Remembering the Atiar Chand

The Zamindari system, which once played a dominant role in the socio-economic life of this country, is non-existent now. It has now become a subject of academic discussion only. Vanity, power, pomp, luxury and torture became synonymous with the Zamandari system, and many of the landlords were the burning symbols of oppression and exploitation and were, therefore, hated and despised by the common people. Wajid Ali Khan Panni, popularly known as Chand Mia, was, however, an honourable exception. He carved out a respectable position for himself among the Zamindars of the time by his magnanimity. He stood for justice and fair play and endeared himself to the people by his munificence and benevolence. He never deviated from what he considered to be right and was firm in upholding justice, even if that meant the greatest sacrifice. He was endowed with many other sterling qualities of head and heart for which he was rightly given the epithet of "Atiar Chand" - an epithet that marked him out as the most benevolent Zamindar of his time. He was indeed the brightest luminary not only in Atia Pargana, but also in the rest of the country.
He was simple, pious and unostentious and those who had the occasion to mix with him could not but be impressed by his genial behaviour.
He loved his people and they loved him in turn. They were, therefore, always at his beck and call, and when occasion arose the people displayed their love and respect for him.
While other Zamindars considered themselves as the masters of the people, and did all they could to fleece them for their own comforts, Wajid Ali Khan Panni spared no pains to ease the difficulties of the people and improve their conditions. He did not consider himself to be a lord of the people. Instead he acted as their benefactor, friend, guide and philosopher. While other Zamindars imposed rigorous rules to extort money from the heavily taxed  ryots (projas), he relaxed them, and in many cases abolished the old, oppressive systems for the good of the ryots. As a matter of fact, his attitude towards his ryots were not only generous, but most liberal, which earned for him the gratitude of all and sundry. It was customary at that time that when a ryot wanted to excavate a pond or sink a well he had to seek prior permission of the Zamindar and offer 'Salami' for that. Chand Mia totally discarded this system, and never accepted 'Salami' from the ryots even when his treasury was depleted.
During the great depression of 1930-31, the ryots could not pay the rent. As a result, Chand Mia's estate faced acute shortage of funds. Such being the position, his officials advised him to pay a visit to different Mahals and asked the ryots to pay off the rent. He flatly rejected this proposal lest his visit would embarrass the ryots.
Chand Mia never tolerated any injustice to any of his ryots. The following instance would amply justify this assertion. Once he visited the local Karatia Bazar where a banana seller complained that an employee of his estate did not pay for the banana he had taken and said he would pay the same price as the Zamindar Sahib would pay. Chand Mia, when he heard this, purchased the bananas that were still with the seller for Rs. 80 and compelled the said employee to pay the equal amount for the bananas he had taken.
Chand Mia was a great patron of learning. To disseminate the light of education among the people, he founded a college at Karatia after the name of his grandfather Saadat Ali Khan Panni. Ibrahim Khan, a noted educationist and writer, became its first principal. It may be mentioned in this context that Saadat College was the second college in the district of Mymensingh consisting of five sub-divisions including Tangail. Two other institutions established by him at Karatia was Hafez Mahmud Ali Institution and Rokeya High Madrassah. In 1926, he donated a property yielding an income amounting to four lakhs of rupees (four hundred thousand) for the maintenance of those educational institutions and the mosque. Started as an Intermediate College, Saadat College is now a full-fledged university college. Thus a village like Karatia has turned into a great seat of learning, where now over 15000 students are studying in the institutions founded by Chand Mia.
Wajid Ali Khan Panni's political career was equally chequered. He joined the Non-cooperation and Khilafat Movements. By this time, he came in close touch with  Desbandhu Chittranjan Das, who visited Karatia on a number of occasions.
On December 17, 1921, Wajid Ali Khan Panni was arrested and taken to Mymensingh Jail. He was awarded two years' imprisonment and transferred to Alipore Central jail. He was, however, released after six months. He stayed at his Ranchi residence for some time and then came back to Karatia.
Wajid Ali Khan Panni was so popular that when the police escorted his palanquin (palki) from Karatia to Tangail, several thousand people showered petals of flowers at him on his way the prison. At Mymensingh Railway Station about 30,000 people waited to have a glimpse of him, but his way was diverted to avoid the crowd.
Wajid Ali Khan Panni also participated in the Muslim League conference conveyed by Sir Salimullah in 1906 in Dhaka.
According to geneological history collected from 'Salam-i-Afghan," he was the 13th descendant of Sulaiman Khan Karrani. Sayed Khan Panni, who built the famous Atia Mosque in 1605 during the reign of Emperor Jahangir, is believed to have been the founder of the Zamindari of Atia pargana under the erstwhile Tangail Sub-division. His father Hafiz Mahmud Ali Khan Panni was Hafiz e Quran, a pious man.
April 25, 2014 (12th Baishak), is his 78th death anniversary. Every year on this day people of Karatia, specially the Saadat Bazaar Committee of Karatia, various educational institutions founded by Chand Mia, organises befitting function and have Quran Khatam, doa mehfil, discussion on his life and arrange to feed several thousands poor people of the area.
The writer is great grandson                       of Chand Mia. [email protected]