Karbala Gamay Shah-Lahore and Its History

Baba Gamay Shah-Sufi who Introduced Muharram Rituals in Lahore

 

 Epitaph over Baba Gamay Shah's Grave & a painting depictinmg Baba with a miniature Zari on his head .

Dr. Mazhar Naqvi

Lahore is a world famous center of Azadari, The city is known for Muharram processions that originate mostly from Havelis of historical significance and culminate at Karbala Gamay Shah. Admirers of Imam Husain in Pakistan know about Karbala very well but their Indian counterparts are not much aware about it. This can be attributed to three reasons , first, Zakirs usually don’t mention Imambaras or Marasim e azadari in Pakistan while addressing Majlises in India, Second, a sketchy detail is available on Gamay Shah Saheb on internet and third is the lack of research work on azadari rituals in a systematic manner in Indio- Pak sub-continent. Indian and Pakistan are two separate states   with common Muharram rituals. The strained relations between the two countries never adversely affected azadari and Indian Azadars hold their Pakistani brethren in high esteem for their continued fervor and courage to keep muharram traditions alive despite repeated attacks by misguided followers of Islam .It is just unfortunate that much is not known about  Gamay Shah Saheb  in India whereas he is credited with introducing Muharram mourning in Lahore.

History records him as a Sufi who was known for his incessant mourning for the Ahle Bait (AS), descendants of Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad. He remained celibate all his life and  always attired in black like Malangs. Baba Gamay Shah walked and grieved on the Yaum-E-Ashura(10th  Muharram) throughout his life. A female Sufi  Mai Aghia accompanied him as a true partner of for part of his journey of tears. They walked through streets of the Lahore and their journey usually ended at the location chosen by Gamay Sham for his spiritual practices.  

Sufi Gamay Shah lived during the reign of Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh. So long as the procession of Gamay Shah and Mai Aghia remained small, Sikh Maharaja never opposed it .But when Gamay Shah’s procession grew bigger,  Maharaja got arrested  grieving Gamay Shah  and sent him behind the bars. However, Maharaja could not sleep after the arrest of Baba and had frightening dreams whole night. The following morning Ranjit Singh came to Baba Gamay Shah  along with another Sufi, Syed Aziz-ul-Din. He enquired from him the reason for his incessant mourning and its public display. The oral traditions reveal that at the question of Maharaja, Baba just smiled and said  the procession was meant to demonstrate his sorrow over the martyrdom of Imam Hussain and mayhem of the Holy Prophet’s descendants at Karbala with three days hunger and thirst. Upon coming to know the tragic events of Karbala, Maharaja immediately released him and even used to visit him for spiritual solace at his Chilla where currently famous Karbala Gamay Shahis is located.

Significance of Karbala could be gauged from the fact that during Muharram, one of Pakistan’s largest Nisar Haveli  procession of Mochi Gate that commences on Shabe Ashura(9^th Muharram)t, makes its way to Karbala Gamay Shah, along with all other such processions from the city, on the evening of Ashura. Similarly, famous Chehlum procession in memory of Imam Hussain also ends at Gamay Shah Karbala after originating from Mochi Gate. Even the 8^th Rabi Ul Awwal Procession that marks the end of Ayam E Aza also ends at Karbala Gamay Shah after originating from Imambara in Islampura. Even the procession taken out to recall the martyrdom of Imam Hazrat Ali on 21st Ramzan from Mubarak Ali also terminates at Gamay Shah.

Ahle-Bait –E-Athar has blessed the Karbala Gamay Shah with unparallel popularity ands respect surely because of his unflinching love for them and starting azadari rituals in adverse circumstances without any fear. Masoomeen turned his gentle smile with so much charisma and power that maharaja not only allowed him to display publicly his love and affection for Ahle-Bait but also sought his spiritual guidance in case of need. The Barkat of Masoomeen is also evident from the fact that Lahore processions have been held here since the pre-colonial period, when Gamay Shah began walking around the Walled City, holding a ‘taziah’ on his head and mourning for the martyrs of Karbala. The routes of the processions have also not changed an inch since their beginning. The credit for erecting an Imambara at Karbala goes to Qazilbash family. The Imambara was built by Nawab Muzaffar Ali Khan Qazilbash  near the tomb of Gamay Shah in 1877  with the purpose of acknowledging the contribution of Baba in promotion of Azadari in a non-Muslim Sikh state and to also offer devotees to hold congregations during Muharram.

Nawab Muzaffar was a politician. He started his legislative career as a Unionist but later on joined Muslim League and then became associated with  the Republican Party.Nawab served as Minister for Industries in the cabinet of Prime Minister Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar (Muslim League) from October 18, 1957 to December 16, 1957.He  was also appointed Chief Minister of West Pakistan. Being a devout Imami, he took keen interest in the affairs of Karbala Gamay Shah and  strived to ensure iots proper upkeep besides undertaking construction work.An epitaph in white marble is also fixed above trhe grave of Gamay Shah Baba and a Zarih has also been fixed nearby to exhibit the exemplary bond between Imam and Sufi.

Beyond the  religious and cultural significance of, Karbala Gamay Shah, another interesting fact linked with the place is the grave of  great Urdu writer and scholar Muhammad Hussain Azad. His book Aab-e-Hayat, published in 1880, on Urdu poets and poetry is considered one of the pioneering works of its genre. He lies buried in back court yard after his death in Lahore in 1910.( This article has been especially written for those Indians who are not much aware about Azadari of Pakistan in general and Lahore in particular)