Pir Gorachand

ʿAbbās ʿAlī al-Makkī (; –1374), reverentially known as Pir Gorachand or Gora Pir , was an Arab Muslim missionary whose name is associated with the spread of Islam into the 24 Parganas, part of a long history of travel between the Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia. After partaking in the Conquest of Sylhet under Shah Jalal's leadership in 1303, he travelled southwestwards to propagate the religion where he was killed by the forces of the Mahishya King Chandraketu of Hatiagarh.

Biography Abbas Ali was born on 21 Ramadan 693 AH (1294 CE) to Arab Muslim parents Karimullah and Maymunah as-Siddiqah near the Zamzam Well of Mecca, then part of the Abbasid Caliphate. Some sources claim that he belonged to the Quraysh, an Arab tribe which the Islamic prophet Muhammad was also born into. At a relatively young age, he was introduced to Shah Jalal and wished to join him in his expedition towards the subcontinent. His mother and sister reluctantly agreed to go and they were joined by Mahtab ad-Din, his adopted son. The expedition was welcomed by Shamsuddin Firuz Shah, the Sultan of Lakhnauti, under whose request, they participated in the Conquest of Sylhet in 1303 CE. Chandraketu was angered by this and openly declared to the queen and his citizens that he shall be going to war with Abbas Ali and his companions. Chandraketu further added that white pigeons will be let loose towards the capital signalling his victory, and black pigeons if he loses. The Sultan of Lakhnauti took the side of Pir Gorachand and sent some soldiers to assist them. The battle took place in a place called Ranakhela (Battleplay) in Champatala where Chandraketu's son Hama and Dama used to practice fighting. Chandraketu came close to winning the war. However, Gorachand set black pigeons loose towards the capital. This shocked the citizens to such a degree that the queen drowned herself in the Padmadaha. When this news reached Chandraketu, he lost his morale and was defeated. He returned to his kingdom as soon as possible and drowned himself in the Padmadaha out of love for his wife. The Hatiyagarh pargana of the Sundarbans was also home to another Shaivist king called Mahidananda. He had two sons named Akananda and Bakananda who were the chiefs of a group of farmers and fishermen. The guardians of the tomb continue to be descendants of Sheikh Dara Malik including Peyar Bakhsh, after whom the village of Peyera is named after, as well as Muhammad Shahidullah's father Mafizuddin Ahmed. Shahidullah did not serve in the mausoleum. The Sultan of Lakhnauti donated 1500 bigha land for the maintenance of the tomb of Pir Gorachand in Haroa. In honour of Kalu Ghosh, Hindu milkmen bring milk to the shrine on his urs, which is 11 Falgun (February), every year. There is an annual fair held in his memory in the village.

There have been many Puthi and books in Bengali that have been written about the Pir. There is a road in Kolkata named after him.

Other than Haroa and Bherachampa, here are many places associated with Gorachand such as: Dargah of Sherpur (near Ashoknagar) Old Tetultala of Chandanhati village, Barasat (Gorachand would ride his horse to this location to meet with Ekdil Shah) Kamdevpur Mandir (constructed by a Hindu servant in honour of Gorachand) Nazargah of Kharur village, Hasnabad Nazargah of Ghorarash and Nehalpur Nazargah of Bamanpukur (established by a Hindu servant to distribute kheer annually on Gorachand's urs date 11 Falgun) Other nazargas of Deganga such as those in Gangulia, Narayanpur, Hasia, Gangdhulot, Sathatia, Gosaipur, Yazpur, Sohai and Bhasalia A dargah in Gorachand Dargah Road, Park Circus, Kolkata. Gorachand Road, Kolkata Gorachand Lane, Kolkata Gorachand Library, Haroa

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