Mian Shaikh Darwesh (1579-1671 AD)

Shrine in Basti Shaikh Darwesh, Jalandhar

(Credit: Special thanks-Sardar Jasvinder Singh, Jalandhar, India)        (Credit: Special thanks-Mohsin Fareed uddin Khan, Lahore, Pakistan)

The biggest settlement of Ansaar Danishmand was established by Mian Shaikh Darwesh, the great grand son of Ibrahim soharwardi Danishmand-1 in the year 1617 AD, when he came from Kaniguram, Waziristan. The first name of this settlement was “Sirajabad” after the name of his ancestor. But after the death of Mian Shaikh Darwesh, people started calling it as “Basti Shaikh Darwesh”.His shrine was built in the year 1694 AD. His devotee Nawab Rasheed Khan Roshnaai sent articles of decoration for the shrine from Hyderabad Deccan.

There lived some distinguished families in Basti Shaikh, whose members possessed exceptional and unique qualities and status. People would respect them with heart & soul. Among those families were ; Family of Pirzadas and Family of Kakkay Zai (which consist of 5 diginitaries / sons of Sheikh  Ghulam Mohiyuddin Kakkay Zai – i.e. Khan Bahadur Dr Deewan Ali, Col Dr Farzand Ali, Sheikh Sarwar Ali (Raees e Azam Jalandhar), Khan Bahadur Noor Nabi- ICS (Deputy Comissioner) & Sheikh Ghulam Dastagir, Advocate (President of the Municipal Commitee).

A famous Qawwal of the subcontinent, Dhreedye, was a devotee of Mian Peer Dad Khan S/O Shaikh Darwesh, who also lived there (Haji Baba was his great grand Father, who was one of the most famous musicians of Mughal Dynesty). Later on from Dhreedye Qawwal Family, two Qawwals named Fateh Ali & Mubarak Ali (Father of Nusrat Fateh Ali and grand Father of Rahat Fateh Ali) who also aquired worldly fame, were the residents of Basti Shaikh Darwesh.