The Pagal Panthis (lit. 'followers of the mad path') were a socio-religious order that emerged in the late 18th-century in the Mymensingh region of Bengal (now located in Bangladesh).Karam Shah (1710 AD -1813 AD) a sufi saint was the founder of that order. Adherents of a syncretic mixture of Hinduism, Sufism and Animism, the order sought to uphold religious principles and the rights of landless peasants in Bengal; under the leadership of Karam shah's son Tipu Shah, the movement soon evolved into a popular, armed struggle against the British East India Company and the zamindar (landlord) system. It was crushed with the help of the army in 1833. It was a semi religious sect having influence in the northern districts of Bengal. Pagal panthi movement was of Hodi, Garo and Hajong tribes. It was led by Hodi leader Janku Pathar and Debraj Pathar.
Karam Shah's father was Ser Ali Ghazi who was a zamindar of Sherpur pargana. Around 1588 (994 Bangabd/bengali calender) was expelled from the zamindari for the crime of killing Kanungo Ramavallab Nandi of East Kacharibari Darsha village of Sherpur. At that time, however, the name of Serpur was Dasakahaniya. Later, Ali Ghazi was killed in the conspiracy of Hindu landlords. Karim shah lived with his mother for some days in a helpless condition. Later he started living at Shankarpur in Susanga Pargana. He was a follower of Sufism. Many historians have called him a reformer of religion and a seer of the future. In 1775 AD, Karam Shah shifted his residence to Letirkanda in present-day Purbadhala Upazila in Mymensingh Division. From the same year, Karam Shah began to initiate the tribals of the Garo hill region into the egalitarian paranoia doctrine. From 1786 Fakir Sannyasi was involved in the revolt and formed a zamindar and anti-British movement in Sherpur Pargana.
Karam Shah's pre-ascetic name was Chand Ghazi. After getting involved in the zamindar and anti-British movement, he made himself known as Karam Shah. Somewhere he was also called Karim Shah. He died in 1813 AD at his native Letirkanda. He was buried in the yard of his house.