Unsung Devotee of Panjatan-Martyr Mir Inder of Kashmir

 

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Imami community needs to know about the martyrdom of Yousuf Inder in the most brutal manner in 16th century Kashmir. He was a brave soldier and loved progeny of the Holy Prophet more than his life.once he happened to meet Qazi Habib who was infamous for his malice against the household of the Prophet and Shia Imams.Upon seeing Inder on the road , Habib  hurled abuses against Rafizi(followers of Shia faith) and spat.Yousuf Inder retaliated by spitting at Habib.in a fit of rage,Qazi lashed Inder with a whip on his head.Inder then took out his sword and inflicted one or two injuries to Habib.Then,he left the scene ,leaving behind profusely bleeding Qazi.Two influential nobles Ali Koka and Dhuli Koka dispatched search parties for Inder.They got him arrested and brought back to the capital.Then duo conspired to obtain permission from the ruler Hussain Shah for the trial of Inder under Shariah rules.They got Qazi Musa, Mulla petcheh Ganai also called Mulla Firuz and Mulla Yusuf Almas to try Inder. As expected the three Qazis sentenced inder to death despite the fact that Habib was alive and only wounded in the scuffle.The conspirators arranged execution hurriedly and body of Inder was cut into pieces. Anti- Shia people took parts of his flesh as a souvenir or gift for their womenfolk. Many over zealots even drank his blood as ‘Sherbet’(syrup).           

The most ironical part of Inder’s tragic execution was the role played by the ruler Husain Shah who himself was a Shia.He had succeeded Ghazi Chak and assumed the throne in 1563.It is said that Koka got the execution order approved when Husain was under the influence of narcotics. Husain used to call him a just Sultan and his subject spoke high about his sense of justice and welfare activities. He patronized Hindus and Muslims.Husain allowed Hindus  to celebrate  Naureh, and Sripanchmi festivities in which  the participants drank and danced. Ruler did so despite being a follower of Mir Shamsu'd-Din Iraqi who always discouraged such practices  Sultan Husain Shah is also known for having divided his week to attend special business on special days. And while he used to spend Fridays with the ‘ulama’, he kept Saturdays exclusively for discussions with the Hindu and Buddhist priests.

It still remains a mystery as to why Husain did not initiate exemplary action against those responsible for the uncalled for and un Islamic execution of a devotee of Ahlebait-E-Athar.It is also not known where Yousuf Mir Inder lies buried where?Surely he deserved due acknowledgement and more awareness among the admirers of ‘Martyrs of Karbala’.    

(Reference :BaharistanE-Shahi and Ejaz Malek)