ʿAbbās ʿAlī al-Makkī (Arabic: عباس علي المكي; c. 1294–1374), reverentially known as Pir Gorachand (Bengali: পীর গোরাচাঁদ) or Gora Pir (Bengali: গোরা পীর), was an Arab Muslim missionary whose name is associated with the spread of Islam into the 24 Parganas, part of a long history of travel between the Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia.
[1] After partaking in the Conquest of Sylhet under Shah Jalal's leadership in 1303, he travelled southwestwards to propagate the religion where he was killed by the forces of the Poundra Raja Chandraketu of Hatiagarh.
[2] Abbas Ali was born on 21 Ramadan 693 AH (1294 CE) to Arab Muslim parents Karimullah and Maymunah as-Siddiqah near the Zamzam Well of Mecca, then part of the Abbasid Caliphate.
Many lower-caste Hindus began converting to Islam and they supported Gorachand's criticism of Chandraketu's annual policy of sacrificing one young boy before the sun god.
[6] গোরাচাঁদ একদিল রহিল অনেক দূর। Gorachãd Ekdil rôhilô ônek dūr গোরা গেল বালাণ্ডায়, একদিল আনারপুর।। Gora gelô Balaṇḍaẏ, Ekdil Anarpur হেতেগড়ে যেতে গোরার মা দিয়েছে বাধা। Hetegôṛe jete Gorar ma diẏeche badha হেতেগড়ে যায় না গোরা আছে হারামজাদা।। Hetegôṛe jay na Gora ache haramzada মায়ের বাধা গোরাচাঁদ না শুনিল কাণে। maẏer badha Gorachãd na shunilô kaṇe আকনের সঙ্গে যুদ্ধ হইল হেনকালে।। Akôner śônge juddhô hôilô henkale আকানন্দ বাকানন্দ রাবণের শালা। Akanôndô Bakanôndô Rabôṇer shala তার সঙ্গে যুদ্ধ হইল আড়াইপক্ষ বেলা।। tar śônge juddhô hôilô aṛaipokkho bela কি জানি আল্লার মর্জি নসিবের ফের। ki jani Allar môrzi nôsiber pher চেকোবাণে গোরাচাঁদের কাটা গেল ছের।। cekobaṇe Gorachãder kaṭa gelô ser After the victory, Gorachand continued to peacefully educate the locals about Islam, and confidently moved further southwards.
However, the two brothers responded by war and a pitched battle ensued between them in which Akananda wounded Gorachand with a sharp arrow which cut through half his neck.
A Hindu cowman named Kalu Ghosh later discovered his decaying body in the forest whilst looking for his cow, and took it to Sheikh Dara Malik.
[9][10] The guardians of the tomb continue to be descendants of Sheikh Dara Malik including Peyar Bakhsh, after whom the village of Peyera is named after, as well as Muhammad Shahidullah's father Mafizuddin Ahmed.
[12] In honour of Kalu Ghosh, Hindu milkmen bring milk to the shrine on his urs, which is 11 Falgun (February), every year.