Dewaitha, a Historical village

Establishment of Dewaitha and sorroundings.

Dewaitha, originally known as Daudpur, is a historic village founded by Dewan Raja Daud Khan Zamindar a great-grandson of Narhar Khan, the founder of the Kamsar region. Narhar Khan's third son, Bahbal Khan, had five sons who established several villages across the Kamsar area. Bahbal’s youngest son, Chand Khan, inherited a portion of the estate and founded the village of Jaburna. He later divided his estate among his five sons: Daud Khan, Hateem Khan, Tajat Khan, Qasim Khan, and Taj Khan.

Jama Masjid of Dewaitha.

Hateem and Tajat Khan remained in Jaburna, while Qasim Khan founded the nearby villages of Karmahari and Baraura. Over time, Qasim Khan’s descendants relocated to Daltonganj, where they established 11 villages and became known as Kamisara Pathans. Taj Khan established Kesruva, but as he had no heirs, his property was inherited by his brothers. Daud Khan, Chand Khan’s eldest son, founded Dewaitha in 1605 AD.

Rise of the Kamsar Jagir and Daud Khan's Legacy

Daud Khan’s cousin, Raja Sarkar Dewan Quttul Khan, a zamindar of Taluka Seorai, revived the jagir of his great-grandfather Narhar Khan, known as the Kamsar Jagir, which comprised 52 villages. During Emperor Akbar's reign, Quttul Khan fortified Seorai and reestablished the region’s prominence. However, he was killed during a confrontation with Man Singh Rai of Reotipur.

Quttul Khan Eidgah Jama masjid at Seorai
A letter of 1601AD , written by Quttul Khan in Farsi and Kaithi lipi,

Following his cousin’s death, Daud Khan avenged him and assumed the title of Dewan under Emperor Jahangir. He consolidated his position as jagirdar of the pargana and expanded his holdings, establishing the Daudpur Zamindari estate. This estate stretched from Dewaitha to Zamania, with its administrative headquarters, or kot (fort), situated in Dewaitha. During this time, Daud Khan constructed a mosque, Eidgah, and a large orchard with thousands of trees, naming the surrounding area Daudpur.

Daud Khan’s eldest son, Mahmud Khan, founded Rasulpur, while his second son, Kabir Khan, established Kabirpur (Rohura). Most of Kabir Khan’s descendants later migrated to Akhlashpur due to familial connections. Today, the remnants of Daud Khan’s kot remain in Kot Muhalla.

Prominence Under Raja Yad Ali Khan

The estate thrived under successive generations, notably Raja Yad Ali Khan, a sixth-generation descendant of Daud Khan. He was granted the titles of Nawab and Rais by the British, solidifying the estate’s prominence. Yad Ali’s elder brother, Qadir Khan, is commemorated through the nearby hamlet of Qadirpur. During Raja Yad Ali’s tenure, the estate’s boundaries extended to the borders of the Zamania zamindari, held by Amil Chaudhary Azmal. Raja Yad Ali passed away in 1837 AD, leaving the estate to his eldest grandson, Khuda Bhaksh.

Dewaitha Eidgah, build during Yad Ali Khan in late 1700s.

Role in the 1857 Uprising

During the 1857 rebellion led by Kunwar Singh, Raja Khuda Bhaksh Khan, the taluqdar of the estate, joined the Kamsar Pathans in the uprising. He, along with his brothers, played an active role, with one of his brothers, Akbar Khan, achieving martyrdom. The rebellion was partly fueled by local dissatisfaction with the forced cultivation of opium imposed by the British. After Khuda Bhaksh’s death, his younger brother, Amir Khan, inherited the estate.

Origin of the Name 'Dewaitha'

Situated between Zamania and Dildarnagar, Dewaitha’s name is believed to derive from the Sanskrit words “Dwi” (meaning “two”) and “Aitha” (meaning “arrival” or “junction”). Together, the name signifies “a meeting point of two paths.”

Impact of British Rule and Estate Decline

Under British administration, parts of the Kamsar region fell under the control of Amil Deokinandan (Kusi and Usia) and 37 villages were incorporated into the Gaighat taluka of the Vizianagaram Estate. The Daudpur estate was reduced to 18 mouzas near Dewaitha but remained under the family’s leadership through cooperative management until the abolition of zamindari in 1956.

The estate’s last taluqdar, Muhammad Wasil Khan, became Dewaitha’s first pradhan. He established the village’s first primary school and a private medical center, operated by a trust managed by Yad Ali Khan’s descendants, known as Athoghar.

Historical Discoveries and Cultural Significance

In 1940, a hoard of 502 gold coins was unearthed in the village, with 96 of them dating back to the Gupta dynasty. Additionally, the village holds an annual Urs in honor of Sufi saint Sabir Shah, who once resided in the old kot. Originally from Beenapara, Sabir Shah and his brother lived in Dewaitha; his shrine is located in Biur, near Chainpur, while his brother is buried near the Eidgah in Dewaitha. The total geographical area of Dewaitha is 442.22 hectares with a population of 7104 as of 2011 census, where as its rajsawa mauza is spread across 4840 bigha, (3025 acres).

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