'Ramaji' Ka Imambara

Ramaji Ka Imambara in Banda

A View of Muharram Procession in Banda

By Dr. Mazhar Naqvi

It is a well known fact that Masoomeen don’t take obligations. Anyone who contributes to their mission in any form gets in return their blessings beyond expectations. The christenings of Imambaras only confirm the popular belief. Imambaras are defined as enclosure of Imam and they are erected and dedicated to the memory of martyrs of Karbala. But they are named after their builders i.e. Asafi Imambara, Imambara Hadi Begum, Imambara Nazim Saheb or Imambargah Aghameer or Ramaji Ka Imambara.    

Of the Imambaras mentioned above, Ramaji Ka Azakhana in Banda City of Uttar Pradesh (India) deserves a special mention, for it is being looked after by a non-Muslim family for over two centuries. Despite emergence of communal forces in post- Independence India, nothing has deterred the family of Vasant Rao to commemorate Muharram with same fervor and sanctity with which his ancestor Ramaji rao had started it in the middle of 18^th century.  

Ramaji Rao, a Maharashtrian Hindu, was in the service of Peshva's forces. He was a great devotee of Imam Hussain and is reported to have built an Imambara in his memory in 1750.Famous as  "Ramaji ka Imambara", the place is an example of communal amity, for even after 264 years, the tradition of Muharram mourning still continues in the traditional way .Even the  structure of the Imambara has been maintained and retained as it was during the days of Ramaji Rao. The Imambara has two enclosures known as Choti Kothri (Small room) and Bari Kothri (Large room).Both still retain the original design. The only change has been the use of fresh colors on the paintings on the walls of twin rooms with the objective of preserving them. Adjacent to Imambara, is a temple that is also used by Rao family for prayers. The temple entrance has a green curtain, the color that  symbolizes Islam besides highlighting religious harmony that exists within  Rao family. The family begin its day with the prayers at the temple and then they discharge their duties at the Imambara. Be it reciting Fatiha or   making an offering, Rao family performs all the azadari  rituals themselves.

The family Head Vasant Rao is proud to be a caretaker of Imambara. He says  "This tradition was introduced in Banda by my  ancestor Ramaji Rao over 250 years ago.. Since then, my family has been taking care of all duties related to Imambara. We pray here. We are Hindus as well as Imamis. We celebrate Hindu festivals and offer all customary prayers during Navratras but we also worship Imam Hussain like his Muslim admirers.”The devotion of a Hindu family to Muharram rituals and its association with Imambara has earned Raos a national level fame and people from across the country and belonging to other faiths converge here in large number during the first ten days of the mourning.

Both Muslims and Non- Muslims of Banda consider Rao family as a blessed one. They are of the view that Imam Hussain has bestowed honor on them by entitling them to perform rituals at Ramaji Imambara.”Their involvement makes no difference to any community. Rather, Imambara adds to the grandeur and uniqueness of Muharram in entire Bundelkhand region. Its existence only confirms that Imam has a universal appeal and his name is above the barriers of caste, creed and religion. He sacrificed himself for humanity and hence everyone loves him.

According to locals, devotees from Varanasi, Jhansi and Bithoor-three important pockets of Maharashtrians in Uttar Pradesh, also arrive for fulfillment of their wishes at the time of Muharram. The existence of an Imambara in a Hindu family in Banda is significant from the point of view of scant Muslim population in the seven districts of Bundelkhand. Except for Jhansi, there are no old imambaras in any other city. Only in Charkhari town near Mahoba, there are two old imambaras belonging to the Imami officers of the ex-king of the state.( References Available on Request)