Husain Shah in Bengali Literature

Summary

This comprehensive study examines the portrayal of Ḥusain Shah of Bengal in Bengali and Persian literature. Contemporary and later chronicles provide conflicting accounts of his origins: some depict him as a Sayyid of Arab descent, while others describe him as Zafar Khan, a soldier from the Jaunpur kingdomfile:///home/oai/share/split_pdfs/article_06.pdf#:~:text=was%20serving%20under%20%E0%AA%97%20Reveaue,%E0%AA%B0%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%AF%20%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%A4%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A6%20%E0%AA%B0%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%9C%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%A8%E0%AB%87%20%E0%A5%A5. The article narrates his rise to power, his overthrow of Jaunpur authority and the establishment of an independent sultanate. It emphasises his policy of religious tolerance; Vaiṣṇava hagiographies celebrate his support for Chaitanya, describing how he embraced the saint, refrained from consuming meat and liquor and recited sacred namesfile:///home/oai/share/split_pdfs/article_06.pdf#:~:text=de%20Barros%20maintains%20thac%20there,%C2%AEfile:///home/oai/share/split_pdfs/article_06.pdf#:~:text=AT%20%E0%AA%86%E0%AA%95%E0%AA%B0%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%82%20%E0%AA%AE%E0%AA%AF%20%E0%AA%B5%E0%AA%BF%E0%AA%B7%20wifown,MARCH%2C%201956%208. Persian sources, however, stress his Islamic orthodoxy and depict him as a devout Muslim. By analysing these competing narratives, the author argues that Ḥusain Shah cultivated a pluralistic image to appeal to diverse constituencies. He patronised trade, architecture and learning and allowed the Vaiṣṇava movement to flourish while maintaining his Islamic credentials. The paper concludes that the contrasting portrayals reflect sectarian agendas; understanding Ḥusain Shah’s policies requires balancing hagiographic devotion with political pragmatismfile:///home/oai/share/split_pdfs/article_06.pdf#:~:text=was%20serving%20under%20%E0%AA%97%20Reveaue,%E0%AA%B0%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%AF%20%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%A4%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A6%20%E0%AA%B0%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%9C%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%A8%E0%AB%87%20%E0%A5%A5file:///home/oai/share/split_pdfs/article_06.pdf#:~:text=AT%20%E0%AA%86%E0%AA%95%E0%AA%B0%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%82%20%E0%AA%AE%E0%AA%AF%20%E0%AA%B5%E0%AA%BF%E0%AA%B7%20wifown,MARCH%2C%201956%208.