Forgotten Protector of Azadari-Dewan Nasir Ali

Sarkari Imambara,Kujhwa-Birth Place of Dewan Nasir Ali


By Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Kalpana Plaza, the first shopping mall of Kanpur city, stands where once existed the majestic Imambara of Deewan Syed Nasir Ali. Though recorded as a Wakf property, how the ruins of Imambara turned into a commercial complex on crowded Birhana Road is mystery to the followers of Imami faith even today. Two small alams (standards) installed permanently inside the shrine of an unknown ‘Syed Baba’ adjacent to the plaza only remain as an indicator of the disappeared Imambara. 

Mir Saeedul Hasan Naqvi , an eminent Journalist and introducer of ‘Seena Zani’ and ‘Zanjeer Jani’( Matam with Breast-Beating  and Iron chains tied with small knives)  in the famous Muharram procession of Makanpur, had tried to stop transfer of Imambara Deewan Nasir Ali’s property in 1990 but his efforts were frustrated by  the corrupt Mutwalli and officials Wakf Board. Mir Naqvi who remained President of Kanpur Press Club for fifteen years consecutively personally told the author during conversations that large mourning assemblies used to be organized during Muharram and prominent Zakirs were invited to address Majlises at the Imambara.

When the author happened to meet him a day before his sudden demise on January 15,2013, he once talked about the Imambara and expressed disappointment over the apathy of Azadar-E-Husain towards the whole issue.” The indifference shown to the conversion of imambara into a commercial complex is great injustice to Deewan Nasir Ali who was one of the greatest Azadars India has ever produced. I have seen with my own eyes the grandeur and ornamentation of Imambara. I even performed Matam there several times. How the local admirers of Mazloom Imam Husain could allow the devastation of Imambara erected in his sacred memory” exclaimed Mir Naqvi.

The description given by a veteran journalist belonging to Imami faith prompted the author to research on Deewan Nasir Ali’s contribution to promotion of azadari in Kanpur. The resultant outcome firmly established the claim made by Mir Naqvi  that Deewan truly ranked among the legendary protector of azadari and why historians have neglected his role as a patron of muharram rituals is a sort of mystery ? He deserved their attention because he not only raised a majestic Imambara in Kanpur but also contributed generously to preservation of azadari in Lucknow and his native place in Bihar also. His Imambara at Kanpur was part of his palatial mansion known as Deewan Nasir Ali Ka Chatta. In 1899, the cost of his Chatta was estimated as Rs. 13 Lakhs.   He also owned the famous palatial haveli in Kanpur called 'Chatta Diwan Nasir Ali Saheb', costing Rs 13 Lakh at that time (1899 AD). He also constructed a mosque and imambara at Golaganj, Qazi Bagh in Lucknow. He donated huge part of his estate in UP and Bihar as for charitable purposes.

Deewan Nasir Ali was the Great Grandson of Mir Ghulam Mohammad, Muris-E-Ala Kujhwa. He was a revenue collector (Amil) for the area of Faizabad during the regime of Nawab Shuja Ud Daula and continued to occupy his post even during the period of Nawab Asaf Ud Daula. He was also known as Deewan. He served with distinction the kingdom and made a fortune for himself. The earliest Qadam Rasul in Naubasta area of Lucknow was built on the land of his zamindari by a Syed Altoqash Khan. Out of his reverence to the holy Prophet and his progeny, Deewan Nasir Ali had built an Imambara adjacent to Qadam Rasul. He also erected an Imambara at Katra Abu Turab in Lucknow with two halls and a mosque attached to it.

 He built the first 'pakki- haveli' at the place of his village Kujhwa and then established a mosque and Imambara there. The mosque and Imambara erected by him are called as Sarkari. Both the buildings even exist today in good condition and known for their beauty with simplicity. Deewan sahib also built a Karbala at Kujhwa near the village graveyard for burial of tazias during Muharram.

An interesting story is attributed to the founding of village Kujhwa. It is said that once the daughter of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb fell seriously ill and the court hakims lost all hopes of her recovery. Then, someone suggested the ruler that his daughter could be cured if   Syed ladies of impeccable birth and virtue prayed for her. As a result, Bibi Wadi and her 14 sisters offered to pray for the princess who got rid of her illness miraculously. As a thanks giving, the emperor gave them the land. The royal decree (Farman) in Persian about the grant of 200 Bighas of land to Bibi Wadi is  preserved at  Bihar State Archives Department. It was on this land the Great Grandfather of Deewan Nasir Ali Syed Ghulam Mohammad founded the village Kujhwa as per the documentary records available and research carried out by historians.

By the time of Deewan Nasir Ali’s birth, the village had become a center of religious teachings and splendid Muharram ceremonies. He received his education at Kujhwa and then moved to the court of Asaf Ud Daula to be appointed as Deewan. He was a contemporary of Mughal Emperor Shah Alam Sani. He was great lover of books and rare manuscripts and kept his collection at Kujhwa for the benefit of scholars who used to throng there in large number in pursuit of their research work. Deewan had properties running into several lacs and among them was and annual waqf of Rupees Eighteen Thousand. This money was lavishly spent on performance of azadari min Kujhwa, Lucknow and Kanpur. Apart from Azadari, the most dearest to him was his library. In his will to his descendants, he specifically asks them to take due care of his books. His library had manuscripts obtained from the various parts of the country and imperial libraries. Some books from his rare collection were displayed in the public exhibition of historical books held in Patna. His library figures in a comprehensive catalogue of the books published by government of India in 1930.Among the noteworthy manuscripts of his library included works like Deewan-E-Humayun, Dilkusha, Masir-Ul-Iqbal and Mirat-ul-Asrar. It is recorded that the library was existing at Kujhwa in 1930 but its condition was dilapidated. There is no trace of his library now in Kujhwa and some of the precious books have been donated to Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library, Patna by his relatives.( Reference available on request).