Muharram In Makanpur- An Example of Shia-Sunni Harmony

Begum Ale Fatima of Makanpur-Harbinger of Shia -Sunni Understanding in Muharram Rituals

By Prof.Mazhar Naqvi

Makanpur, famous as head-quarters of Madariya Sufi order across the globe, is also one of the oldest centers of Muharram ceremonies. Thanks to efforts of prominent Zamindar and philanthropist Mir Syed Hasan and his Begum Ale Fatima, the village also offers a perfect example of harmonious observance of Muharram by Shias, Sunni and Hindus living around the shrine of great Sufi and founder of Madariya order, Hazrat Badiuddin Zinda Shah Madar. The history of Muharram rituals at Makanpur can be traced back to Sharqi period.

 Shah Madar had started Taziadari in his life time. His disciples took the ritual with them in other parts of the country, especially in Bengal, Orissa and Bihar. The tradition continued even after his ‘Purdah’ from the world in 1431 AD by ‘Khadims’ of his Dargah who claim to be descendants of Imam Jafar Sadiq (A.S.).The expenses of Muharram rituals are borne by the offerings made at Dargah even today but the local villagers offers food to the devotees thronging in thousands from far flung areas to witness tazia processions on 9^th and 10^th Muharram every year for two days from their own pocket. Half-a dozen non-stop kitchens produce ‘Naan’ (Oven produced bread) and’ Chane Ki Dal’(one of the pulses) for distribution among the devotees. They treat them as guests of Imam Husain and feed them in accordance with the will made by Imam Husain at Karbala after gifting the land purchased by him to clan of Bani Asad with two conditions - Make a sincere effort for the burial of martyrs and feed my devotees for three days when they arrive for ‘Ziarat’ of my shrine.  

Makanpur mainly remained a center of taziadari for about 550 years Khadims of Dargah used to mostly perform taziadari. They kept two tazias at Imam Chowks called as ‘Adhiyaee and Chautheeai’ on Shabe Ashur (9^th night) of Muharram and carried them in a procession, reciting ‘Nauhas and Marsiyas’ without Matam or Zanjeer jani. These tazias are made of paper and bamboo sticks and resembles with the shrine of Imam Husain at Karbala. The verses from Quran can also be seen on tazias by cutting calligraphically the paper used for decorating them. As it was all Khadim-Show, a ‘Topchi’ (Cannon Operator) of Sharqi Kingdom who was stationed at Makanpur outpost started taziadari on behalf of other communities. He however introduced turbatdar (Grave like) tazia as a differentiator. This tazia is most popular and revered one at present. It is also kept at an Imam Chowk containing a brick from the shrine of Imam Husain on Shabe Ashur. Its beginning gave birth to the famous ‘cross’ ceremony , considered to be the only and most unique feature of muharram throughout Indian Sub- Continent. Thousands of devotees throng at the place of cross near a mosque on the road leading to Karbala on Shabe- Ashur to see the clash of Muharram drumming between the followers of Dargahi  and Topchi tazias, display of fireworks and amazing performance of physical exercises by members of  local Akharas.             

 There was no involvement of Shias in Muharram rituals nor did the village have any Imambara. There used to be Dargah Hazrat Abbas near the Shah Jahani Gate. Now it is known merely as Naqqarkhana but a turbatwala tazia is kept on Shabe Ashur there also. As the numbers of other castes grew, two more tazias started accompanying Topchi ka tazia. They are known as Ahmed Sher ka tazia and shikani budhiya ka tazia. All three tazias took part in the ‘Gasht’ ( Procession) starting  from Shabe Ashur and ending on the evening of Yaume Ashur(10^th day of muharram) at Karbala located on the bank of Isan river.

The traditional taziadari started emerging as azadari with the marriage of Begum Ale-Fatima with prominent Zamindar (Landlord) of Makanpur, Mir Syed Hasan. She belonged to Syedwada area of Shamsabad and was used to observance of azadari on the pattern of Lucknow. Initially, she went to attend Muharram rituals every year in Shamsabad but later on erected an Imambara at Makanpur. To overcome shortage of Shia Muslims, she persuaded Sunnis and Hindus to take part in the Majlises hosted by her during Ashra. She was quite popular because of her generosity and her husband was also rated as a philanthropist, her efforts evoked desired response. Then, she requested her husband to  revive an abandoned Imambara belonging to one Muttaqi Miyan. Mir Syed Hasan honored her wish and Majlises for women started taking place there. Begum Ale Fatima for decades shouldered the responsibility of organizing Majlises at Muttaqi Miyan’s Imambara after taking care of her own Imambara. She did so to keep her promise made to her husband that she would take care of the other imambara should he revive it.       

After the death of her husband, Begum Ale Fatima encouraged her son Mir Saeedul Hasan, popularly known as Ladley Miyan to introduce Shia practices in tazia processions. As the local residents were traditionally ‘Muhibbe- Ahlebait’( lovers of Prophet’s progeny),no one opposed the formation of  Anjuman-E-Jafariya  and performing of Matam( Beating of chests) by its members around 1950.From 1970 onwards, Anjuman also started doing Matam with Zanjeer and Churis( Chain and Knives).both Shias and Sunnis do Matam even today and attend each other’s  ceremony for burial of tazias. There has never been any incident of violence members of the twin sects and azadari is attaining new heights of grandeur with each successive year.

Initially, Mir Saeedul Hasan recited Nauhas for the Anjuman founded by him but later on a Dargahi Babua Bhai took the mantle of Sahab-E-Bayazi upon himself. This happened with the consent of Mir Saeedul Hasan when he left Makanpur to take up a career in Journalism. Babua Bhai .A Sunni Syed, recited Nauhas till his death and now his son Shahid Hasnain is carrying on the legacy. On the other hand, after the death of Begum Ale Fatima, her youngest daughter, Tajdar Jahan Naqvi, carried on the tradition began by her mother. She too took care of the other Muttaqi Miyan’s Imambara and also started a taboot procession on 8^th of Muharram. Though she is not blessed with a melodious voice like her mother but she addresses Majlises and recites Nauhas during Ashra with Sunni girls supporting her as Bazus (Side Support). She also must have trained dozens of girls in the art of Nauhakhwani and Sozkhwani.

The ardent love of Begum Ale Fatima has invoked blessings of Masoomeen on her family.Her son rose to the position of editor opf world’s largest daily Dainik Jagran.he remained president of Kanpur Press club for 15 consecutive year and was perhaps the only multi-Lingual journalists of his times. The tradition began by him is being carried out by his son Mir Jami Miyan who himself is an internationally acclaimed management Guru. He is supported by his younger brother Haider Naqvi who is a leading journalist with Hindustan Times. Mir Jami Miyan’s sons namely Mir Najaf Naqvi and Mir Raza Naqvi also take interest in  

continuation of the family legacy. Jami Miyan’s wife Mohtarma Hena Zaheer herself is a prominent Zakira Ahle Bait and addresses religious congregations all over india. She too extends full cooperation to Jami Miyan in his endeavor to keep the harmonious nature of Muharram in Makanpur alive. The nephews of Ladley Miyan namely  Najmi Rizvi, Nazim ,Ahsan and Hasham Abbas never skip Makanpur muharram and lend support to Jami Miyan inhis endeavor to protect and preserve Imamia traditions in Sunni dominated Basti but full of love for Ahle-Bait. Ahsan and Hasham are sons of Tajdar Jahan and take full interest in azadari. Hasham has of late emerged as a leading Sozkhwan.