A Recent Photo of Shahid Hussain Phuppa
Dr.Mazhar Naqvi
In
the death of Shahid Hussain, Imamis have not only lost a great azadar but also
a man who excelled in the difficult art of devising tunes for ‘Nauhas’. His absence was
felt by one and all when Anjuman-Raza-e-Islam recited Nauhas during the
observance of Chehlum at Gwaltoli Karbala in Kanpur. Members of Raza-e-Islam missed
him badly following his pivotal role in making Anjuman as a favourite of Azadars
in the past two decades. Fondly called as ‘Phuppa’ by elderly and children alike
in view of his compatibility with the people of all age groups, Shahid Sahib
had breathed his last on November 4 after remaining in Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
of a prominent hospital for over a month. He was rushed to the hospital after
he was found lying in an unconscious state at his residence on 4th
of Muharram.
Born
on March 20,1940 in Haidergarh town of
district Barabanki as eldest son of Marhoom Sadiq Hussain and Marhooma Muneer
Begum Jafri, Shahid Sahib spent his childhood with his maternal grandfather Late
Tajammul Hussain who owned considerable property in Musahaibganj area of Lucknow.
He shifted to Kanpur when his father opened a tailoring shop in Souterganj area.
Being a man of creativity, he not only helped his father at the shop but also
joined Anjuman Jafaria of Gwaltoli as its active member. Despite passing only
matriculation, he earned a job in Ordnance Parachute Factory (OPF) of Government
of India due to his creativity. After getting married to Mohtarma Nazneen Begum,
he lived in a rented house near Gwaltoli but shifted permanently to Nawab Sahib
Ka Hata in Patkapur. His commitment to duty fetched him national awards from Ministry
of Defence.
Shahid
Sahib struck a fine balance between his job and interests. He was an excellent kite
flier and designer.In the company of another kite maker Imamuddin alias Miyan ,
he had designed a kite in the shape of a full grown man. Hundreds of people thronged
to see the kite when it was seen flying in the sky. The city had remained buzzed
with the description of manlike kite for several weeks.
Like
a true azadar, he used to leave his all other interests and time pass
activities a few days before the sighting of Muharram crescent. He used to
prepare Zari, Alams, Jhula and Patkas for his Azakhana himself. From Chaandraat
onwards, he used to dedicate himself to Nauhakhwani. He recited Nauhas along
with stalwarts of Anjuman-e-Rizviya like
Arif Hussain Abbu Sahib, Anwar Sajjad Sahib, Salmi Sahib, Qasim Hussain Sahib ,
Acche Bhai, Askari Sahib , Sajid Bhai, Akhtar Bhaiya, Laddan Chaudhary Sahib. He
left Rizviya when Raza-e-Islam came into existence in 1992.Shahid Phuppa made
an extra-ordinary effort to establish new Anjuman along with others. He skipped
work to concentrate on tuning Nauhas for prominent processions and Shabbedaris.
His efforts yielded positive result as Raza-e-Islam shot into fame in the year
of its inception only. Tunes of Nauhas set by Phuppa like “Ham Dile Fatima Zahra
ki Tamanna Ban Kar, Cha Gaye Sare Zamane Mein Ujala Bankar” –“ Dil Ko Gham-e- Hussain
Ka Jada Bana diya “ brought acclamation to newly formed Anjuman from various quarters
of azadar world.
After
Ashura, he used to immerse himself in devising tunes for Nauhas received by anjuman
for historic Tarahi Shabbedaris, Chehlum and 8th Rabi Ul Awwal
processions. He encouraged his younger son Sharad Sahib to recite Nauhas and now he also acts as Sahab-e-Bayaz
under the watchful eyes of his senior Janab Salmi Sahib. His daughter Mrs. Sona
is also a famous for her Nauhakhwani. His
eldest son Janab Romin runs his own
institute and a famed artist. Phuppa’s wife too has spent her life in
preservation and promotion of Azadari with the active support of her daughters Honey
and Huma. His youngest son Kumail also takes keen interest in the affairs of Anjuman. Due to exemplary love and affection
of Phuppa and his entire family for martyrs of Karbala, his death left the
entire Imami community bereaved. Hundreds of people turned up to attend his
funeral at Nawabganj Badi Karbala.
With
Ayam-E-Aza still going on, Phuppa is being missed by those acquainted with
finer points of Nauhakhwani. Noted Sahab-e-Bayaz Salmi Sahib told the blogger that
Nauha is one of the important branches of Karbala literature. Its proper
rendering instantly touch the heart and head of listeners. The one who sets
tune of Nauha has to keep it in mind that its rhythm does not sound like a song.
The recite has to also keep this distinction while presenting Nauha, for
singing is prohibited in Islam. But Nauhakhwani cannot be rendered flatly as
audience won’t relish it in the absence of emotions. Salmi Sahib who remained
in constant touch with Phuppa after formation of Raza-e- Islam said ‘His death
is an irreparable loss. He knew the intricacies of Nauhakhwani and took great
pain in devising mournful tunes having no resemblance with songs. Phuppa had
even capacity to infuse pathos into the intonations of voice while reciting a Nauha
despite the fact that he mostly assisted Sahib-E-Bayaz of Anjumans as ‘Bazu’. The
void created by his death would take a long time to fill.” The blogger prays
for his ’Maghfirat’ , seeking invocation of Mazlum-E-Karbala and the Awaited
Imam.(The article is based on the personal information of the blogger, inputs
given by his sons. Photo of Marhoom too has been sent by his eldest son Romin Sahib)
.
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