Imam Husain's Great Hindu Azadar- Maharaja Kishan Prasad

 

 A Great Hindu Azadar- Maharaja Kishan Prasad  

By Prof.Mazhar Naqvi

Maharaja Sir Kishan Prasad Bahadur who twice held the position of Prime Minister of Hyderabad State was a great devotee of Imam Husain. Out of great respect for Mazloom Imam, he used to place tazias and alams in his house during Muharram every year. He also retained services of eminent Marsiyakhwan and Nauhakhwans to perform in the Majlises that he hosted from 7^th to 10^th Muharram with great veneration and reverence. Even the British Resident and other high ranking officials of Victorian empire were invited to attend these Majlises.   

 
 Deori( Mansion) of Maharaja in Hyderabad
  
Conferred with the title of ‘Yamin us-Sultanat’, Maharaja Kishan Prasad was born in Hyderabad on January 1, 1864.He belonged to a noble family that traced its roots back to Raja Todar Mal, the famous finance minister of Mughal emperor, Akbar. His grandfather Maharaja Chandu Lal had also occupied the coveted post of Prime Minister of Hyderabad State. Maharaja who had also earned the title of  GCIE from the British empire as an acknowledgement of his accomplishments became the  Prime Minister  in 1901 and continued to serve the state in that capacity till 1912.The seventh and last Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan  in whose installation as the ruler of Hyderabad Maharaja had played a pivotal role removed him from his post .It was Mir Osman Ali Khan himself who again appointed him as Prime Minister in 1926.he served with distinction his second term till 1937.

Maharaja was not only an ardent lover of Imam Husain but also a champion to the cause of national integration, communal harmony and education. He was a man of literary tastes and himself composed poetry with the Takhallus of Shaad. Maharaja exhibited his secular leanings by marrying three Hindu and four Muslim wives. He never imposed any religious restrictions on his wives and children and they were free to follow and adopt the religion of their choice.

As Prime Minister of a state known for its large scale observance of Muharram, he took keen interest in the affairs of Ashurkhanas patronized by Nizams. He ensured elaborate security arrangements for processions like Bibi Ka Alam on 10^th Muharram. As an individual, he patronized greatly Ashurkhana ‘Naal Sahib’. On Shab-E-Ashur, he always hosted ‘Nazr-O-Niaz’ (offering made by an inferior to a superior) at a grand scale at Naal Sahib.

Naal is an Arabic word and refers to a metallic piece used to cover nose and forehead during battles. It is attached to armor cap, known as Khud in common parlance. It is believed that the Naal of Hazrat Imam Hussain was broken during his Jihad at Karbala. Every Azadar knows how the greedy commanders of Yazidi forces had left his dead body after removing his belongings. Somehow the broken Naal after passing several hands reached Bijapur during the rule of Yusuf Adil Shah. The precious Naal was sent to Golconda from Bijapur along with testimonials certifying its authenticity. The then ruler of Qutub Shahi Kingdom Ibrahim Qutub Shah received it with reverence and preserved in the shape of Arabic Allah as a part of an Alam. Gulzar-e-Asafia mentions the shifting of Naal Sahib after the construction of Hyderabad by Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah to a palace known as Ilahi Mahal near Char Kaman. The place has not changed since then and Naal Sahib Alam is installed every year on the first day of Muharram.

Due to personal interest of Maharaja Kishan Prasad, the Naal Mubarak emerged as hallmark of Muharram ceremonies in Hyderabad. The alam originates in the form of a procession on Shab-E-Ashur. The great attachment of Maharaja with Naal Sahib is attributed to its association with Imam Husain. In the King of martyrs, Maharaja found a role model for good governance and as a sequel to his leaning towards the message of Imam Husain, he was able to develop Hyderabad as State known for his communal harmony and also as the best administered province during the 37 year long rule of Mir Osman Ali Khan.  

It is recorded that Maharaja used to stay back after Nazr-O-Niaz and preferred to witness the emergence of alam by a hereditary carrier. The Carrier called Alambardar was supported by Doribardars who carried the rope around the Alam, followed by Chatarbardars carrying the richly decorated umbrella .On Yaum-E-Ashura, Maharaja always came out of his palace to distribute alms to the down trodden. His favorite Naal Sahib procession attracts during Muharram every year thousands of devotees who present Nazr irrespective of their religion, caste or creed thanks to the harmonious culture developed by people like Maharaja.(Reference available on request)