Prithimpassa(Pritim Pasha) Estate's Elephants in Tazia Procession in 1956
Dr.Mazhar
Naqvi
Preservation
of Azadari in a hostile environment is not easy. It requires courage and commitment
of the highest order. Prithimpassa( Pritim Pasha) Nawab family of Bangladesh is worth quoting in
this context. It has braved aftermath of partition, emergence of religious
intolerance and political turmoil to keep intact its glorious tradition of
observing Muharram with royal touch. Imamis rush to Pritim Pasha Nawab Bari in large
number from neighboring places to take part in ’Ashura’. Mourners not only take
out Tazias but also ‘Zuljana’ (Horse of Imam Hussain) with great solemnity. They
also resort to heavy chest beating and self-flagellation amidst the recitation
of ‘Nauhas’ (Lamentation).
Imambara at Pritim Pasha
Muharram used to be observed with great fanfare
and religious fervor during Nawabi and colonial Bengal. Murshidabad, Dhaka,
Kolkata, Jessore and Sylhet were famous for Muharram rituals. People of
different faiths participated in Muharram to pay respect to the martyr of
humanity Hazrat Imam Hussain. Nawab Ali Vardi Khan invited scholars from Iran
to create awareness about Karbala Revolution during his regime. The imposing
and beautiful structures of Imambaras at Murshidabad, Dhaka and Hooghly are indicators
of the scale of devotion and grandeur that accompanied Muharram in Nawabi Bengal.
The advent of East India Company reduced much of Muharram sheen as the British
feared the mass participation of people as a threat to their newly established
empire. Company officials used divisive tactics to discourage participation of
non-Muslims in Muharram. But they failed miserably in their bid as people
continued to be part of Muharram observance with same reverence.
Tazia Procession of Pritim Pasha
The British could deprive Nawabs of their power
and reduce their wealth but could not prevent them from carrying on their Muharram
legacy. The situation remained so till 1947.There was no effect on Muharram
rituals even in East Pakistan. When Bangladesh took birth as independent nation
in 1971, observance of Muharram remained somewhat all people affair. But things
changed when the influence of Awami League waned and religious intolerance
erupted its ugly head. Bangladeshis who went to Arabia to earn Petro-dollars
returned home with the philosophy of Wahabis. From a secular and developing country,
Bangladesh also fell prey to fanatics. Anti-Ahle-bait forces started preaching
against the observance of Muharram. Except Hussaini Dalan in Dhaka, prominent Imambaras
in other cities of Bangladesh became victim of neglect and vagary of weather. The
attack on Muharram procession in Dhaka in October 2015 also revealed the
hostile environment towards Azadari in Bangladesh.
Against such a backdrop, the
observance of Muharram at Pritim Pasha Nawab Bari is miraculous. The erstwhile feudal family of
Pritim Pasha, a small village near Sylhet has not let anything to emerge as a
barrier to observance of Muharram ceremonies. The family descended from the
Royal House of Bengal and developed Pritim Pasha Nawab Bari not only as a beautiful
residential complex but also introduced Muharram rituals to develop it as a
prominent center of Azadari. The family also built an Imambara and an
impressive mosque adjacent to it. Both structures survive in good shape till
today and are visited by tourists. Pritim Pasha Family claims Sakhi Salamat as
its founder who had arrived from Persia in 1499. His son Ismail Khan was
appointed as governor of Orissa by Suleman
Shah with the title of Khanja Khan. (Reference :Based on inputs from 'Prithimpassa Nawab Family' by Ali Hamid Khan , third son of Late Nawab Ali Sarwar Khan.Photos Courtesy- Collection Ali Hamid Khan)
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