Pune

Sohail Shamsuddin Shaikh, serving in the Pune Police, is a living witness to the glorious history of Maharashtra. He is the 13th descendant of Qazi Haider, who played a crucial role in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's establishment of Swarajya.

For the last 14 generations, Sohail Shaikh's family has preserved this tradition of serving the nation, a legacy that began during the era of Shivaji Maharaj.

Maratha Warrior King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj launched Swarajya by uniting people of all castes and religions. His 'Ashta Pradhan' (council of eight ministers) and administration included many loyal Muslims like Qazi Haider. In an interview with Awaz-The Voice, Sohail Shaikh presented evidence proving that Qazi Haider was the Maharaj's 'Parasnis' (Persian secretary) and an extremely trusted Vakil (envoy/lawyer).

According to the historical references presented by Sohail Shaikh, Shivaji Maharaj himself referred to him as 'Izzat Mahab Qazi Haider Parasnis' in his own 'Mahzar' (legal document). Whether it was the Treaty of Purandar or the Salher issue, Maharaj entrusted Qazi Haider with massive responsibilities as his Vakil. Since he belonged to the Sufi Qadri sect, he is also referred to as 'Qazi Haider Ali Qadri' in some places.

Some historians claim that after Shivaji Maharaj's death, Qazi Haider switched to Aurangzeb's side. Sohail Shaikh debunked such claims. According to the Persian documents available with Sohail Shaikh, Qazi Haider passed away just one or two years after Shivaji Maharaj in Parvati (Pune). The news of his death was conveyed by his brother, Qazi Ismail, through a letter dated 29 Moharram 1093 (February 8, 1682). This letter states that Qazi Haider's burial took place in Parvati itself.

Speaking to Awaz-The Voice, Sohail Shaikh said, “Qazi Haider was a loyal servant of the Maharaj. The documents that claim he went to Aurangzeb's court are full of linguistic errors. On the contrary, I have authentic proofs showing that he fought for Swarajya till his very last breath.”

A crucial letter

Following Qazi Haider's death, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj sent a letter to Sohail Shaikh's family on February 12, 1682. This letter bears Sambhaji Maharaj's royal seal, which features 16 bastions and is shaped like a peepal leaf. However, Sohail notes that there is no concrete proof whether this letter was written in Sambhaji Maharaj's own handwriting or not.

Sohail Shaikh had the Persian letter translated. According to the information provided by him, the letter states, "Qazi Haider was a loyal and faithful servant of our father (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj). He taught me the Persian language; I still cherish those memories today."

The letter mentions that Sambhaji Maharaj knew 16 languages, and he received his primary education in the Persian language from Qazi Haider. Sohail adds that Sambhaji Maharaj assured the family that the entire Swarajya stood with Qazi Haider's family during that moment of grief.

Generations in Administration

Even after Qazi Haider's death, this family remained active in the Maratha Empire. He had five brothers: Ibrahim, Ismail, Abdul Wahab, Abdullah, and Mahmood. All of them were involved in judicial work. The names of Qazi Ismail and Qazi Ibrahim can still be found in the Deshpande and Kulkarni records of Pune.

According to the Peshwa records, Qazi Haider's son, Qazi Mujib Saheb, and grandson, Qazi Habibullah, were also in government service. The family's records can be found at the Raigad Fort until 1707, which reflects the family's unwavering loyalty to the Maratha Empire.

Over time, the family transitioned from judicial work and entered the police force. The first police Subedar in the family was Qazi Shaikh Nizam. He led the first contingent of 50 policemen under the British. From then until today, this family has served in the police force for 5 consecutive generations.

Currently, Sohail Shaikh is serving in the Pune Police, and a total of 26 members of his family are currently in police or military service. This includes personnel serving in the Maharashtra Police as well as soldiers protecting the country in the Army. This tradition is not limited just to the men in the family; both of Sohail Shaikh's daughters also dream of joining the police force.

The Modi script documents in Sohail Shaikh's possession and the photographs of his ancestors in military uniforms showcase his family's great heritage. The achievements of his ancestors have been glorified in books like 'Mahzar - Documents of Maharashtra's History'.

ALSO READ: Religions have inbuilt system of tolerance and inclusivity: A Book Review

Sohail Shaikh proudly states, “Nation first is our duty and our religion too. Once we wear the uniform, we are solely the protectors of the country. We have inherited the teachings of serving the country honestly, rising above caste and religion, from our ancestors, and we are carrying the same legacy forward."