Azadari in Lucknow

The Muharram, 1795: Asaf ud Daula, Nawab of Oudh, listening at night to the maulvi reading from the scriptures during Muharram, c. 1795.

Azadari in Lucknow or Mourning in Lucknow, is name of the practices related to mourning and commemoration of the anniversary of the death of Imam Husayn ibn Ali at the Battle of Karbala in 680,[1] particularly in period of Muharram (in the Indian sub-continent Muharram in the context of remembrance of the events of Karbala means the period of two months & eight days i.e. 68 days starting from the evening of 29 Zill-Hijjah and ending on the evening of 8 Rabi-al-Awwal[2]) and in general round the year.

The Government of Uttar Pradesh banned the processions in 1977 because of riots and violence.[3] As a result of protests, demonstrations, court arrests, self immolations and deaths of Shia youth, under the leadership of shia ulemas, the Shias were permitted by the government to stage an Azadari procession in January 1998 (21st of Ramzan).[4] A limited number of processions are allowed, and security is tight.[3]

Azadari during Nawabi period

Nawab Asafudaula used to spend 60,000 Rupees on a single Muharram.[5]

Communal riots and ban on azadari in Lucknow

During Nawabi time Azadari practices were even observed by non-Shias, particularly Sunni Muslims of lower stratum. Sleeman, who spent considerable time in Lucknow notes that the Shias and the Sunnis participated with equal enthusiasm in practices of Muharram.[6][7][8]

Riots took place in 1908, 1930s, 1968, 1969, 1974 and 1977. The Government of Uttar Pradesh banned the processions in 1977.[4]

Even the Shias and Sunnis concede that the Shia-Sunni conflict in Lucknow is not long-standing. They date it back to start of the 20th century.[6]

Riot of 1908 and Piggot committee

The first Shia–Sunni riot occurred in 1908, when a tazia procession of Shias was attacked by group of militant Sunnis hiding in a Sunni mosque. After which a four-member committee under chairmanship of Justice T. C. Piggot, an ICS officer and a judge of High Court was formed to look into the matter. The conclusion of committee was that "the attempt to transform the tazia processions in honour of first four Caliphs was an innovation. "The personal knowledge of those members of the Committee who are well acquainted with Lucknow is on the whole favourable to Shia view." The Committee also recommended that there should be general prohibition against the organised recitation of Madhe-Sahaba verses on three days, viz., ashura (the tenth day of Muharram), Chehlum (the fortieth day of ashura), and the twenty-first day of Ramzan. The Government accepted the report of the Committee.[6][7][8]

Tensions in 1930s, riot of 1935 and Allsop committee

In 1935, on the day of Chehlum, some sunnis defied the order and recited the Madhe-Sahaba, which resulted in immediate tensions and skirmishes between Shias and Sunnis. For three months Sunnis built pressure by defying prohibitory orders. When other re-conciliatory efforts failed, the government appointed the Allsop Committee under Justice Allsop of Allahabad High Court to consider the question of public recitation of the Madhe-Sahaba afresh. The Allsop Committee reiterated the position of Piggott Committee. Eventually, on 28 March 1938, the Government published the Allsop Committee's report and stood by it.[6][7][8]

Civil disobedience movement of 1938 & sanctions on Madhe-Sahaba during Barawafat

The Sunnis were dissatisfied with the decision of Government to adhere to suggestions made in Allsop Committee report and started a civil disobedience movement. In late April 1938, Zafrul Malik and Abdul Shakur, the two main leaders of Madhe-Sahaba movement with 26 eminent Sunni ulemas declared in a public meeting that recitation of Madhe-Sahaba could not be restricted for even a single day. The next day, bricks were thrown at a Shia Tazia procession in Patanala; 10 people were killed and several dozens injured. Next several months saw a buildup in tensions between Shias and Sunnis. To defend themselves and coordinate their civil disobedience campaigns, the Sunnis formed the Anjuman Tahaffuz-e-Namus Sahaba and the Shias formed the Anjuman Tanzimul Momineen.[6][7][8]

After negotiations with Sunnis, the Congress Government issued, on 31 March 1939, a communique which stated that "the Sunnis will in any circumstances be given the opportunity of reciting Madhe-Sahaba at a public meeting, and in a procession every year on the barawafat day subject to the condition that the time, place and route thereof shall be fixed by district authorities." But the Government failed to engage Shias in negotiations or inform them beforehand of the ruling.[6][7]

Civil disobedience movement, riot of 1939 and ban on Madhe-Sahaba and Tabarra

Crowds of Shia volunteer arrestees assembled in the compound of Asaf-ud-Daula Imambada (Bara Imambara) in preparation of tabarra, April 1939

The Shias initiated a civil disobedience movement as a result of the ruling. Some 1,800 Shias publicly protested,[6] including prominent Shia figures such as Syed Ali Zaheer (newly elected MLA from Allahabad-Jaunpur), the Princes of the royal family of Awadh, the son of Maulana Nasir a respected Shia mujtahid (the eldest son, student and designated successor of Maulana Nasir Hussain), Maulana Sayed Kalb-e-Husain and his son Maulana Kalb-e-Abid (both ulema of Nasirabadi family) and the brothers of Raja of Salempur and the Raja of Pirpur, important ML leaders. It was believed that Maulana Nasir himself besides the top ranking ML leaders such as Raja of Mahmudabad and Raja of Pirpur would together court arrest.[9] A conference arbitrated by Maulana Azad failed to produce a settlement.[6] The next day was the Barawafat, and the Sunnis performed a Madhe-Sahaba procession. The Shias were also allowed a procession, and a riot occurred during which several people were killed. The district authorities banned the public recitation of Madhe-Sahaba and Tabarra in processions and meetings held in public places in 1940 (the following year).[6][7][8]

1940s

The Shia-Sunni problem of Lucknow persisted through the 1940s.[8]

1950s

In early 1950s too district administration kept refusing Madhe-Sahaba processions and counter processions and courts upheld such stands.[10]

1960s

After unrest in the earlier part of the year, a riot occurred on 26 May 1969 after a Shia procession was brick-batted from a Sunni mosque near Mahmood Nagar.[11][12]

Azadari movement in Lucknow

Following the ban in 1977 Shia leadership and community continued to agitate peacefully and annually offered mass arrests during period of Muharram. These practices for protests continued for 20 years until 1997 during which processions were banned on public roads while majalises and processions were allowed in private campuses such as homes, Imambarahs, Karbala, etc.

Successive movement and events

Muharram procession in Lucknow, India, Jan 2007.

As of 2010 the district administration allows only a limited number of processions, and security is tight.[3] On 17 December 2010 on day of Ashura Shia Sunni clash in Lucknow happened which left three injured.[13]

In 2013, on 16 January two people were killed and several more seriously injured when gunmen fired shots at people coming out of a "majlis" at Deputy Saheb ka Imambara in Agha Mir Dyodhi locality in the Wazirganj. The next day, two youths were attacked at a protest while placing the body of one of the victims the Chowk crossing.[14] [15][16][17] [18]

Imambaras, Dargahs, Karbalas and Rauzas

Following is list of notable Imambaras, Dargahs, Karbalas and Rauzas:

Alam-e-Fateh-e-Furat of Muharram 8

Alam-e-Fateh-e-Furat originates from the Daryawali Masjid behind Medical College in late evening. This procession ends at the Imambara Ghufran Ma'ab at around midnight. Lakhs of Shias from Lucknow and the neighbouring districts take part in the procession.[30][31][32]

Alam-e-Shab-e-Ashur of Muharram 9

Alam-e-Shab-e-Ashur originates from Imambada Nazim Saheb located on Victoria Street in late evening. After the Shahi processions of 1st Muharram and 7th Muharram this is one of the oldest procession in first 10 days of Muharram in Lucknow that started in 1926 by Late Qaiser Husain Rizvi. In 1361(AH) to mark the 1300 years of the event of Karbala in memory of Imam Husain, a committee was formed by the name of Yaadgaray Husaini and this procession in that year was named as Yaadgaray Husaini but after the dissolution of the committee in 1939, Qaiser Husain Rizvi again took the responsibility and since then it is popularly known as Alam e Shab e Ashur. Following his death in 1971 his nephews continued this tradition up till now.This procession starts from Imambada Nazim Sahab and ends at Dargah Abbas (Rustam Nagar)at around close to early morning. Several hundreds of thousands (Lakhs) of Shias from Lucknow and neighboring districts participate in the procession.[33]

Yaad-e-Sakina " Remembering Bibi Sakina"

This is a Mourning event organised on the 4th Sunday of the month of Muharram every year at Imambara Husainabad Mubarak (The Chhota Imambara), Husainabad. During this grief-stricken event a temporary small scale replica of the "Qaid Khana" (Prison or Dungeon) is constructed with a small grave of Bibi Saiyyada Sakina inside this "Qaid Khana" to depict the Agony of Bibi Saiyyada Sakina. Thousands of mourners gather here to visit the "Qaid Khana" and to pay tribute to Bibi Saiyyada Sakina. This sorrowful event was first held in the year 1990 A.D. by Late Muhammad Sarfaraz Khan Sahab (Late. Banney Miya Sahab) of Beal Wala Tila, Muftiganj, Lucknow. The members of Anjuman-e-Gulzaar-e-Panjetan take active part in the organisation and management of this event.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mourning of Muharram.

References

  1. ↑ "Azadari | Four Californian Lectures | Books on Islam and Muslims". Al-Islam.org. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  2. ↑ The Times of India, Muharram: Mehndi processions to be taken out tomorrow, Times of India, 2 December 2011
  3. 1 2 3 No new Muharram procession allowed in Lucknow, TwoCircles.net, 16 December 2010
  4. 1 2 Tanzeem-e-Pasdaran-e-Husain, Azadari Movement
  5. ↑ Islam in India and Pakistan By Annemarie Schimmel, BRILL, 1982
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Communal riots in post-independence India By Asgharali Engineer, Universities Press, 1991
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rallying around the Qaum: The Muslims of the United Provinces and the movement for Pakistan, 1935—1947 By Venkat Dhulipala, ProQuest, 2008
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Shi'a Islam in Colonial India: Religion, Community and Sectarianism Justin Jones, Cambridge University Press, 24 October 2011
  9. ↑ Karim ur Raza Khan to Jinnah, 27 April 1939, Madhe Sahaba file, Qaid-i-zamPapaers.
  10. ↑ Mohammad Siddiqui vs State Of U.P. And Anr. on 21 July 1954 , Allahabad High Court, Equivalent citations: AIR 1954 All 756, Author: Malik, Bench: Malik, R Singh, Judgement: Malik, C.J.
  11. ↑ Islamic society and culture: essays in honour of Professor Aziz Ahmad, ʻAzīz Aḥmad, Milton Israel, Manohar, 1983, Collection of articles honoring Aziz Ahmad, 1913–1978, historian of Muslim life and Culture.
  12. ↑ Violence erupts, Sugata Dasgupta, Dileep Padgaonker, Radha Krishna, 1978
  13. ↑ Shia Sunni clash in Lucknow during Muharram, Jafariya News, 18 December 2010 – 11:04pm
  14. ↑ "1 killed in sectarian clash in Lucknow". The Indian Express. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  15. ↑ "Cops’ inaction leads to more violence in Lucknow". Times of India. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  16. ↑ "Lucknow riots on, 2 stabbed". The Indian Express. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  17. ↑ "Sectarian violence in Lucknow; Tension prevails". TwoCircles.net. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  18. ↑ "Second death in Lucknow's Old City firing incident". Times of India. 19 January 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  19. ↑ "Lucknow | Bada Imambara ..:::". Lucknow.me. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  20. ↑ "Lucknow | Chota Imambara ..:::". Lucknow.me. 1994-06-06. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  21. ↑ "Lucknow | Dargah of Hazrat Abbas ..:::". Lucknow.me. 1997-07-23. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  22. ↑ "Lucknow | Imambara of Moghul Saheba ..:::". Lucknow.me. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  23. ↑ "Lucknow | Imambara of Zain-ul-Abidin Khan ..:::". Lucknow.me. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  24. ↑ "Lucknow | Karbala of Dayanat-ud-Daulah ..:::". Lucknow.me. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  25. ↑ "Lucknow | Karbala Naseer-ud-Din Haider ..:::". Lucknow.me. 1998-02-18. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  26. ↑ "Lucknow | Maqbara of Amjad Ali Shah | Imambara Sibtainabad ..:::". Lucknow.me. 1998-05-27. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  27. ↑ "Lucknow | Rauza Kazmain ..:::". Lucknow.me. 1997-11-05. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  28. ↑ "Lucknow | Shah Najaf Imambara ..:::". Lucknow.me. 1997-09-24. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  29. ↑ "Lucknow | Talkatora Karbala & Imambara Kaiwan Jah ..:::". Lucknow.me. 1999-02-06. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  30. ↑ "Remembering Hazrat Abbas". Times of India. 12 March 2003. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  31. ↑ "Remembering Hazrat Abbas". Times of India. 28 February 2004. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  32. ↑ "Cleric to Muslims: Be tolerant". Times of India. 29 January 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  33. ↑ http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:LowLevelEntityToPrint_TOI&Type=text/html&Locale=english-skin-custom&Path=TOIL/2010/12/17&ID=Pc00115
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