Hussain Sagar -Hyderabad(India)
Dr.Mazhar
Naqvi
The Telangana government's ambitious plan of
emptying, de-silting and refilling Hussain Sagar Lake with fresh water in
Hyderabad is a praiseworthy tribute to a Hussaini Syed. The lake was built by a revered Sufi of Chishtia Order Hazrat Hussain
Shah Wali in1562, during the rule of Qutb Shahi King Ibrahim Quli. It
covers a total area of 5.7 square kilometers.
Shah Wali was a revered Sufi of
Golconda. His
patronymic name was Abdullah and title Nasir Uddin. But he is famous as Hussain
aka Hussain Shah Wali due to his sheer devotion and love for Imam Hussain. He
belonged to a Sadaat family tracing its lineage to Imam Hussain and through
some connection was also linked with Khwaja Banda Nawaz Gesudaraz whose ardent love for Ahle-Bait is well-known like the Chief
patron saint of the Chishti order in Indian sub-continent Khwaja Moin Uddin
Chishti Ajmeri. Shah Wali’s ancestors were caretaker of Banda Nawaz’s shrine in
Gulbarga.
Being brought up in
the surroundings of holy shrine of Banda Nawaz, he developed leanings towards
Sufism from an early age. His name and fame as a saint with miraculous power
spread quickly. Initially, he resisted the temptation of being a part of
worldly affairs and even discouraged people to visit him. But destiny brought him
to Golconda. Even though he was not Imami by faith, Shah Hussain received a
warm welcome upon his arrival at Golconda. The Imami king Ibrahim Qutb Shah
sent his ministers and senior officials to bring Shah Wali to his court with
great honor. The knowledge, conduct and behavior of Shah Wali impressed the
king to the extent that he offered him in the very first meeting a mansab of ‘Das Hazari’
(Commander of 10,000 troops).Ibrahim
Quli also appointed him the post of royal construction works. Later on, Ibrahim
Quli accepted him as his son in law and married his daughter Khairat Unnisa
Begum with him.
Despite
bestowed with royal honors and vast estates, Shah Wali always took care of
needy and began construction of Hussain Sagar as a permanent solution to the
water problem of the area. He arranged the permanent feeding of the Sagar from river
Musi. The ruling Sultan wanted to name the lake under construction after his
name but people preferred to call it as Hussain Sagar. Ibrahim Quli Shah then
constructed another Sagar in another area and christened it after his name as a
mark of respect to sentiments of people to associate the newly built Sagar with
the name of Hussain. Since then, Hussain Sagar has been an integral part of
Hyderabad and its residents.
After
offering fresh and clean water to people for centuries, Hussain Sagar also became
victim of industrialization and urbanization. Successive governments overlooked
its deterioration and it is estimated that Hussain Sagar has about 45 lakh cubic meters
of silt now. Its full tank level is 513.14 feet, against which 512 feet water
is only available.
Hence, it is indeed a welcome move of Telangana
government to restore Hussain Sagar to its original form. The step deserves to
be treated as a befitting tribute to a Hussaini who lies buried in a shrine
built by Abdullah Qutb Shah. His Dargah rises to a height of 50
feet with a square structure built in Arabic style of architecture. Its dome is
round and people from all faiths and walks of life visit his shrine for
fulfillment of vows and to pay their respect to the Shah Wali. A poet composed a couplet in Persian that
reveals the year of his Purdah (death).The couplet reads:
‘Rafaft
Az Duniya Hussain Pak Deen.’ = 1068 A.H.(Hussain Left the word and who has pure religion.)
Dargah Hussain Shah Wali-Hyderabad(References available on request)
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