Ayatollah Khomeini’s ancestral ties to Kintur village in Barabanki reveal a deep Indo-Iranian link despite attempts to smear his Indian heritage
NEW DELHI — As the Middle East faces heightened tension following Israel’s strikes on Tehran and Iran’s retaliation, an extraordinary story about the roots of the first Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, has come to light, tracing back to India’s Barabanki district in Uttar Pradesh. This link not only adds a human dimension to the ongoing strife but highlights the shared cultural and historical ties between Indian Muslims and Iranians.
Ayatollah Khomeini, who led the 1979 Revolution that ended the brutal rule of Muhammad Reza Pahlavi, is often seen solely as an Iranian figure. However, few know that his grandfather, Syed Ahmed Musavi Hindi, was born in Kintur, a village near Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh, in the early 1800s before migrating to Iran. His family still lives there today, keeping alive the bond between Indian Muslims and Iran’s religious leadership.
Speaking from Kintur village, Syed Nihal Ahmed Kazmi, a relative of Khomeini, condemned the ongoing war in the region. “This conflict is wrong. Innocent people are suffering and dying. The only solution is peace and dialogue,” he said. His words reflect a wish shared by many Indian Muslims who feel connected to the wider Muslim World and advocate for harmony rather than violence.
Syed Ahmed Musavi Hindi, Khomeini’s grandfather, originally travelled from Barabanki to Iran via pilgrimage but settled in the town of Khomein in Markazi Province around 1834, from where the family rose to prominence. Ahmed Musavi was known to maintain his Indian roots by including ‘Hindi’ in his name, a mark of pride in his heritage. His father, Din Ali Shah, had earlier settled in Barabanki after migrating from the Middle East.
Musavi Hindi was a supporter of Islamic revivalism and passed away in 1869, buried in Iraq’s Karbala. His ideas and lineage laid the groundwork for his grandson’s future revolutionary role, blending religious devotion with political activism.
When Khomeini’s influence in Iran grew dangerously strong for the Shah regime, efforts were made to discredit him by attacking his Indian roots. On 7 January 1978, the government-controlled Ittelat newspaper published an article calling Khomeini an ‘Indian mullah’ obsessed with romantic poetry, aiming to paint him as a foreign puppet influenced by British-Indian colonialism.
Far from weakening Khomeini’s position, this smear campaign backfired. Instead of accepting the insult, the Iranian public saw it as an attack on their own revolution and leader. Mass protests surged, culminating in the fall of the Pahlavi monarchy and the exile of the Shah.
Syed Nihal Ahmed Kazmi remarked on the resilience of Khomeini’s legacy, “Despite the lies and slander, Khomeini stood firm. His Indian roots did not weaken him; they were part of his strength.”
For Indian Muslims, especially those in Barabanki, Khomeini’s story is a source of pride. It shows how a man with deep Indian roots influenced the course of history in the Muslim World. The fact that Khomeini never renounced his Indian connection, even when attacked for it, resonates deeply among Muslims who often face prejudice and misunderstanding.
Dr Shahnawaz Khan, a historian specialising in Indo-Iranian relations, said, “Khomeini’s Indian heritage reflects centuries of shared culture and faith. This connection is often ignored or twisted by those who wish to divide us.”
Khomeini’s ideas continue to shape Iranian politics and influence movements across the Muslim World, a testament to the power of cross-border Islamic solidarity rooted in shared history.
This chapter in history underlines the importance of recognising Indian Muslims’ role beyond domestic borders. Often marginalised in India, the community’s contribution to international Muslim causes remains significant but overlooked.
The story of Khomeini’s ancestors in Barabanki challenges narratives that try to isolate Muslim leaders and movements from their wider cultural roots. It reminds us that identities are interconnected and that Indian Muslims have long been part of a global Islamic fabric.
As Syed Nihal Ahmed Kazmi urged, “We must remember our shared history and promote peace. The world cannot afford more wars fuelled by hatred.”
The Israeli air strikes on Tehran have once again put the spotlight on Iran, its leadership, and the ongoing struggles in the region. The loss of over a hundred lives, including many innocent children, has brought sorrow not only in Iran but also among Indian Muslims who feel a spiritual kinship with the Iranian people.
The war serves as a grim reminder of the cost of hatred and the importance of peaceful dialogue. The voice of Khomeini’s relatives calling for peace echoes the hopes of many who long for an end to violence and the beginning of understanding between peoples.
Ayatollah Khomeini’s story reveals a rare but powerful link between India and Iran — a story of migration, faith, struggle, and revolution. It shows how Indian Muslims, often underappreciated in their homeland, have had a lasting impact on global events.
The efforts by the Pahlavi regime to discredit Khomeini by highlighting his Indian origin were not just propaganda but also a sign of the deep connection between Indian Muslims and the broader Islamic World — a connection that remains vital today.
In these troubled times, recognising and honouring such shared heritage can help foster understanding and peace rather than division and conflict.
