HistoriCity: The silken history of Murshidabad, once Bengal’s crown jewel

Murshidabad, West Bengal, has a terrible and great history, including recent Waqf-related riots. From being the capital of undivided Bengal to being forgotten, the beautiful ruins of this metropolis serve as reminders of its past splendor, while a unique blend of Hindu-Muslim harmony remains hidden beneath it all.

This town by the Bhagirathi River, widely thought to be named after Murshid Quli Khan (1660-1727), the first independent Nawab of Bengal (1717-1727), Bihar, and Odisha, actually has a far older history and name. Ain-i-Akbari, the records of Emperor Akbar's reign (1556-1605), recounts that a merchant nobleman, Makhsus, constructed a sarai (inn), which later evolved into a market-hamlet, and the location became known as Makhsusabad. Some residents continue to refer to Murshidabad by this name.

Murshidabad's career took a dramatic turn in 1700 with the appointment of Mohammad Hadi (later renamed Murshid Quli Khan by Aurangzeb), an unusually capable Mughal revenue commissioner with a unique and legendary story. The little boy was sold by his father, a poor Brahmin from the Deccan region, and grew up to become a Muslim, earning the favor of Emperor Aurangzeb, who appointed him governor of Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha, India's richest provinces.