Dr.Mazhar Naqvi
Indian Imamis suffered two great losses a couple of days before the
commencement of Muharram-2018.One of them was Janab Anees Sandeelavi- a great
marsiya reciter and Shair-e-Ahlebait. The other, Naiyyer Sirsavi, was also an
eminent Shair-E-Ahlebait. Both of them died of protracted illness after serving
Masoomeen Alaihssalam till health permitted them. May Allah bless them among
his chosen ones. The real name of Anees was Ghazanfar Irshad Naqvi and he was a
close friend of blogger’s father. He stayed in Kanpur for a long time and
settled in Lucknow after retiring from UPICA-a government of Uttar Pradesh
Enterprise. He occupied a very senior position in UPICA in view of his
marketing skills. Under him, UPICA emerged as an admired brand of clothes
manufactured by Cooperative Societies. During his prolonged stay in Kanpur, he took
active part in Ayam-E-Aza despite his preoccupation with marketing related activities.
Anees always took off time for reciting marsiya at majalis and earned lot of
fame in view of his style. After retirement, he continued to recite marsiya and
became a household name besides earning international acclamation. He has to
his credit of appearing on famous program of an Urdu channel titled
Sada-E-Karbala on several occasions. Anees was invited to recite marsiya almost
all the prominent Imambaras or Ashurkhanas of India. Hence, While he preferred
to render marsiya of Mir Anees only, he wrote Nauhas and Salams also and tried
his hands even with writing marsiya also. He was poet of several Anjumans as
well. His departure left the Imami community saddened.
Naiyyer Sirsavi also was a well-known poet. He too earned fame across
the globe. He belonged to Sirsi –a village of Saadat near Moradabad. His death
also left Imamis in a state of shock. Entire western Uttar Pradesh felt the vacuum
created by his death, for appearance of Naiyyer was considered to be a must in
old Imambaras located in Amroha, Sirsi, Sambhal, Nagli Saddat, Moradabad and
Merut.(References available on request)
