Ashu Mohan Sheikh (Bengali: আশুমহন শেখ) was an 19th-century Bengali Muslim philanthropist, Muslim preacher, and Zamindar[1].[2]
Birth and Family
Ashu Mohan Sheikh was born at the end of the 18th century to the aristocratic Sheikh family of Atlia village in Terkhada Upazila of Khulna District of British India. According to locals, his family had come to the village from present-day Kuwait, his ancestors had come to trade and preach Islam in the region, and had settled in Atlia village after marrying a local Bengali girl. In the past, the greater Khulna area was part of the Sundarbans. Ashu Mohan Sheikh's ancestors cleared the forest and settled in Atlia village due to the relatively low salinity and high availability of fish in the Upper part of Khulna district, as well as the high land here.[1][2]
Ashu Mohan Sheikh in the Court of the British
The northern part of Narail was under the zamindari. And at that time ghee was used as lamp fuel in the offices of British lords. According to the Sunset Act, all zamindars had to deposit the zamindari rent in Calcutta before sunset on the specified day at the office of the British Lord. Once the British lord asked the zamindar of Narail to pay forty-seven kalshis of ghee as rent. The zamindar of Narail became helpless and was brought to the memory of Ashu Mohan Sheikh. Ashu Mohan Sheikh arrived at Narail Zamindar's house in a boat with forty-seven pots of ghee. Then Narail Zamindar went to Calcutta along with Ashu Mohan Sheikh along with Ghee. Or when Lord Saheb asked to know the secret of gathering so much ghee, he told Lord Saheb about Ashu Mohan Sheikh. Lord Saheb was curious and asked Ashu Mohan Sheikh how he got so much ghee. In reply, Ashu Mohan Sheikh said, "My Lord, all this ghee is prepared from my own cow's milk." Sir Lord He became more curious and said how many cows do you have, in response Ashu Mohan Sheikh said, "My Lord, it is not possible to tell how many cows I have without counting the cow ropes." And it is not possible to tell how many small calves there are. Hearing the Lord said, where do you keep your cow at night? Ashu Mohan Sheikh replied in the forest. After hearing this, the British lord gave Ashu Mohan Sheikh one hundred acres of land to keep cows, which today is recorded as Ashu Mohan Sheikh's Go-Char.[1][2]
Social Services and Impact on Atlia Village
At that time, what was called educational institutions and educational system in the region were only Maktabs. People acquired religious education through Maktabs. In such a situation, the biggest Aliya Madrasah "Atlia Aliya Madrasah" was established on the land of Ashu Mohan Sheikh in order to spread Muslim education. At present there are a cluster of villages, an Eidgah (Atlia Eidgah), Atlia Government Primary School, Atlia Bazar, three ponds, three playgrounds, numerous mosques, two graveyards on Ashu Mohan Sheikh's land.[1][2]
Impact on Muslim Society of Khulna
As the area was a Hindu-dominated area, the minority Muslim community here could not slaughter a cow during their religious ceremony of Qurbani due to their hindrances. Ashu Mohan Sheikh started the tradition of slaughtering cows on the Eid of Qurbani with permission from the zamindar of Narail.[1][2]