Dr.Mazhar Naqvi
Balrampur ranks among those few places
in India where the Hindus observe Muharram with traditional solemnity and
reverence despite advent of right winders to the fullest. Ex-princely state of
Balram had repeatedly been sending BJP nominees to the parliament and its one
of its former ruler was known for his friendships with Mahant Digvijay Nath
Singh -the fire brand leader of the Hindu
Mahasabha and alleged master-mind behind mysterious appearance of idols in Bbabri
Masjid in 1949.These facts have however failed to deter the spirit of the Hindus
of the district who continue to love and observe Muharram and Tazias as their
ancestors. Some of them even prepare richly decorated Tazias ,besides carrying
them on their shoulders on 10th
of Muharram.
Balrampur has the tradition of keeping
very tall Tazias. In rural parts of the district, locals prefer to go for very
tall Tazias because they have separate Imam Chowks and electric wires don’t
hover over them as is the case for the city where congestion is the way of
life. One can find a Tazia ranging between Rs.5 and Rs.1.5 Lakhs in Balrampur. Like Muslims, Hindus too start pouring
in from ‘Chandraat’(Night of Muharram moon)to take part in processions that are
taken out in abundance during the first 10-days of mourning).
Hindu artists also arrive to prepare Tazias.
They try to outsmart their Muslim competitors through innovation in designs
every year.Tulsipur,Mathura Bazar,Panchpedva and Sadullah Nagar are the areas
where highly decorated Tazias are kept. About 8-decades ago,Balrampur district
had a large number of Hindu mourners but their number have diminished like many
other places once under the dominions of Awadh Nawabs. But Balrampur has so far
braved all the efforts to turn Muharram a Shia affair and people from all faiths
still participate in the rituals.
A large number of Hindus still keep Tazias
at their houses and prepare a special dish for Niaz on 9th night of
Muharram. The custom is more popular in the villages of the district.
The district has very rich literary heritage. Famous Urdu poet Ali Sardar
Jafri was born here in 1913. He is among the only four Urdu poets who got the
prestigious Jnanpith award (other three are Firak Gorakhpuri, Kurtulain Hyder
and Shaharyar). The other notable poet of the city is Syed Ali Mehdi Rizvi,
very famous for his religious Urdu poetry such as Mussadas, Marsiya, Salam,
Rubai, Nauha etc. Apart from extensively writing the religious poetry, his
other notable works include poetic representation of History of India named
"Matla-e-Watan" and translation of Bhagavad Gita in Urdu poetry.
Apart from that the birthplace of Mohd Shafi Khan also known as Bekal Utsahi is
Balrampur. He has the distinction of being a former member of Rajya Sabha . In
1976 he got Padmashree Award in the field of literature. During a visit to the Mazar
of Hazrat Vaaris Ali Shah of Devan-Sharif in 1945 Shah Hafiz Pyari Miyan
quoted, "Bedam Gaya Bekal aaya".
Source: Amar Ujala/Patrika/Wikipedia/Photo Courtesy Google images
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