Muharram in Shamsabad -A Brief History

Nauhakhwani Being Performed in Shamsabad -(India)

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Shamsabad, a quaint and small town of district Farrukhabad, ranks among one of the oldest centers of azadari. However, how the town named after Sultan Iltutmish of slave dynasty and a stronghold of Pathans traditionally became a popular center of azadari somewhat remains obscure. There has been very little research on the arrival of Imamis in Shamsabad and their contribution to promotion of azadari. As blogger’s grandmother belonged to Shamsabad and used to go to observe Muharram there every year till her health permitted, he took the decision to explore the history of Imamis in Shamsabad. Upon research, it was discovered that Nadir Shah dethroned Rahmatullah Shah Safawi in 1737 in Iran. Rahmatullah arrived in India and the then Mughal Emperor appointed him as Governor of Azeemabad(Modern Patna).He later moved to Delhi and Lucknow and finally settled at Shamsabad. Safawi enjoyed great reputation in the court of Awadh due to his command over Persian language and poetry. In 1827, Nawab Ghazi Uddin Haider’s Prime Minister Fazle Ali Khan married his daughter Jafri Begum to Nawab Saeed Mohammad Ali Khan Safawi alias Nawab Dulha who traced his lineage to Rahmatullah Safawi. Nawab Saeed was also a great scholar of Persian and a diary written by him has been quoted by a number of British historians and authors for references. Though the Muharram ceremonies had started in Shamsabad after the arrival of Rahmatullah Shah but it flourished during the period of Nawab Dulha and Jafri Begum. Prior to it, Taziadari had been performed in the town by Muslims but it became more grandeur after the arrival of Imamis.

Nawab Jafri Begum took keen interest in Ayam –e-Aza. She erected a Karbala with exact replica of Imam Hussain’s original shrine in Iraq in 1867.All the Tazias are buried at this Karbala on Yaum-E-Ashura every year. Apart from Karbala, Shamsabad also has a Bada Imambara. It is believed to have been  erected in 19^th century. All the acclaimed Zakirs are said to have addressed majalis in Bada Imambara. Muharram is observed in Shamsabad with inter-faith understanding and people from all walks of life attend processions. (References available on request. Photo Courtesy-Google Images)