'Martyr without Martyrdom'

Grave of Marsiya Writer -Chunnu Lal Dilgeer Lucknowi
Photo Courtesy : :Lucknow Observer
Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

People from all faiths revere a ‘Terhi Qabr’ (Tilted Qabr) near famous ‘Chiriya Bazar( Birds’ Market) in ‘Nakhas’ area of Lucknow as a shrine of ‘Shaheed Mard’(Martyr). Who floated the theory of ‘Tehri Qabr’ as that of a martyr is not known but there is no doubt that one of the greatest marsiya writers and devotee of Imam Husain lies buried in the grave. His name was Jhunnu Lal( Mentioned also as Chunnu Lal in the accounts of certain historians)  and he composed his marsiyas with ‘Takhallus’ (pen name) ‘Dilgeer’. Some people addresses him as Channu Lal also.  He was brother of Raja Jhau Lal who was deputy chief Minister during the regime of Nawab Asaf Ud Daula.

Raja Jhau Lal was not only a close aide of Nawab Asaf Ud Daula but also had genuine affection for the martyrs of Karbala. He also built an Imambara in Thakurganj locality and still in use. It is a simple structure but impressive in spirit of its builder. Had Raja Jhau Lal built only to please his master, there would not have been any impact of his endeavor on his brother. Inspired by his brother’s affection towards Ahle- Bait, Jhunnu Lal studied the tragic narratives of Karbala in detail and he was so captivated by the sublime sacrifice of Imam Husain and his small band of determined and brave followers that he embraced Imamia faith.

As usually happens in the case of men with poetic talents, Jhunnu Lal also began as a romantic poet and concentrated on Ghazals, Masnavi and vasokht. But once he started praising the prophet and his progeny , he gave up writing ghazals or other forms of romantic poetry completely .Not only this, he destroyed all his earlier compositions by throwing them into Moti Jheel and dedicated himself to marsiya and salam writing.

History records that he was one of the most favorite disciple of one of the most celebrated poets of Urdu’ Nasikh’ and contemporary of Mir Khaliq and Mirza Fasih. Another version says that Mirza Khani Nawazish was his first Ustad and Nasikh replaced him at a later stage. Poet Mushafi has praised his poetry but stated that ‘Tarab’ was his takhallus. He did not recite marsiyas himself due to speech defect but his compositions were quite popular during the regime of King Muhammad Ali Shah and were recited in Majlises. The researchers are of the view that he used Tarab as takhallus so long as he composed Ghazals but once he started composing poetry in praise of Ahle-bait-E-Athar, he always used Dilgeer as pen name.

His reputation as a marsiya writer soared so high that a large number of people used to believe that he was Ustad of one of the greatest Marsiyago Mirza Dabeer. At the time of his death, the entire Lucknow was engulfed in the rumor that the Ustad of Mirza Dabeer had breathed his last. Mirza Dabeer however did not brush aside the rumor and just remarked “It indeed would have been a great honor for me, had Dilgeer been my Ustad.”      

The words of Mirza Dabeer are a pointer to the capability of Dilgeer to produce high quality marsiyas and salams in praise of martyrs of Karbala. As Dabeer is rated at par with Mir Anis and even superior to the latter by a large number of people even today, Dilgeer would have not earned a false praise from him. Similarly a poet of Dabeer’s stature could have not uttered anything in a lighter mode for a great Azadar like Dilgeer.

Historical accounts reveal that Dilgeer was born in 1780 and died in 1848. He was alive during the reign of Nawab Saadat Ali Khan. He also witnessed the coronation of Badshah Ghazi Uddin Haider. In ‘Shahan-E-Awadh –Haqeeqat ke Aine Mein’, (Rulers of Awadh in the Mirror of Reality)Dilgeer has been praised by its writer Akbar Haideri for constructing an imposing imambara during the period of Ghazi Uddin Haider. The author has also appreciated Dilgeer for placing a Good looking Tazia. Haideri has also reproduced in his work five lines composed by Dilgeer about his conversion to Imamia faith during the rule of Ghazi Uddin Haider to whom the poet had addressed as ‘Shah-e-Zaman’.       The most prominent composition of Dilgeer is ‘Ghabraegi Zainab- Ghabraegi Zainab- Bhaiya ko Madine mein Kahan payegi Zainab’. This famous dirge is recited all over the world  after almost every  Shaam-e Ghareeban Majlis.His composition titled  ‘Majmua Marasi Mirza Dilgeer’, was printed by Munshi Nawal Kishore Press, Lucknow. His creative best is also reflected when he says “  

“Akbar Hai Na Qasim Hai Na Abbas-e Dilawar,
Yeh Meri Rihaee To Hai Ab Qaid Se Badtar”

( This release is worst then prison without Akbar, Qasim and Abbas)

The contemporary accounts shed no light as to what extent Dilgeer enjoyed royal patronage? What was his source of Income or how he spent his last days? One gets mention of Nawab Mohammad Ali Shah honoring him with four hundred rupees for a Masnavi written in praise of Husainabad.

While no trace or exact location of his imambara is available details of his house and grave is known. Historian Agha Mehndi has mentioned the location of his house In Kanghi wali Gali that is untraceable now. It is however believed that he resided near the  Tiraha merging with Victoria Street near Nakhas. His house was in ruins when Agha Mehndi saw it but his grave was intact and called as Terhi Qabr by the locals.

It is still popular with the same name but even those who light candles and keep it clean don’t anything about Dilgeer. They even don’t know about his compositions or what status he enjoyed during the Nawabi era. To them he is a saint who was martyred with divine powers to fulfill their wishes .None of the societies or Anjumans has so far bothered to place even a display board at his Qabr ,containing brief life history and his literary contribution to lamentation poetry that has kept alive Karbala for more than 13 centuries.

Since it has happened in Lucknow, a city known for its azadari throughout the world, the apathy of those promoting and preserving the Muharram rituals in an active manner even today appears to be tragic and calls for immediate attention. They can organize a Mehfil or seminar on annual basis in the memory of Dilgeer who had isolated himself from worldly affairs and left his own faith to become an Azadar considering the message of Imam Husain as a true path to tread upon to attain salvation. The Mazloom Imam also blessed him with the title of martyr (Shaheed Mard) even though he had a natural death. His reverence only proves once again that Masoomeen never owe anything to anyone and always bless him with more than what their devotees offer them out of love or affection.