

Daud Khan's cousin, Sarkar Dewan Raja Quttul Khan Zamindar Jagirdar of the Seorai Taluka, played a crucial role in the region’s history by reviving the jagir of his great-grandfather, Raja Narhar Khan, also known as the Kamsar Jagir. This vast estate, comprising 52 villages, was expanded with the construction of a fort at Seorai during the reign of Emperor Akbar. Unfortunately, Quttul Khan was killed in a confrontation with Man Singh Rai of Reotipur. Daud Khan, determined to avenge his cousin's death, succeeded him as the Dewan of the Subah & Sarkar, further strengthening his position as the jagirdar of the pargana in 1602 AD. Daud Khan also earned the title of Raja, expanding the family’s territory and founding the Daudpur Zamindari estate. This estate stretched from Dewaitha to Zamania, with its administrative hub, a fort (kot), located at Dewaitha. In the early 1600s. Know only a small portion of the original fort remains in Kot Muhalla. He also commissioned the construction of a mosque, an Eidgah, and planted an extensive orchard filled with thousands of trees. Additionally, Daud Khan’s legacy lives on in the nearby village of Daudpur, which bears his name. His eldest son, Mahmud Khan, founded Rasulpur, while his second son, Kabir Khan, established Kabirpur (Rohuna). However, the majority of Kabir Khan’s descendants later relocated to Sikhthi adjacent to, Akhlashpur due to family connections.

The village of Akhlashpur was established by Akhlash Khan a Subahdar of Bihar, during the later rule of Jahangir and then Shahjahan, Daud Khan's desendants seems to have good relationships with his family, because of which Kabir Khan's family settled there. Akhlash Khan was also a Kiladar of Rohtas garh fort , while Malik wishal Khan of Chainpur being it's Faujdar, Malik also made his toumb at Akbarpur Rohtas and is burried there. Daud Khan also had friendly relations with Chhatta Rao, who, I assume is Bal Mukund Das, who was famous with this name, he was a Dewan of Narnaul , today present in Mahendera Garh district of Haryana. He also build a famous monument named Birbal ka Chatta . Chhatta Rai being a intelegent guy resolved the conflict of dividing the Zamindari, between the sons of Daud Khan, . Already it would be normal for Daud to have friendships with other Dewans during that era.

The Daudpur Zamindari, a Taluqdari, estate continued to thrive through successive generations, particularly under Raja Yad Ali Khan, a sixth-generation descendant, who played a key role in strengthening its prominence. Yad Ali Khan was bestowed with the titles of Nawab and Rais by the British, a legacy that was passed down through his family. His elder brother, Qadir Khan, is honored through the nearby hamlet of Qadirpur. During his time, the estate's boundaries extended to the borders of Amil Chaudhary Azmal's zamindari of Zamania. In the 1857 rebellion, led by Kunwar Singh, Raja Khuda Bhaksh Khan, Yad Ali's grandson and taluqdar of the estate, played a significant role in leading the Kamsaries in the uprising, alongside his brothers. One of his brothers, Akbar Khan, achieved martyrdom in the conflict. The rebellion was fueled by widespread unrest among zamindars due to the forced cultivation of opium. Khuda Bhaksh also established a bazar at Dildarnagar. After Khuda Bhaksh the chief of Zamindari was Amir Khan, his younger brother.

A Eid Gah originally build during Daud Khan but was made pucca or rather renovated during Yad Ali Khan

 

The old masjid of Dewaitha, build during, Daud Khan, although it was rebuild during Khuda Bhaksh Khan, with donation among the villagers, although it is renovated later many times.

During British rule, parts of the Kamsar region came under the administration of Amil Deokinandan ruler of Anapur estate, overseeing areas like Kusi and Usia, as well as 37 smaller villages in the Gaighat taluka, which fell under the Vizianagaram Estate of Odisha. This disposition was done as a result of reprisal , which British had because of Kamsaries and other communities taking great part in the revolt of 1857. It was during that time the Daudpur lost many villages , which were incorporated to Vizianagaram, even their names where changed. The Daudpur estate, though reduced to just 18 mauzas nearby Dewaitha, apread across 8138 acres, but remained under the family’s control with cooperation until the zamindari system was abolished in 1956. Muhammad Wasil Khan a son of Zamindar Alam Shah Khan, was the last chief and taluqdar of the estate, he was appointed as the first Pradhan of Dewaitha. He played a key role in the development of the village, founding the first primary school in 1940 and establishing a private medical center in 1965, managed by a trust formed by descendants of Yad Ali Khan, whose's family is known as Athoghar. 

The village of Dewaitha still houses small building of Old Kot spread across half acres, it has sixteen rooms which are interconnected , the structure can confuse someone as they are made like bhulbhulaiya, it has two courtwards, a very common design of building seen during the Mughal and British empire. Materials like Mud, Red bricks (Lakori and modern bricks) , Khapraila, sirkhi chuna are used in it. Originally the old building was quite large and the present Kot Muhalla was actually inhabited inside it, but because of land divisions it was divided among Daud Khan's desendants. The estate during the Mughal empire could be spread around present day 58 villages, which lie between Zamania to Dewaitha. Although much documentation of its history etc...is not done. Some efforts to preserve its history and setup of a table for research should be done.