Chehlum Procession and Its Unsung Founder

A View of Largely Attended Chehlum Procession of Lucknow 

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Chehlum of martyrs of Karbala will be observed with great solemnity in Lucknow tomorrow. Tazia processions will also be taken out to mark the occasion. But no one will remember name of the great devotee who had introduced the custom of Tazia procession on the day of Chehlum in Lucknow. He deserves due acknowledgement from azadar world, for he had started the procession against the wish of the ruling Nawab. His name was Mir Ahsan and he was a famous ‘marsiyago’ (poet who compose elegy) during the regime of Nawab Saadat Ali Khan.

Historians have written that Mir Ahsan had built an Imambara in Patanala locality of Lucknow and used to perform Azadari rituals from the early days of Saadat Ali’s regime. Initially, he observed Muharram rituals till 10^th of Muharram but absence of any procession on the day of Chehlum always haunted him. Hence, he decided to take out a tazia procession on Chehlum. His action extended period of Muharram mourning till Chehlum (40^th day of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain and his companions) as other devotees also began taking out Tazias and Alams  on Chehlum in the subsequent years. Nawab who had initially expressed annoyance over the extension refrained from issuing any instruction against the introduction of custom in view of the religious sensitivity involved in the issue.

In due course of time, Chehlum processions began throughout Awadh kingdom. Unfortunately, there is little awareness about Mir Ahsan In Lucknow. The tradition started by him has grown both in popularity and grandeur but he remains forgotten. Even Imambara erected by him is not traceable. From the account of historian, Agha Mehndi, one comes to know only that Imambara of Mir Ahsan was purchased by a renowned Zakir-E-Ahlebait Mirza Muhammad Akhbari. After his death, Mirza was buried inside the Imambara only and his grave was visible till 1958.What happened to the structure later is now a mystery.(References available on request. Photo Courtesy-Google Images).