Persecuted Marsiya Writer- Zakir

An Imambargah of Baltistan from Where Grandfather of Zakir was Banished to Live in Exile.  

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Muhammad Ali Khan Zakir is another ‘Shair (Poet)-e-Ahlebait’ whose contribution to Balti literature dedicated to martyrs of Karbala remains forgotten. His name is still a household name in Baltistan in view of the recital of his Qaseedas and Marsiyas during Muharram every year. But beyond his homeland, he is a stranger to Azadar world as his work has not been translated in English as has been done in the case of Mir Anees. Zakir has suffered like his illustrious uncle Hussain Ali Shah Muhib- called as Mir Anees of Baltistan for not only producing high quality marsiyas but also furthering the cause of Hussaini Mission during a hostile Dogra regime. Muhib had turned his attention to elegiac poetry after dethronement of his father and last independent ruler of Baltistan Ahmad Shah by Dogras. After his deportation to Taral region near Jammu, Ahmad Shah started living with his three sons namely; Lutf Ali Khan Aashiq, Malik Haider Mukhlis and Hussain Ali Khan Muhib under one roof. Though all the sons of deposed king were men of letters, Muhib took keen interest in marsiya writing and also taught and trained his nephew Muhammad Ali Zakir, son of Mukhlis. The guidance of Muhib eventually led to the rise of Zakir as a classical Balti poet with equal proficiency in Urdu, Persian and Arabic languages.

He was born in Taral in 1880. Muhib realized poetic talents of his nephew early and offered him extensive training and environment to harness his potential. He taught Zakir how to write Balti form of Marsiya till his death in1895. Marsiya in Balti is written in the form of Salam in Urdu and focuses upon the philosophy of master of martyrs of Imam Hussain. Zakir carried the mission started by his uncle and continued it till his last breath in 1949.He wrote marsiyas like Muhib but the critics are of the view that his Qaseedas are better composed. It is not known as to how many Marsiyas, Qaseedas and Nauhas he produced in his life time and how they reached Baltistan as Dogras never allowed him to visit his homeland. However, a website dedicated to Azadari in Baltistan claims that Zakir composed 23 marsiyas, 5 manqabats and 9 Nauhas. The site also puts the year of his birth as 1879.The blogger is producing below a hymn by Zakir in praise of Hazrat Imam Hasan and Hazrat Imam Hussain in Balti language:                

“Le Aqil Su Mulika Khudai Hujjatain In
Le Mig Su Dunyading Nu Nabi Noor Duain In
Le Sning Su Dilo Jan Shahe Badro Hunain In
Haqa Hasnain, In Hasnain, In Hasanain, In”

Translation:

“O, power of thinking
Who in the land of humans
Are the portents of God?
O, eye
Who in the land of humans
Are the light of the prophet’s two eyes
O, heart, tell
Who the heart and soul of
The conqueror of Badro Hunaian
Verily, it is Hasnain, Hasnain it is”

The hymn is rightly considered as a master piece of Balti poetry and also an indicator of the great love and affection Zakir had for martyrs of Karbala.(References available on request)