Najaf-E-Hind- Maula Ali’s Most Popular Dargah in a Remote Indian Village
By Prof.Mazhar Naqvi
Najaf-E-Hind in Jogirampura village of district Bijnore is undoubtedly one of the most popular shrines dedicated to Maula Ali. It is also now called as ‘Dargah-E-Aliya’ because of its reputation of healing those who throng at Husain Tekri in Madhya Pradesh to get rid of their mental and other ailments and are redirected through divine instructions to pray at Jogipura shrine for cure of their chronic diseases. Though the Dargah has existed from the time of Emperor Aurangzeb, it was a simple structure till late 60s.Its popularity grew when people started arriving here after being directed from Husain Tekri and they got rid of their diseases miraculously. As a thanks giving, some of them constructed rooms for the stay of devotees, renovated the simple hall covered with tin shed, started a kitchen for free distribution of foods and also initiated the move for constructions of shrines dedicated to Bibi Fatima and Hazrat Abbas. The introduction of ‘Salana- Majalises’ Maqsoosi’( Annual religious gatherings) during summers gave fillip to already growing popularity of the shrine. Braving the heat of May, people in lakhs started converging at the shrine to attend ‘Maqsoosi’ to listen to the galaxy of the best known Zakirs (orators) of the world on narratives of Karbala tragedy. The village becomes a mini- township as hundreds of tents are pitched to accommodate devotees during Maqsoosi in the fields surrounding the shrine. The author had visited the shrine with his parents way back in 1970.The shrine had few devotees and its main enclosure was simple and serene. There were a few rooms for the stay of Zaireens. However, the size, structure and expansion of Dargah had witnessed sea change by 1990s.The managing committee not only acquired land adjacent to shrine but also built new quarters and also undertook a massive construction drive to replace the main structure with a replica of Hazrat Ali’s original shrine at Najaf-E-Ashraf In Iraq. Though the new structure is not as large as the original one and also less decorated but it surely gives a soothing effect to the devotee as he passes through the imposing gateway leading to the main shrine. Maula Ali is revered by both Muslims and non- Muslims of the village. Hindus willingly offer their fields for pitching of tents and they also serve them as guests of their ‘devta’. This harmony dates back to the time of Dada Raju whose grave is also near Dargah and is also visited by devotees, for it was his call for help that was answered by Maula ‘Mushkil Kusha’- a popular title given to Hazrat Ali for his eagerness to help the needy. Dada Raju was one of the important military commanders of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. In the war of succession, he sided with Dara Shikoh and Shah Jahan and opposed Aurangzeb for his treatment to his father and his religious intolerance. As dada Raju did not suppress his feelings, Aurangzeb came to know about him. He dispatched his trusted soldiers to track down Dada Raju who took shelter in the forest near his native place Jogirampura. Since he belonged to a Syed family of repute, the villagers extended full support to him and emperor’s troops could not get a wind of their target. Knowing very well the cunningness of Aurangzeb, Dada Raju was aware that Emperor would continue to hunt him and have him executed as he did with other sympathizers of Shah Jahan and Dara. The execution of Sufi Sarmad and beheading of Dara was still fresh in his mind. He spent his days and nights in the thick forest, reciting continuously Naad-e-Ali and Ya Ali Adrikni. His cries for help from Maula Ali got desperate when someone tipped him that the royal troops were camping close to his village and making queries about his whereabouts. And then the miracle occurred when one day a Hindu farmer went to cut grass in the forest. He was an old man with poor eyesight. Suddenly, he confronted a striking handsome man riding a horse who asked about Dada Raju. The rider told the farmer to tell Dada Raju that whom he had been calling had arrived. The old man told the rider that he won’t be able to locate dada Raju as he was almost blind. At his reply, the rider who was none other than Maula Ali himself looked at his eyes and the farmer in few moments started seeing every thing clearly as a youth. Before the startled farmer could utter or recover from his bewilderment, Maula Ali ordered him to go by running and call Dada Raju. The feeble farmer searched for dada Raju like a sprinter and delivered the message to him after finding him. Dada Raju immediately understood who was asking for him. He set off immediately for the place identified by farmer. Seeing him run, villagers thought the troops of Aurangzeb had raided the area to arrest Dada Raju. They too followed him. Upon reaching the place, Dada Raju saw the foot of horse where Hazrat Ali but Maula himself had disappeared.. Dada Raju with the help of villagers of Jogirampura covered the place. While villagers returned home, Dada Raju sat on that place where Hazrat Ali had arrived. He remained in a state of shock and continued to remain at the holy spot for seven days without food and water. He was disappointed at having lost the opportunity of Maula’s Ziarat( Glimpse).He again started reciting Yaa Ali Adrikni and Maula Ali blessed him with his divine appearance after seven days. Even before Dada Raju could speak a single word, Maula assured him not to worry about Aurangzeb and said “no one will touch you, you are safe from them.” With tears in his eyes, Raju requested in a shaking voice ‘Aaqa’ (Master) I want some of your blessings for the people who have taken care of me in most trying times” In reply to his emotional appeal, it is reported that three miracles happened on the spot milk sprouted from the ground, a well emerged with water of good smell and finally the mud where Hazrat Ali stood also gave fine smell and exhibited medicinal properties upon application later by the devotees. Dada Raju spent his remaining life as caretaker of the spot while the villagers erected a simple shrine. The place became popular only after the death of Aurangzeb. During the period of later Mughals, devotees started visiting it in large number as they felt secure due to emergence of Syed brothers in the role of king makers and the patronage offered by queens like Qudsia Begum. Since then, Dargah Aliya Najaf-E-Hind at Jogirampura has been a place of hope for all those who visit the shrine in search of Shifa ( Cure) by invoking in the pious name of Maula Ali.
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