Hussaini Poetry by Hindus,Sikhs and Christians

 Janab Irfan Turabi

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Irfan Turabi is neither a historian nor a scholar of Islamic studies. But his passion to collect elegiac poetry of non-Muslim poets has established him as an authority on their contribution to literature related to Prophet Muhammad and martyrs of Karbala. In a short span of time, Turabi has not only compiled12 books containing the poetry in praise of Prophet and his holy family by non-Muslims. In his endeavor, he has also immortalized scores of Hindu and Sikh poets whose work & love for Prophet, his progeny and martyrs of Karbala was hitherto unknown. Born in Parhaspora village of Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir state, he received his primary education at Gund-Ikhali. Turabi did his matriculation from Government High School in Khan Paeth, followed by graduation in Arts from Sri Nagar’s Gandhi College. Elegiac poetry I.e. Marsiyas, Soz and Nauhas fascinated him from childhood, for his ancestors were known ‘marsiyakhwans’ of Kashmir valley. His father was also a well-known marsiyakhwan with a small but honorable business. Turabi too engaged himself with business of carpet but continued to read books on the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain at Karbala. His interest also grew in elegiac poetry. He decided to unearth the literary work of Hindu and Sikh poets on Prophet and Karbala when his father confined himself to the four walls of his house and stopped marsiyakhwani in the wake of mounting sectarian clashes in the valley.

Instead of succeeding his father as marsiyakhwan to continue the family legacy, Turabi chose to trace many non- Muslim poets who had written quite a lot not only about Karbala but also in praise of Prophet and his family. His decision was based upon the realization that    such poets had not been able to get their work published due to variety of reasons and their compositions were confined to note- books. Turabi also realized the harsh reality while tracing such works that the family members of such poets were also least bothered in their publication or preservation. His obsession enabled him to lay hands on the works of  12 Sikh poets on Karbala  namely Puran Singh Hunar; Satnam Singh Khumar, Sarder Panchi, Kanwar Mohinder Singh Bedi Sehar,Balwant Singh Faiz, Joginder Singh Pandhi, Shamsher Singh Sher,Nirmal Singh Raipuri, Harminder Singh Harji,Gurbaksh Singh Makhnoor and the lady poet Buwa Ditti. He also r collected the elegiac poetry of a renowned Hindu poet Yoginder Paul Sabir who was born in  Farrukhabad on July 14, 1925 and died in 1997 after retiring as Professor of English at a degree college of Shikohabad.Imamia Mission Lucknow had  printed his marsiys in a booklet titled “Gam-e-Mualla” in 1967.But Turabi traced his mlore compositions and published a book containing Sabir’s six marsiyas, two Salams and few Qataat of very high literary quality. His first book highlighted the poetic compositions of four eminent poets of a Hindu family. It starts with the mention of  Munshi Mahadev Aasi Lucknavi and ends with  Dr. Dramneder Naath. It also describes the  three sons of Aasi - Gopi Nath Amn, Gursaran Lal Adeeb and Harsaran Lal Janoon. All had left behind  many “Naats, Manqabats and Salams”.Turabi has also written books on the elegiac ‘kalam’ of Makhmoor Lakhnavi and Mathur Lakhnavi. In another book, he has covered and  had paid tributes to Kashmiri Pandits like Pitamber Nath Dhar Fani Kashmiri, Prem Nath Shad, Dina Nath Nadim, Mohan Lal Aasi and several others for writing poems on the tragedy of Karbala. Similarly, he has mentioned details and elegiac compositions of many a Sikh poets in another Book. His collection also includes the elegiac poetry of three Christians poets namely, Majboor Jalandari; P.E Nazeer Sehrai and Kateel Aziz. Turabi is carrying on his mission with zeal and enthusiasm to explore poetry on Karbala  by  non-Muslims poets. He feels that the forces working against Muharram rituals can only be defeated by constantly reminding people that he had sacrificed himself not for Islam only but for the entire humanity and hence, he deserves respects from followers of all faiths. May Allah bless Turabi with strength and resources to keep Hussaini flag fluttering till the day of judgment.(Inputs for ther areticle has been taken on the material available on Janab Irfan Turabi on web to highlight his great effort.)