Kintoor Village in India Mourns Iran's Supreme Leader Amidst Regional Conflict
In the quiet village of Kintoor, located in the Barabanki district of India, a somber mood has descended following the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Situated over 4,000 kilometers from Tehran, this community is grappling with shock, sorrow, and anger as the gravity of the situation in West Asia sinks in.
Historical Ties and Deep Connections
Kintoor's lively spirit has been replaced by a heavy silence, with the air thick with sorrow. This reflects the village's deep connection to Ayatollah Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini, the architect of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution and founder of the Islamic Republic. Although Khamenei had no direct ancestral or familial ties to India, his link comes through his predecessor and mentor, Khomeini.
Khomeini's great-grandfather, Sayed Ahmad Musavi 'Hindi', was born in Kintoor and migrated to Iran in 1834. This historical bond has fostered a strong emotional attachment among the villagers to Iranian leadership.
Protests and Mourning in Response to the Assassination
As news of Khamenei's killing spread, an angry group of over 200 people, comprising both Shias and Sunnis, took to the streets in protest against the attack by US and Israel forces. A three-day mourning period was declared, with majlis organized and shops in adjoining areas closed.
The protest stretched into the night, with mourners dressed mostly in black, holding photos of Khomeini and Khamenei. Even two days after the assassination, anger and grief lingered in the atmosphere. Protesters marched peacefully, shouting anti-US and anti-Israel slogans, and expressed that "Khamenei opted for bravery instead of surrender, and his martyrdom is worthy of respect and remembrance."
Conversations and Historical Narratives
Amid the intense escalation of war in West Asia, conversations flow in homes as people share stories passed down through generations. In one house, a striking portrait of Khomeini commands attention. Adil Kazmi, 33, explains, "Ayatollah Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini's great grandfather Sayed Ahmad Musavi 'Hindi' was born in Barabanki in the early 19th century. Around 1834, he went to Iran on 'ziyarat' (pilgrimage) along with the then nawab of Awadh."
He adds that Musavi, who had brought a revolution in India through his writings, was not allowed to return by the British. Adil's great-great-great-grandfather, Mufti Mohammad Quli Musavi, and Sayed Ahmad Musavi were cousins.
Kintoor's Historical Significance
Kintoor is also known for the 1858 Battle of Kintoor, fought during India's first war of independence in 1857 between rebel sepoys and forces of the East India Company and Kapurthala State. This adds to the village's rich historical tapestry.
Rehan, Adil's cousin, shares that Musavi spent time studying in Najaf, Iraq – a revered hub of Shia scholarship – before settling in the Iranian city of Khomein. There, he met a guru who arranged his nikah with his daughter, and they raised a family.
Musavi retained the title 'Hindi', a nod to his Indian roots, which is preserved in Iranian records, testifying to the family's ancestral heritage. He became a Twelver Shia cleric, had three daughters and a son, Syed Mostafa (Khomeini's father), and passed away in 1869, buried in Karbala.
Community Memories and Historical Research
Syed Nihal Kazmi, Adil's 67-year-old father, recalls a team from Iran visiting Barabanki 25 years ago to research Khomeini's lineage and check on the community's well-being. Historian Ravi Bhatt told TOI, "Awadh nawab was also from the Shia community. It is believed that Khomeini's ancestors had come to India from Nishapur in northeast Iran and later called their relatives to settle in Barabanki, whose some pockets had become a major Islamic centre. They added 'Hindi' to their name, highlighting their connection to the place they called home."
This deep-rooted history underscores why Kintoor's residents feel a profound sense of loss and solidarity with Iran during this tumultuous time, as the West Asia conflict enters its seventh day with escalating strikes and geopolitical tensions.
