Bibi Ka Alam on 'Rajni' in Hyderabad

Rajni Carrying 'Bibi Ka Alam' on Yaum-e-Ashura in Hyderabad

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Rajni is surely the most respected She-Elephant of the world. Her each and every appearance makes headlines. She was in the news after she suffered injuries while carrying the sacred ‘Bibi Ka Alam’ on 10^th Muharram (October 24, 2015) in Hyderabad Deccan. It is her association with the sacred Alam procession that has earned her tremendous respect from people from all walks of life not only in Hyderabad but throughout Azadar world. An inmate of Nehru Zoological Park, 47-year-old Rajni sustained injuries when mourners resorted to self-flagellation and recited verses loudly.She tried to move away from them and in doing so shackles on her legs dug into her skin.Yet she remained under the control of her ‘Mahout’ and successfully completed 5 km route of the procession. Her injuries also didn’t go unnoticed. Mourners and authorities arranged Rajni’s treatment quickly that enabled her to maintain her calm. Rajni is indeed a worthy daughter of a worthy mother. She has inherited from her mother ‘Haideri’ the legacy of carrying out Bibi Ka Alam and remained the main attraction of the procession for long.

As lakh of devotees converge at Bibi Ka Alawa in Dabeerpura locality of old Hyderabad to have a glimpse of the sacred Alam, authorities take all precaution. Though Rajni has been carrying Alam for several years, yet they arrange rehearsal of the event every year so she elephant does not get panicky upon finding herself amidst huge crowd and thunderous flagellation by over 40 Matami Anjumans. The procession attracts mammoth crowd as Bibi Ka Alam is believed to be made of a piece of the wooden plank on which Bibi Fatima was given her final ablution by her husband before burial. The relic is said to have reached Golconda all the way from Karbala  during the reign of Golconda King Abdullah Qutub Shah. The ‘Alam’ also contains six diamonds and other jewels donated by the last Nizam and builder of Azakhana-E-Zohra Mir Osman Ali Khan.He held the Alam in such a high esteem that he used to walk barefoot behind it in his lifetime 

          

Though it is dedicated to Bibi Fatima, daughter of Prophet Muhammad, wife of first Imam Hazrat Ali and mother of Imam Husain, the Alam is being taken out for over 400 years on the last day of the first 10- day phase of Muharram mourning in Hyderabad. It is considered to be the grandest procession of its kind throughout Indian sub-continent. Since Alam is associated with pious lady Bibi Fatima, male elephant was never used to carry out. It is carried out by a She-elephant and Rajni is its current carrier. Apart from her mother Haideri, the Alam was also carried by another She-elephant Hashmi. Rajni was well-trained for the occasion before being entrusted with the responsibility of carrying on Bibi Ka Alam. The way she maintains her calm and composure despite subjected to unprecedented crowd and high voltage chanting of “Ibn-e-Zahra”, the role of her training becomes evident.(Reference available on request. Photo Courtesy-Google image).
For more history of the sacred Alam,Please see an exclusive article posted earlier under the caption-Bibi Ka Alam