________________ SOME ISLAMIC REMAINS IN HAJIPUR SACHCHIDANANDA, M. A. The subdivision of Hajipur (Muzaffarpur District), in which Vaigali is situated, is full of the remains of the Muslim times. As a matter of fact, this area has seen many revolutions especially in the fields of religion and politics. In the ancient time it was the centre of Jainism and Buddhism; and in the medieval times it was this area through which Islam made its headway in Tirhut. Writing in 1891 in the Calcutta Review Mr. Christian says that two-thirds of the names of the villages of Hajipur sub-division are of Islamic origin, a fact which indicates the extent of Islamic influence in the area. In this paper we propose to give an account of the Islamic remains of the area. We shall begin from the west, i. e., from Vaibali (modern Basarh) and proceed towards the east, i. e., towards (the town of Hajipur and its suburbs. The only Islamic remains at Basarh, situated about 300 yards to the south-west of the famous Raja Visala ka Gadba, are some Muhammadan tombs on the top of a ruined brick stupa. The stupa belongs to the Buddhist period and the oldest tomb to the end of the 15th century. The mound is a solid mass of brick work and stands 23' 8" high above the surrounding fields. The diameter at the base of the mound is about 140'. On the southern side there is a long flight of steps leading to the top of the mound. The tomb is known as Miranji Ki Dargah but contains the relics of a well known saint of this country named Shaikh Muhammad Faizullah alias Qazin Shuttari who died in 901 A. H.= 1495 A. D. He was eighth in descent from Imam Mubammad Taj Faqih who was one of the earliest Muslim missionaries in India and is believed to have wrested Maner from the local Hindu chiefs some time about A. H. 576/1180 A. D. which is said to be indicated by a chrono 48
