Shaukat Raza Shaukat @ Salman Book Center-Hyderabad(India)
Dr.Mazhar
Naqvi
Several
book stores have played a significant role in preservation and promotion of
Imami literature in India. By publishing Karbala literature on regular basis,
these stores have not only inculcated the habit of reading religious books but
also encouraged scholars to get their works published. Hyderabad- based Salman
Book Center figures prominently in this context. Established in 1988, it has
become a landmark and a must on the itinerary of NRIs visiting Hyderabad. The
center offers not only religious books but also Cassettes, DVDs and CDs of
majalis held not only in India but also in Pakistan, UAE, USA, Canada and
England. For over a decade, the centre has been bringing out a multi-colored
calendar Titled ‘Salman Calendar’, containing the details of good & bad dates of the Islamic
months, Birth and martyrdom dates of fourteen infallibles.
The
center was started by Janab Aijaz Saheb. He started from selling religious
Banners, Stickers, and headbands with ensigns of Panjatan-e-Pak and the martyrs
of Karbala. It was followed by the sale of books on Karbala. Initial books
mostly contained elegiac poetry on Karbala martyrs. Over the years, the quantum
of religious printed matter has increased and center now offers Holy
Quran, Nahjul Balagha and variety of other books on Imami faith. Its website
also contains literature on Ashurkhanas of Hyderabad with their brief history. Janab
Aijaz was a great lover of Ahle-Bait-e-Athar. He commanded respect not only
from Imamis but from other communities as well. He was a versatile artist and
has to his credit many paintings and works of calligraphy. Aijaz Sahib produced
very attractive and artistic names of
Ahle-Bait.
Janab Aijaz Sahib-Founder of the Center
He
was capable of engraving “Bismillah Ir Rahman Ir Raheem & Nasru Minallahi
Wa Fat’hun Qareeb” on a grain of rice. He presented one such rice to Dr. Zakir
Hussain, the former President of India, during his visit to Hyderabad.
He
opened Salman Book Center opposite to Ibadat Khana-e-Hussaini about 27 years
ago. He kept different artistic ‘Tughras’
and many people acquired them for
display in their homes as a mark of obeisance towards Masoomeen. Aijaz Sahib was
a great fan of Allama Rasheed Turabi .He had large collection of his majalis in
the form of cassettes and printed material. The blogger had the opportunity to
visit the center in 2004.He found it to be a small shop but serving the Imamis coming
from all over the world to procure religious Books, Cassettes, CDs, & Tughras.
The fame of the center could be gauged from the fact that almost all leading
Ulemas and Zakreen-Ahle-Bait of Indian sub-continent has not only visited but
also appreciated its efforts to promote Karbala literature and Marasim-e-Azadari.
They include personalities like Allama
Irfan Haider Abdi, Allama Talib Jauhari, Professor Abdul Hakeem, Maulana Sadiq
Hasan and Maulana Shaukat Raza from Pakistan and their Indian counterparts.
During
visit of the blogger, proprietor of the center attributed the success of the
endeavor to the devotion and dedication of Aijaz Sahib to Masoomeen and said “ Salman book centre has flourished and become a household name for Imami community with the blessings of the holy
prophet and his progeny”.(References available on request-Photo Courtesy Google Images)
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