The Indian Biographical Dictionary (1915)/Abu Jafar, Saiyid, Raja of Pirpur
Abu Jafar, Saiyid, Raja of Pirpur; born 1872 and succeeded, 1894. Well versed in Arabic literature and philosophy, having studied them in Arabia; privately educated in English at Pirpur; has had to face a protracted litigation with another branch of the family, who disputed his succession to the estate. In consultation with and under the advice of late Sir John Woodburn. effected a compromise with his opponents, by making over to them a third of the estate and 4½ lakhs of rupees in cash; has largely improved his estate; has established the Jafna School, where free education is given; has contributed Rs. 20,000 to the Muslim University and spends a sum of Rs. (3,000) a year on poor students; has contributed liberally to the Lady Dufferin Fund and has built and endowed a Students’ Boarding House at Tanda; family is said to have been founded by one Saiyid Suleman, a merchant of Khorassan who came to Oudh in 1403 and married one of the Saiyids of Itraura; his descendants were holding the office of Chaudhri in the pargana of Akbarpur in the days of Emperor Akbar; the estate comprised of no less than 645 villages in 1819 when it came into the possession of Mir Kasim Ali. Shortly afterwards through the influence of the Court of Oudh, Ghalib Jang, the Nazim, obtained a firman and took possession of the whole estate. With the help of the British Resident then stationed at Lucknow, Mir Kasim Ali soon regained entire possession of the whole of his estate. Address: Pirpur, Akbarpur Tahsil, Fyzabad, U.P.