Qazi Fazilat Shershahi (Bengali: কাজী ফজিলত, Persian: قاضی فضیلت) was an army qadi for Sher Shah Suri and later a governor of Bengal under the Sur Empire from 1541 to 1545.[2]

Fazilat
Amin-i-Bangalah Shershahi
Amin of Bengal
In office
1541-1545
MonarchSher Shah Suri
Preceded byKhidr Khan
Succeeded byMuhammad Khan Sur
Personal details
RelativesQazi Yaqub of Manikpur (son-in-law)[1]
NicknameQazi Fazihat

Biography edit

The governor of Bengal, Khidr Khan, attempted to declare independence from the Sur Empire in 1541. However, his plan was unsuccessful and was dismissed from the office as governor by Emperor Sher Shah Suri. The Emperor then appointed Qazi Fazilat as the Amin of Bengal and superintendent of Rohtas Fort.[3]

Fazilat (meaning virtue) was said to have been an easygoing and lighthearted man. Satirically, people would refer to him as Qazi Fazihat (meaning infamy) and that became a very popular nickname of his.[4] This name has passed on as a humorous expression used in the Eastern Bengali dialects.[5]

His term ended at the death of Sher Shah Suri. Fazilat was succeeded by Muhammad Khan Sur in 1545 who would also declare independence.

Preceded by Amin of Bengal
1541–1545
Succeeded by

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ ʽAbd al-Qadir Badayuni. Muntak̲h̲abu-t-tawārīk̲h̲, Volume 3. The Asiatic Society. p. 126.
  2. ^ "Kingdoms of South Asia – Indian Kingdom of Bengal". www.historyfiles.co.uk.
  3. ^ Agrawal, Ashvini (1 Jan 1983). "The Mughals and the Afghans". Studies in Mughal History. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 67.
  4. ^ ʽAbd al-Qadir Badayuni. Muntak̲h̲abu-t-tawārīk̲h̲, Volume 2. The Asiatic Society. p. 104.
  5. ^ Qanungo, Kalikaranjan (1965). Sher Shah And His Times. pp. 307–308.