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{{Short description|Bengali politician, lawyer, entrepreneur (1872–1922)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Syed Abdul Majid
| honorific_suffix = [[Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire|CIE]]
| image = MajidSyedAbdul.jpg
| image_upright =
| landscape = 
| alt = 
| caption =
| native_name = সৈয়দ আব্দুল মজিদ
| native_name_lang = bn
| birth_name = 
| birth_date = {{birth year|1872}}
| birth_place = Kazi Elias, [[Sylhet]] (modern-day Bangladesh)
| death_date = 29 July {{death year and age|1922|1872}}
| death_place = [[Shillong, Meghalaya]], India
| death_cause =
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| nationality = [[British Raj|British India]]
| other_names = Kaptan Miah
| education = [[Nawab Taleb Bengal School]], Sylhet District School
| alma_mater = [[Presidency University, Kolkata|Presidency College]] and [[St. Xavier's College, Kolkata|St. Xavier's College]]
| occupation = Politician, lawyer, [[moulvi]], entrepreneur
| years_active =
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| employer =
| organization = All India Tea and Trading Company
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| party = Anjuman-e-Islamia
| movement = [[All India Muhammadan Educational Conference]]
| opponents =
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| spouse = 
| children = 2
| mother =
| father =
| relatives = Shah Mustafa (ancestor)
| family = Syed family
| callsign =
| awards = [[Khan Bahadur]] (1915), [[Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire]] (1922)
| signature =
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}}

'''Syed Abdul Majid''', [[Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire|CIE]] ({{lang-bn|সৈয়দ আব্দুল মজিদ}}; 1872–1922), also known by his [[daak naam|nickname]] '''Kaptan Miah''' ({{lang-bn|কাপ্তান মিঞা}}), was a politician, lawyer and entrepreneur.<ref name=bpedia>{{cite Banglapedia|author=Chowdhury, MKI Quayyum|article=Majid, Khan Bahadur Syed Abdul}}</ref> He is notable for pioneering the development in the [[Agriculture in Bangladesh|agricultural]] and [[Tea production in Bangladesh|tea industry]] in [[British India]] as well as his contributions to both secular and Islamic education in [[Sylhet]].

==Early life==
Abdul Majid was born in 1872 to a noble [[Bengali Muslim]] [[Syed]] family in the Kazi Elias neighbourhood in urban [[Sylhet]]. His father was Syed Abdul Jalil. His grandfather, Syed Muhibullah, was originally from [[Moulvibazar]] and a descendant of the 14th-century [[Muslim]] preacher Shah Mustafa. His mother, Hasb-un-Nisa, was the granddaughter of [[Moulvi Syed Qudratullah]]. This led to Abdul Majid being brought up in a traditional [[Islam]]ic household in which he studied to become a [[moulvi]]. In addition to [[Bengali language|Bengali]] (both [[Standard Bengali|Standard]] and [[Sylheti dialect|Sylheti]]), he was fluent in English and [[Urdu]], and a moderate proficiency in [[Arabic]].<ref name=star/>

Completing his [[primary education]] in [[Nawab Taleb Bengal School]] in [[Sylhet]], his [[secondary education]] took place in [[Sylhet Government Pilot High School|Sylhet District High School]] where he passed his [[matriculation]] exams in 1887. He then moved to the city of [[Calcutta]], where he studied at the [[Presidency University, Kolkata|Presidency College]] as well at [[St. Xavier's College, Kolkata|St. Xavier's College]]. He obtained a [[Bachelor of Arts|BA (Hons)]] in 1892 and a [[Bachelor of Law|BL (Hons)]] degree in 1894.<ref name=bpedia/>

Abdul Majid kept a beard, as per [[Beard#Islam|Islamic custom]]. His dress sense was quite traditional, typically consisting of a [[Pagri (turban)|pagri]], [[achkan]] and [[pyjama]]s.<ref name=sangram>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailysangram.com/post/52402-%E0%A6%96%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%88%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%A6-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B2-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A6-%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%9E%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%83%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B7-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%88%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%A6-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%AB%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2|work=The Daily Sangram|date=23 April 2011|language=bn|script-title=bn:খানবাহাদুর সৈয়দ আব্দুল মজিদ কাপ্তান মিঞা বিস্মৃত ইতিহাসের আলোকিত পুরুষ}}</ref>

==Career==
[[File:All India Muslim league conference 1906 attendees in Dhaka.jpg|right|260px|thumb|The All India Muhammadan Educational Conference, at [[Dhaka]] (1906)]]
Abdul Majid was a lawyer associated with the Sylhet District Bar Association for a few years after graduating before going into politics and agriculture.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sylhetbar.com/welcome/welcome_secretary|title=Secretary Message|website=Sylhet District Bar Association}}</ref> His main interests were in [[agriculture]] and as a [[Muslim]], he joined the [[Anjuman-e-Islamia]] movement. This forum was the only Muslim political organisation which preceded the [[All-India Muslim League]]. He was made the secretary of its Sylhet unit in 1902 and later its president. In 1904, he opened the Brahmanchara Tea Estate alongside Muhammad Bakht Mazumdar, Karim Bakhsh and Ghulam Rabbani. He was also made [[Sylhet|Sylhet Pourashava]]'s vice-chairman in 1906 and later chairman in 1909 for 3 years. As a District Session Judge based in Assam, he was invited by the [[Nawab of Dhaka]], [[Khwaja Salimullah]], to attend the 1906 [[All India Muhammadan Educational Conference]] in [[Shahbag]], [[Dhaka]]. This conference was crucial to the development of the [[All-India Muslim League]].<ref>Home Pub.(A) Feb 1907, No.71-74, NAI</ref>

He was invited by the [[Indian Government]] to the opening ceremony of [[Pune City]]'s agricultural research and college in 1908.<ref name=sangram/> Abdul Majid was the first ever native and Muslim Minister of [[Assam]].<ref>{{cite Banglapedia|article=Tea Industry}}</ref> On 2 February 1911, Abdul Majid pioneered the tea industry as a native by establishing the All India Tea and Trading Company. Consequently, he established three tea gardens in the [[Sylhet region]]. The authorised capital of the company was 1 lakh rupees, paid up capital was 7 lakh rupees, and subscribed capital was 8 lakh rupees.<ref>IOR/V/24/556, Report on Working of the Indian Companies Act VII of 1913 in the Province of Assam for the year 1921-22, (Shillong 1922) p. 9.</ref> In addition to owning tea gardens, he also owned many agricultural farms and one [[oil mill]] which made him the first native to do so in [[Assam]].<ref name=alo>{{cite news|url=https://www.prothomalo.com/northamerica/article/1437581|publisher=Prothom Alo|date=24 February 2018|author=Dr Ziauddin Ahmed|location=[[Philadelphia]], United States|language=bn|script-title=bn:খান বাহাদুর আবদুল মাজিদ এক উজ্জ্বল নক্ষত্র}}</ref>

During the [[Delhi Durbar#Durbar of 1911|Delhi Durbar of 1911]], Abdul Majid was honoured as an invited elite by [[George V|Emperor George V]] and [[Mary of Teck]] to commemorate their [[Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary#The Delhi Coronation Durbar|coronation]].<ref name=bpedia/>

In 1912, he established the Muslim Institute Hall in Sylhet as a new headquarters for the ''Anjuman-e-Islamia'', located south of [[Shah Jalal]]'s [[dargah]]. It is now known as the Shaheed Suleman Hall and has been known as Jinnah Hall at one point.<ref>{{cite Banglapedia|author=Sharma, Nandalal|article=Kendriyo Muslim Sahitya Sangsad}}</ref>

In 1913, he also founded and developed the [[Sylhet Government Alia Madrasah]] at the old private Madrassah of the Anjuman-e-Islamia as part of his role as the Education Minister of Assam.<ref name=real>{{cite news|url= http://realtimes24.com/2016/07/29/%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%9F-%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%82%E0%A7%9F%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%80/|website=Real Times 24|script-title=bn:ইতিহাসের সিলেট : শিলংয়ে জীবনাবসান হলো কাপ্তান মিয়ার|author=Said Chowdhury Tipu|date=29 July 2016|location=Sylhet|language=bn}}</ref><ref>{{cite Banglapedia|author=Islam, ABM Saiful|article=Sylhet Government Aliya Madrasah}}</ref> He gave a speech and addressed the Muslim Fisherman's Society in Kanishail to start raising funds for a high-level madrasa project in [[Sylhet town]]. In response, wealthy [[Mahimal]] businessman managed to raise the money and hand it to him. With that money, several acres of land suitable for the construction of madrasa houses, including the present government Alia Madrasa ground, located southeast of the Dargah, were purchased and the necessary construction work was also completed. Abdul Majid was questioned by some people for the reason that he approached the Mahimal community (which is generally seen as a neglected lower-class Muslim social group). He responded by saying that he did to show that this community can do big things and that they should not be neglected.<ref name=kaws/>

In 1916, he upgraded [[Murari Chand College]]'s status to first grade degree level and laid the school's foundation stone in Thackeray Hills alongside [[William Sinclair Marris]] in 1921.<ref>{{cite Banglapedia|author=Shamsunnahar, Sayeda|article=Murari Chand College}}</ref><ref name=bpedia/><ref name=sangram/><ref name=alo/>

In 1919, as president and chairman of Anjuman-e-Islamia's reception committee, he invited the [[Bengalis|Bengali]] [[Nobel Prize|Nobel laureate]] [[Rabindranath Tagore]] to [[Sylhet]] which attracted over 5000 people.<ref name=star>{{cite news|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/when-tagore-came-to-sylhet-26407|date=31 May 2014|title=When Tagore came to Sylhet|author=Syed Ahmed Mortada|website=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]]}}</ref> It was in 1921, when he gained a seat into Assam's law council (MLA) representing [[Sylhet Sadar]].<ref name=real/>

Abdul Majid was a prominent leader of the Sylhet-Bengal Reunion League founded in 1920, to mobilise public opinion demanding Sylhet and Cachar's incorporation into Bengal.<ref>{{cite book |author=Tanweer Fazal |year=2013 |title=Minority Nationalisms in South Asia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6bGMAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA54 |publisher=Routledge |pages=54–55 |isbn=978-1-317-96647-0}}</ref> However, during the Surma Valley Muslim Conference of September 1928, Abdul Majid and the ''Anjuman-e-Islamia'' later opposed the transfer of Sylhet and Cachar to Bengal and supported Muhammad Bakht Mazumdar's resolution.<ref>{{cite book|title=Nationalist Upsurge in Assam|year=2000|publisher=[[Government of Assam]]|last=Bhuyan|first=Arun Chandra}}</ref>

[[File:Delhi Durbar, 1911.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Syed Abdul Majid was honoured as an invited elite to King [[George V]]'s [[Delhi Durbar]] in 1911.]]

==Awards==
In 1915, the [[British Raj]] awarded him the title of [[Khan Bahadur]] as part of the [[1915 Birthday Honours]] of King [[George V]].<ref>{{cite book|title=[[The Indian Biographical Dictionary]]|year=1915|page=26|chapter=The Birthday Honours, 1915 (To Be Khan Bahadur)}}</ref> He was subsequently awarded the chivalry of [[Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire]] as part of King George V's [[1922 New Year Honours]]. This was during Abdul Majid's office as the Minister for Education for the [[List of governors of Assam#Governors of Assam (1921–47)|Governor of Assam]], [[William Sinclair Marris]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=32563|date=30 December 1921|pages=10715|supp=y}}</ref>

==Death==
Abdul Majid died in [[Shillong]] at the age of 50. His daughter's son, Abu Saleh Chowdhury, wrote a biography on his life titled ''Forgotten Kaptan'' ({{lang-bn|বিস্মৃত কাপ্তান|Bismrito Kaptan}}). Abdul Majid also had a son called Syed Maqsood.<ref name=kaws>{{cite journal|url=https://www.alkawsar.com/bn/article/507/|script-title=bn:সিলেটের মাইমল সমাজ : ঐতিহ্য সত্ত্বেও উপেক্ষিত|journal=Al Kawsar|language=bn|trans-title=The Maimal community of Sylhet: Neglected despite of heritage|author=Abdullah bin Saeed Jalalabadi|date=December 2011}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Tea production in Bangladesh]]
*[[Moulvi Syed Qudratullah]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commonscatinline|Syed Abdul Majid}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Majid, Syed Abdul}}
[[Category:People from Sylhet]]
[[Category:1922 deaths]]
[[Category:1872 births]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi people of Arab descent]]
[[Category:People from Moulvibazar Sadar Upazila]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:19th-century Bengalis]]
[[Category:20th-century Bengalis]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire]]
[[Category:St. Xavier's College, Kolkata alumni]]
[[Category:Presidency University, Kolkata alumni]]
[[Category:The Aided High School alumni]]
[[Category:Sylhet Government Alia Madrasah people]]
[[Category:Khan Bahadurs]]
[[Category:Lawyers in British India]]
[[Category:Businesspeople in British India]]
[[Category:Academic staff of Aliah University]]

Syed Abdul Majid - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article