From Barabanki to Tehran: Khomeini's UP roots in spotlight amid Israel-Iran tensions
As tensions between Israel and Iran continue to rise, with airstrikes, political threats, and widespread destruction dominating headlines, a small Indian village has quietly become part of the global narrative.Kintoor, located in Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh, has a deep ancestral connection to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini - the architect of the 1979 Islamic Revolution and founding father of the Islamic Republic of Iran.advertisementThis historical link has brought fresh attention to the village, which today finds itself praying for peace as the region its ancestors helped shape face one of its most dangerous military escalations in decades.LEGACY BEGAN IN 1830
The story dates back to around 1830, when Syed Ahmad Musavi Hindi - a Shia cleric and scholar - was born in Kintoor. Driven by his commitment to religious education, he left India during British colonial rule and travelled through Iraq to settle in Iran. There, he continued his spiritual and theological pursuits and chose to retain his Indian identity by adding "Hindi" to his name.He eventually settled in the Iranian town of Khomeyn, where he raised a family. His son, Mostafa Hindi, also became a cleric, and his grandson, Ruhollah Khomeini, would go on to lead a revolution that forever changed Iran's political and religious landscape.advertisementWATCH: FROM SCHOLAR TO SUPREME LEADERBorn in 1902, Ruhollah Khomeini inherited the religious teachings and legacy of his grandfather and father. Influenced by their Shia beliefs and resistance to Western interference, Khomeini rose through the clerical ranks and became a powerful political voice. His opposition to Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's pro-Western monarchy gained mass support throughout the 1960s and 70s, culminating in the Islamic Revolution of 1979.With the Shah deposed, Khomeini became Iran's first Supreme Leader, establishing a theocratic state governed by Islamic law. His leadership defined Iran's anti-Western stance, transformed its internal laws, and created a powerful alternative axis in Middle Eastern politics.KINTOOR'S LIVING LEGACYBack in Kintoor, the family of Ayatollah Khomeini still lives in a neighbourhood called Mahal Mohalla. Nihal Kazmi, Dr Rehan Kazmi, and Adil Kazmi proudly trace their ancestry to Ahmad Musavi Hindi, calling themselves direct descendants of the man who shaped modern Iran through his lineage.
Inside their home, framed photographs of Khomeini still decorate the walls. "He added 'Hindi' to his name to show that his heart beat for India," says Adil Kazmi. "When we visited Iran and told people we were from Kintoor, they welcomed us with great honour. It was clear they remembered where their spiritual leader came from."advertisementThe villagers consider this historical connection a matter of immense pride, and treat it as an intellectual and spiritual legacy rather than a mere genealogical one.CLARIFYING KHAMENEI'S ROOTSWith global speculation swirling around who will succeed Iran's current Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, some confusion has emerged about his links to India. The Kazmi family is quick to set the record straight: "Khamenei has no ancestral link to Kintoor," says Dr Rehan Kazmi. "He is the disciple and political successor of Ayatollah Khomeini, but not from our family or village."A CALL FOR PEACE, NOT WARAs Iran faces renewed airstrikes and political pressure from Israel, Khomeini's descendants in India have expressed deep concern over the escalating conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently declared that 'no one is immune' to attacks, alluding even to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. In response, Iran has fired over 400 ballistic missiles and more than 1,000 drones across Israeli territories since the beginning of Israel's Operation Rising Lion.advertisementReacting to the violence, Dr Rehan Kazmi said, "The attacks by Israel are inhumane. Iran is responding defensively. We pray this war ends soon, and that peace prevails. No one benefits from bloodshed."Adil Kazmi added, "Yes, we are proud of our ancestor, but we are also saddened that his name is now caught between headlines of war. His identity was also about philosophy, knowledge and justice. We want the world to associate his name with peace, not just power."FROM CONFLICT TO PRAYERFor the villagers of Kintoor, the current events are not just news from a distant land, but a reminder of their historical and spiritual bonds. "This land once gave birth to a bloodline that would change the world," said one resident. "Today, hands rise from this soil in prayers for peace."Dr Rehan Kazmi notes, "Islam teaches justice and peace. This is what Ayatollah Khomeini stood for too. While the world talks about missiles, we in Kintoor remember the values he lived for."A SYMBOLIC CROSSROADKintoor today is more than a geographical dot in Uttar Pradesh. It represents a cultural and emotional bridge between India and Iran - from the modest walls of Mahal Mohalla to the corridors of power in Tehran.advertisementEven as political narratives shift and global tensions grow, the message from this Indian village remains unchanged, "No more war. Let peace speak louder."(With inputs from Syed Rehan Mustafa Rizvi)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
28 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Why US moved B-2 Spirit stealth bombers to Guam and how far is it from Iran?
The United States moved its B-2 bombers to Guam on Saturday, Reuters reported, citing two sources. This comes as tensions between Israel and Iran rose over the past week, with President Donald Trump weighing whether Washington should take part in Tel Aviv's strikes against Tehran. The White House has not confirmed why the bombers were deployed and if it is connected to the conflict in the Middle East. US moved B-2 Stealth Bombers to Guam on Saturday (AFP) The B-2 is equipped to carry the US's 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, which is designed to destroy targets deep underground. Washington has hinted that this weapon could be used to strike Iran's nuclear capability. One official told Reuters that no further orders had been given yet to move the bombers beyond Guam. Reports suggested that the move reduces sortie times compared to flights from Missouri, enhancing readiness for potential strikes. Read More: Nuclear watchdog warns of 'serious catastrophe' if Israel targets Iran's Bushehr reactor Guam's distance from Iran minimizes exposure to Iranian retaliation, unlike Middle Eastern bases, per However, some experts, according to NBC News, said that it was precautionary, noting no strike orders and ongoing diplomacy efforts by European leaders. Distance from Iran to Guam The approximate distance from Guam to Iran is 7,500 kilometers (4,660 miles). The B-2's unrefueled range of 9,000–10,000 kilometers allows it to reach Iran from Guam, though mid-air refueling, supported by KC-46 Pegasus tankers. Israel said on Saturday it had killed a veteran Iranian commander during attacks by both sides in the more than week-long air war, while Tehran said it would not negotiate over its nuclear program while under threat. Read More: 'Grossi will pay after...': Khamenei aide's blood-chilling threat to IAEA chief Israel says Iran was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons, while Iran says its atomic program is only for peaceful purposes. Trump has said he would take up to two weeks to decide whether the United States should enter the conflict on Israel's side, enough time "to see whether or not people come to their senses," he said. (With inputs from Reuters)
India Today
31 minutes ago
- India Today
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei names potential successors in case he is killed: Report
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has identified three senior clerics as potential successors in the event of his death, according to The New York Times, citing three Iranian Iran's constitution, the death of a supreme leader triggers a selection process led by the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member clerical body. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, this process has been used only once, when Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was chosen as successor in aims to ensure a swift and orderly transition upon his death, The New York Times reported, citing sources. Khamenei has taken an extraordinary series of steps to preserve the Islamic Republic ever since Israel launched a series of surprise attacks last Friday, the report InMust Watch
India Today
32 minutes ago
- India Today
US moves B-2 stealth bombers to Guam amid escalating Israel-Iran conflict: Report
The United States is moving B-2 bombers to the Pacific island of Guam, two US officials told Reuters on Saturday, as President Donald Trump weighs whether the United States should take part in Israel's strikes against was unclear whether the bomber deployment is tied to Middle East B-2 can be equipped to carry America's 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, designed to destroy targets deep underground. That is the weapon that experts say could be used to strike Iran's nuclear program, including The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, declined to disclose any further details. One official said no forward orders had been given yet to move the bombers beyond Guam. They did not say how many B-2 bombers are being Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for and officials are closely watching to see whether the B-2 bombers will move forward to a US-British military base on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia. Experts say that Diego Garcia is in an ideal position to operate in the Middle United States had B-2 bombers on Diego Garcia up until last month, when they were replaced with B-52 said on Saturday it had killed a veteran Iranian commander during attacks by both sides in the more than week-long air war, while Tehran said it would not negotiate over its nuclear program while under says Iran was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons, while Iran says its atomic program is only for peaceful has said he would take up to two weeks to decide whether the United States should enter the conflict on Israel's side, enough time "to see whether or not people come to their senses," he was first to report this week the movement of a large number of tanker aircraft to Europe and other military assets to the Middle East, including the deployment of more fighter aircraft carrier in the Indo-Pacific is also heading to the Middle InMust Watch
