Imambara Hadi Begum and Its Miraculous Reconstruction

Anjuman Moinul Momneen that Performs Nauhakhwani at Imambara Hadi Begum, Kanpur.


Dr. Mazhar Naqvi

A young entrepreneur has done in Kanpur what entire Imami community of Kanpur could not do in six decades. He took up the task of renovation and expansion of Imambara Hadi Begum upon himself after assuming the caretaker ship of the most popular Azakhana. So passionate he became with the task that he suspended all his business activities and dedicated himself to the cause so as to ensure expansion of Imambara before the sighting of Muharram crescent. Masoomeen also blessed his sincerity with success and the first Majlis –E-Aza of Ashra-E-Muharram will take place today Insha Allah in the r3enovated and expanded Imambara Insha Allah. May Allah give Jaza-E-Khair to young caretaker Kalbe Abbas Shahab in the ‘Sadqa’ of Prophet Muhammad and his progeny (Aal)?

The task of Shahab was not easy at all. He had taken over the charge from those who have been least attentive and mute spectator to the gradual deterioration of Imambara .Thiers apathetic attitude could also be gauged from the fact that they failed to even honor the last wish of Hadi Begum Sahiba. She was a great azadari and a devout Muslim lady. She created a wakf of her properties in Hata Gammu Khan and Chotey Miyan in Colonelganj locality of Kanpur in late 50s.The wakf owns as many as 700 houses in a locality where the cost of land exceeds Rs. 1 lakh per yard. Obviously, the wakf can be considered as one of the richest in Uttar Pradesh province of India at least. After her death, she wanted to be buried in Karbala-e-Moella .The caretakers failed to do so and caretakers continued to come up with one excuse or the other whenever their attention was drawn towards the last wish of Hadi Begum Sahiba. Finally, she was laid to rest in her own Imambara after awaiting burial for more than two decades.

Another blow was inflicted to her deported soul by caretakers who turned blind eye to collapse of a portion that was used to accommodate women willing to attend Majalis. Further, they also did not undertake any repair when the main Hall of Imambara developed cracks in the ceiling and its courtyard also demanded immediate attention. Mourners had to attend Chehlum of Imam Hussain, one of the most awaited and popular part of Marasim-E-Azadari in Kanpur, without any provision for water. This all happened when there was no dearth of resources and flow of income remained uninterrupted to the Wakf.

Under these circumstances, there was change in the guard. The wakf board appointed Kalbe Abbas as the new Mutwalli (Caretaker).He took the appointment as a divine command and vowed to renovate and expand Imambara from the funds of Imambara itself. He negotiated with the tenants and urged them to increase the rent and if possible also dole out their rent in advance for the purpose of reconstruction of Imambara. Though most of tenants don’t profess Imami faith but they welcomed the move with open hands and encouraged Kalbe Abbas to go ahead. As a result, Imambara got renovated and expanded in a record time with the active assistance offered to young Mutwalli from eminent persons like Mirza Nadir Hussain. While talking to the blogger, Kalbe Abbas also revealed his future plans. He said “only beginning has been made. I wish to develop Imambara as a model that can be replicated elsewhere. I could accomplish a part of my mission before the arrival of Muharram with the blessings of Maula only and their continued patronage would surely enable me to fulfill all the desires of Wakif(One who creates trust) Hadi Begum Sahiba who had donated her lands worth millions of rupees to propagate and preserve Azadari “.

The story of expansion and reconstruction of Imambara has proved once again that Masoomeen take their work only from the chosen ones and not from those who pretend to be Azadars but their deeds indicate otherwise. The reconstruction of Imambara is indeed a miraculous one. Kalbe Abbas has done it against heavy odds.He braved opposition from  his predecessors and mafia-type tenants who did not want to increase rent even by one rupee.He alkso faced those who are paying rs.100 as rent but themselves realizing lakhs of rupees as Pagri and thousands of rupees per month as rent from the apartments built on Wakf land.Kalbe Hasan remained unflinched, drawing inspiration from the words of Imam Hussain "Don't fear anyone if you are on the right path.Victory will be ultimately yours"