1941 — Petition of Syed Hazrath Basha Concerning the Succession of Baba Budan Dargah

Baba Budan Archives · Primary Source · BD-PET-1941-01

1941 — Petition of Syed Hazarath Basha Concerning Sajjada Succession at Baba Budan Dargah

A seven-page handwritten representation addressed to the Chief Secretary of the Government of Mysore, recording an objection to a proposed succession arrangement at the institution known in the petition as Baba Budan Dargah and Sri Guru Dattatreya Peeta Bababudan Swami.

Document date27 September 1941
Government receipt stamp3 October 1941
Author / signatorySyed Hazarath Basha
Address statedAttigundi P.O., Chikmagalur Taluk
Document typeHandwritten petition · 7 pages
Archive identifierBD-PET-1941-01

Historical context

The petition was addressed to the Chief Secretary, Government of Mysore, Bangalore. Its author identified himself as a disciple of the Dargah and a Hakdar associated with the line of Sajjada Nishins. He discussed the administration of the institution’s inam grants and the procedure for appointing a successor to the Sajjada office.

The document is significant as evidence that an objection concerning the proposed succession was formally submitted in 1941. The government receipt stamp visible on the opening pages bears the date 3 October 1941. The petition itself is dated 27 September 1941 and signed at its conclusion.

What the petition says

1. Institution, inams, and administrative oversight

The opening portion describes the institution and states the petitioner’s view that the income from its inams should be applied to its maintenance and charitable and religious purposes. These statements record the author’s position; the petition is not itself a government grant, revenue order, or title deed.

2. Succession procedure and the 1892 reference

The petitioner cites Government Proceedings No. 233-42, dated 14 December 1892, as authority for consultation with disciples before a successor is appointed and for government acceptance of the final choice. The cited proceedings are an important cross-reference for further archival verification; the full 1892 order is not reproduced in this seven-page document.

3. Objection to a proposed nomination

The petition refers to a proposed nomination of Syed Peer Mohammed, described in the letter as a boy aged twelve, and discusses a proposed role for Syed Gouse Mohiyuddin Saheb during the nominee’s minority. The author disputes the proposed arrangement and asks the government to follow the procedure he believes applicable.

4. Earlier records invoked by the petitioner

To support his objection, the author refers to earlier statements and petitions dated 1902 and 1906 and makes contested assertions about family relationships and succession eligibility. These assertions are not independently established by the letter. They should be read as part of the petitioner’s advocacy, not as adjudicated findings about any person’s parentage or status.

5. Final request

On the final page, the petitioner requests consultation with disciples and Hakdars and selection of a suitably qualified successor under the procedure he cites. The document closes with his Attigundi address, the date 27 September 1941, and the signature of Syed Hazarath Basha.

Source interpretation: This is a petition received by government offices, not a final government order. The surviving seven pages presented here do not show whether the petition was accepted, rejected, or otherwise acted upon. Allegations in the petition are attributed to their author and must not be confused with official findings. References to inam income or management do not, by themselves, establish private ownership of land.

Original handwritten facsimiles

All seven pages are reproduced below in their supplied sequence. Select any page to view the full-size image in a new tab. The original handwriting, including historical spelling variations, is preserved in the facsimiles.

Original handwritten petition of Syed Hazarath Basha, 1941, page 1 of 7
Facsimile 1 of 7. Opening address to the Chief Secretary; identification of the petitioner and his stated interest in the Dargah. Open full image ↗
Original handwritten petition of Syed Hazarath Basha, 1941, page 2 of 7
Facsimile 2 of 7. Discussion of inam administration and reference to the 14 December 1892 succession proceedings. Open full image ↗
Original handwritten petition of Syed Hazarath Basha, 1941, page 3 of 7
Facsimile 3 of 7. The petitioner recounts a proposed nomination and interim management arrangement. Open full image ↗
Original handwritten petition of Syed Hazarath Basha, 1941, page 4 of 7
Facsimile 4 of 7. Continuation of the objection, including contested statements about lineage and eligibility. Open full image ↗
Original handwritten petition of Syed Hazarath Basha, 1941, page 5 of 7
Facsimile 5 of 7. References to earlier petitions and statements, including dates from 1902 and 1906. Open full image ↗
Original handwritten petition of Syed Hazarath Basha, 1941, page 6 of 7
Facsimile 6 of 7. Continuation of disputed genealogical assertions and request to reconsider the proposed nominee. Open full image ↗
Original handwritten petition of Syed Hazarath Basha, 1941, page 7 of 7
Facsimile 7 of 7. Closing request for consultation under the cited succession procedure; date, address, and signature. Open full image ↗

Archival description and limitations

Source: Seven-page scan supplied for Baba Budan Archives, titled Hazrath Pasha letter. The first page contains the addressee and receipt stamp; the last page contains the date, address and signature. The scan appears to contain overlapping passages between some consecutive pages; this edition preserves the supplied page sequence rather than silently deleting repeated text.

Transcription policy: The account above is a thematic summary, not a diplomatic word-for-word transcription. Names and titles may appear with alternative spellings in historical documents. The document’s reference to 1892 proceedings and its references to earlier statements require independent checking against those original records.

Baba Budan Archives · Primary-source exhibit · BD-PET-1941-01 · Historical record presented for research and public understanding.