Dargah Hazrat Qasim in Mohan-India

 
 Majlis-E-Aza at Dargah Hazrat Qasim In Mohan-North India

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Mohan, a historic town of district Unnao, has the distinction of having the only Dargah dedicated to the martyr of Karbala and son of Imam Hasan Hazrat Qasim in entire North India. While Mehndi processions are organized on 7^th Muharram in memory of Hazrat Qasim throughout the azadari world, a massive Takht procession is taken out in Mohan to mark the occasion. Devotees from all different parts of the globe converge in Mohan to participate in the procession that traces its history to Delhi Sultanate period. 
The procession is also an example of inter- faith understanding as devotees of different religions and faiths not only come for the Ziarat of the holy Takht but also seek fulfillment of their wishes .Hazrat Qasim is the only martyr in whose memory Takht is taken out whereas Tabut is usually brought out for others who were brutally killed on the plains of Karbala in 680 AD. This ritual puts Hazrat Qasim at par with Hazrat Abbas with whose pious name Alam (Standard) is permanently associated.

The history of Mohan Takht is quite fascinating. It deals with a Delhi based noble who was in the service of the emperor. One day he saw a dream and heard a voice asking him to find out a Tabarruk related to Hazrat Qasim. He ignored but after a few days confronted a similar dream. The noble started the search for the place indicated in the dream and finally reached there. He ordered the digging of an earthen mound and found Takht with smell beyond description emanating from it. The noble dispatched Takht with his trusted Kahars( Carriers) to his native place Mohan for sake upkeep. Dargah Hazrat Qasim is built over the place where Takht was kept after its arrival. The structure of Dargah is simple and without embellishments but its serenity and tranquility indicates its spiritual significance. In one of its chambers is kept the Takht at the culmination of the procession to be brought out again on 7^th Muharram next year.

There is lack of documentary evidences about the origin of Takht procession. There is no record to suggest that procession started during Delhi Sultanate period. Its existence during Mughal period is however beyond doubt. This is established by the placement of Takht at an Imam Chowk. History proves that the concept of Imam Chowk in India was introduced by Mughal Emperor Humayun in north India. He had granted lands free of cost for construction of Imam chows   to give fillip to Taziadari and Muharram ceremonies as a gratitude to Shah Iran who had enabled him recapture India. Moreover, the history of Mohan itself supplements the antiquity and miracle associated with the Takht.  

There are two popular versions about the christening of the town. One theory says that the word Mohan is derived from Moh meaning devotional love in Hindi and han meaning loss. An old story claims that when Lord Rama was going to Vanvas (self imposed exile) for fourteen years,  he separated from his wife Sita at Mohan thinking that he may suffer han in Moh due to the worldly love. The other version reveals the word Mohan was given by the first inhabitants of the place who had migrated from Mahan city of  Kirman( Iran) and named the place after their homeland .During the Mughal and British empires, Mohan flourished as a town known for its literate people. During the days of the Nawabs of Awadh many residents found employment in the court of the Nawab and earned large fortunes. The town was famous for its Hakims, mimics and actors. It had earned the title of Khitta-e Unan ( Part of Greece)because of its hakims as they specialized in Unani Medicine.

Apart from Dargah Hazrat Qasim and Takht procession, Mohan also has the distinction of being one of the oldest centers of azadari. The Syeds from Iran initially chose four places to settle in India. These were Hallaur, Baraha, Mohan and Bilgram. Syeds of Mohan descend from one of the descendants of the Imam Raza, Syed Mahmood Neshapuri who migrated to India from Iran and settled in Mohan. Saadat of Iran had to migrate to India after their motherland turned unsafe during the attack of Tooli Khan , son of Changez khan. The grave of Syed Mir Gadan Naqvi in Mohan establishes the arrival of Saadat in 13^th century. 

Syed Gadan had arrived in Mohan along with his father Syed Ismail Naqvi who had migrated to India along with his brother Syed Ali Arabi Naqvi Neshapuri. Syed Arabi Naqvi had settled in Alipur village of Sambhal region and was murdered on 21 Ramzan in 1239 AD. After his martyrdom, Syed Ismail had chosen Mohan as his permanent residence along with his son Syed Gadan Naqvi. Since then, Muharram ceremonies have been a regular feature at Mohan with Dargah Hazrat Qasim in focus. Mohan also has a well maintained Karbala with Minarates built like Imami shrines in Iran and Iraq. It also contains an Imambara where Majalis are organized during Muharram. Due to vagary of weather, Karbala had suffered damage and its roof was on the verge of collapse but its Muntazim had of late got it repaired. A non- Muslim local sweetmeat seller takes care of Karbala and derives pleasure in doing so. He also allows everyone who wants to see Karbala.( References available on request)    

 

     Karbala at Mohan-India