'Muharram Wale Baba'-His Band & Successors

Usman Bhai-Successor of Muharram Wale Baba 

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Successors of “Muharram Wale Baba” heralded the arrival of Muharram in the down town area of Kanpur City of India yesterday. They urged people to donate generously for observance of Muharram related rituals at Imam Chowk of Badar Ali near Dr. Beri crossing in Beconganj locality. Led by Usman Bhai, these devotees of Hazrat Imam Hussain played mournful tunes on the beating of drums. Carrying a small ‘Alam’(Standard) with ‘Ya Abbas’ inscribed with embroidery work, Usman Bhai roamed in Nawab Sahib Ka Hata with ‘Muharram Band’ of Badar Ali Imam Chowk to raise funds for preparation of ‘Tazia’ that is kept on Imam Chowk on 9^th of Muharram and considered to be the oldest and tallest in Kanpur. Beats of the drum aimed at informing people that Muharram is round the corner and they should get ready to mourn the martyrs of Karbala.

‘Muharram Wale Baba’ was unique feature of Muharram rituals in Kanpur. As a child blogger himself saw him walking barefoot with his band  to collect funds for Badar Ali Ka Tazia in 1971.In his old age, he carried on the practice on a wheel chair. People used to wait for his arrival in their localities. His appearance with Alam and band was considered as a signal for devotees to begin preparation for arrival of Imam Hussain. Nobody knew his actual name but he was extremely popular   as ‘Muharram Wale Baba’ in view of his novel way to raise funds for Tazia and performance of other ceremonies at Imam Chowk. In India, he was probably the only person to roam on the streets with Muharram band and Alam for fund raising. Baba died at the age of 90 in early 90s and his disciple Munni Baji became carrier of his legacy. She became the first woman to raise fund for Taziadari by roaming on the street with Alam and Muharram band. So long as her health permitted, she walked barefoot in thickly populated areas of Pechbagh,Chamramandi, Gammu Khan, ka Hata, Gwaltoli Maqbara,Patkapur,Kusawan,Ram Narayan Bazar , Gammu Khan Ka Hata and Babupurwa.She continued the tradition even when her health deteriorated. Being bulky, she found wheel chair difficult to use. A defiant Munni Baji used Thelia(Cart) to roam with Alam. Till her last breath about six years ago,Usman Bhai became her successor. Now he roams alike Muharram Wale Baba with his band. Even he ties Kalawa(Sacred thread) on the wrist of donors. His several disciples excel in the art of Muharram drumming. Four of them permanently accompany him. Usman Bhai has also got renovated Imam Chowk and liberated it from encroachers. He fought a long legal battle to save Imam Chowk. Tears roll down his cheeks whenever anyone mentions name of Imam Hussain. He reveals that he accompanied Muharram Wale Baba from his childhood due to his love for Imam Hussain. He remembers his days with Munni Baji as well.He regrets the emergence of Wahabism and Barelvees and recalls how heused to get donation generously from hide merchants and Barelvis a few years back and how they avoid him now by becoming followers of Salafi ideology. He however told the blogger yesterday that his spirit can never be dampened as he knows that Imam Hussain and Hazrat Zainab are custodians of  Taziadari and azadari will continue till the day of judgment as prophesized by Khatun-E-Jannat.(Contents are based on the personal observation and conversation  of the blogger)