Iran’s Supreme Leader Traces Ancestral Roots to Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki

 In a lesser-known but historically significant connection, Iran’s current Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the Islamic Republic’s founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini share deep ancestral roots in India. Specifically, their lineage traces back to Kintoor, a village in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki district, renowned for its Shia Muslim scholarly heritage.

The family’s connection to India dates back to the 19th century when Syed Ahmad Musavi Hindi, a prominent Shia cleric, left Kintoor and migrated to Najaf in Iraq, a key center of Shia theology. Eventually, he settled in Iran around 1839. Despite relocating permanently, he retained “Hindi” in his name, signifying his Indian origin. Syed Ahmad’s grandson was Ayatollah Khomeini, who led the 1979 Iranian Revolution and established the Islamic Republic.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who succeeded Khomeini in 1989, also traces his paternal roots to this Indian lineage. His father, Sayyid Jawad Khamenei, descended from the same family of Indian-origin scholars. Though Ayatollah Khamenei has rarely addressed this connection publicly, historical records and academic references in Iran affirm this ancestry.

The village of Kintoor, though modest in size, played a significant role in the intellectual migration of Shia clerics during the 18th and 19th centuries. The movement of families like the Musavis was driven by religious scholarship, with cities like Najaf and Qom offering greater opportunities for theological pursuit.

This revelation, coming at a time of heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, highlights a surprising cross-cultural link between South Asia and the Middle East. It not only underlines a shared religious and cultural heritage but also adds a unique historical dimension to India–Iran relations—showing how the legacy of migration can echo through global political leadership even centuries later.