Yusufpur, Ghazipur

The land that would become Yusufpur was conquered in 1526 by the Mughals, specifically by the descendants of Abu Ismaïl Abdullah al-Harawi al-Ansari or Abdullah Ansari Peer E Herat.[4] in the 9th generation of Khalid Bib Zaid Abu Ayyub al-Ansari.

Sheikh Jamal Ahmed Makki was a scholar and spiritual figure in the Mughal era. He resided in Rasoolpur Jamal of Mohammedabad Pargana and claimed descent from 1st Khalifa of Islam Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. He had thousands of disciples and was also held in high esteem by the Mughals. His presence and teachings helped spread Islam in the area during the reign of the first three Mughal emperors, Babur, Humayun and Akbar.[5]

Shaikh Jamal was a disciple of Sheikh Abdul Quddoos Gangohi and settled in Ghazipur. He joined Humayun’s army and left on the expedition to subdue Nasir Khan Lohani, the ruler of Ghazipur. Passing through Ghazipur he reached Muhammadabad Parhar Bari. He liked the place and got permission from the king to let him stay.

At that time, the area was surrounded by jungle and was inhabited by aboriginal tribes such as Seori, Cheero and Rajbhar. As per the history of Rasoolpur Jamal, some of these tribes accepted Islam and lived peacefully. However, a number of them continued in their old ways. They used to rob the travellers passing by, and, on resistance, killed them. It was a time of great uncertainty and chaos. Sheikh Jamal tried to convince them to mend their ways; but to no avail. Finally, and as a last resort, he wrote a letter to the King Humayun as follows:

“ This area now known as Mohammedabad Parhar Bah parganah is steeped in ignorance and infidelity. There is nobody here who could make these inhabitants follow the right path without the use of sword. To rectify this situation we need a strong and powerful ruler who can crush them ”.[6]

On receipt of Sheikh Jamal’s letter, the King despatched Khwaja Najmuddin Siraj Ansari as the Qazi & Nazim E Paragna of the area , Mirza Adil Baig as Minister of Finance & The Army was under command of Alawal Khan Afga. After a bloody battle, they were successful in crushing the miscreants. The King rewarded the two with official letters of appointment and Jageers (Large tracts of land). These two established a number of places such as Adilabad and Qazipur Siraj & a fort was build in suberb of Yusufpur now known as Village Alawalpur Afga. Khwaja Najmuddin Siraj, who was the Qazi & Nazim E Paragna of the entire area called Qazipur Siraj, had no son. At the same time, his brother Khwaja Mobin alias Mitthan had married a woman from the Ansari family that had settled at Saiket, Shikohabad. He had with a son who was named Khwaja Hameeduddin Saadullah Alias Qazi Yusuf. Qazi Najmuddin Siraj married his daughter Fatima Bibi to Qazi Yusuf,Shaikh Jamal Makki's daugheter Ayesha Bibi was also married to Qazi Yusuf as Second Wife.[7]

After the death of Khwaja Najmuddin Siraj, Qazi Yusuf was appointed Qazi & Nazim E Paragna by Akbar in 968H/1568CE. Qazi Yusuf is known as the ancestor of Ansaris of Yusufpur. His son Qazi Ahmed enhanced the area to the level of parganah and named it Yusufpur after him in 1593.[8]

Family picture of the descendants of the founders of Yusufpur, the Ansaris

The residence of Dr.Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari in Yusufpur.

Notable people from the townimclude:

• Dr.Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari, Indian politician
• Brigadier Mohammad Usman
• Afzal Ansari, Indian politician
• Sibakatullah Ansari, Indian politician
• Hamid Ansari, Indian politician

• https://archive.org/details/ANSARISOFYUSUFPUR Mahmud Ansari, Ansaris of Yusufpur, 2013
• https://indianculture.gov.in/gazettes/ghazipur-gazetteer-being-volume-xxix-district-gazetteers-united-provinces-agra-and-oudh, Ghazipur: A Gazetteer, being Volume XXIX of the District Gazetteers of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, Nevill, H. R., 1909