Loss of Marsiya Reciter Anees and Hussaini Poet Naiyyer

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Indian Imamis suffered two great losses a couple of days before the commencement of Muharram-2018.One of them was Janab Anees Sandeelavi- a great marsiya reciter and Shair-e-Ahlebait. The other, Naiyyer Sirsavi, was also an eminent Shair-E-Ahlebait. Both of them died of protracted illness after serving Masoomeen Alaihssalam till health permitted them. May Allah bless them among his chosen ones. The real name of Anees was Ghazanfar Irshad Naqvi and he was a close friend of blogger’s father. He stayed in Kanpur for a long time and settled in Lucknow after retiring from UPICA-a government of Uttar Pradesh Enterprise. He occupied a very senior position in UPICA in view of his marketing skills. Under him, UPICA emerged as an admired brand of clothes manufactured by Cooperative Societies. During his prolonged stay in Kanpur, he took active part in Ayam-E-Aza despite his preoccupation with marketing related activities. Anees always took off time for reciting marsiya at majalis and earned lot of fame in view of his style. After retirement, he continued to recite marsiya and became a household name besides earning international acclamation. He has to his credit of appearing on famous program of an Urdu channel titled Sada-E-Karbala on several occasions. Anees was invited to recite marsiya almost all the prominent Imambaras or Ashurkhanas of India. Hence, While he preferred to render marsiya of Mir Anees only, he wrote Nauhas and Salams also and tried his hands even with writing marsiya also. He was poet of several Anjumans as well. His departure left the Imami community saddened.

Naiyyer Sirsavi also was a well-known poet. He too earned fame across the globe. He belonged to Sirsi –a village of Saadat near Moradabad. His death also left Imamis in a state of shock. Entire western Uttar Pradesh felt the vacuum created by his death, for appearance of Naiyyer was considered to be a must in old Imambaras located in Amroha, Sirsi, Sambhal, Nagli Saddat, Moradabad and Merut.(References available on request)