Muslim Imam's Hindu Sozkhwan

Sozkhwan Devendra Hussaini in Front of an Imambara.

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi   

He is not a Hussaini Brahmin. Nor Tazias or Alams were ever kept at his house. Yet he did not celebrate Deewali-2015.He skipped the most important festival of Hindus deliberately as a respect to Ayam-e-Aza-Two months and eight days long mourning for Karbala martyrs and survivors. His name is Devendra Kumar and one has to be in Sandila –a town of Hardoi district of Uttar Pradesh (India) to witness his exemplary devotion to Imam Hussain during Mausam-e-Aza. With the sighting of Muharram moon, a pall of gloom engulfs him. He stops working as a tailor to become a full-time Sozkhwan and performs at scores of majalis during the first 10- day phase of mourning called ’Ashra-e-Muharram’. He remains active as a Sozkhwan even after Teeja (12^th day) of Imam and finishes his mourning like Imamis on 8^th Rabi –ul-Awwal.

He developed a taste for sozkhwani from his early childhood. He used to attend majalis and rendering of Soz always brought tears to his eyes. People of Sandila who have been observing Muharram with active participation of Sunnis and Hindus for centuries encouraged him to learn Sozkhwani and perform at majalis. Devendra began learning the art of Sozkhwani from renowned Sozkhwan of Sandila Janab Abrar Hussain Sahib about four decades ago. He proved to be a dedicated, disciplined and keen learner. Abrar Sahib who is now a nonagenarian, harnessed potential of Devendra to the extent that he is emerging as his worthy successor. Devendra remains in great demand for Sozkhwani and he pays tributes to martyrs of Karbala without expectation of any reward or recognition. He simply seeks blessings of Imam in return and loves to be called as Devendra Hussaini.

No one can guess his religion the way he renders classic Soz in chaste Urdu with correct pronunciation in his emotional voice :

“Roya Kiya Jo Pays Se Asghar Tamam Raat,

Tha Khaime Hussain Mein Mahshar Tamam Raat 

Maqtal Ki SarZameen Pe Banate Rahe Hussain

Islam Ki Hayat Ka Naqsha Tamam Raat”

Devendra also renders an equally famous Soz with same eloquence with wordings like “Na Samho Mujrai Majlis Mein Hum Do Char Baithe Hain…..”.

A simple man in his 50s but great devotee of Imam, Devendra is also not aware that he is probably the only Hindu who preferred to refrain himself from Deewali celebrations or he is carrier of a legacy that has been discontinued by and large in post-independent India. A large number of Sunnis and Hindus used to participate in Muharram in India sub-continent. But British strategy to ‘divide and rule’ succeeded in reducing the number of non-Muslims in mourning assemblies and processions. They encouraged Hindu leaders to tell their community not to participate in Muharram rituals or else they would be faithless. Sunnis too were likewise discouraged from attending Muharram ceremonies or even looking at Tazias. With fanatics still engaged in opposing Muharram ceremonies through fabricated interpretation of Holy Quran and Hadees, people like Devendra deserves salutations from all those who believe in humanity. He may not be well-educated but surely enlightened and better than those who use their religious knowledge to shatter the secular fabric of the society.( Reference available on request) .