Dr. Rakhshanda Jalil, the Delhi based author, and literary historian is a well-known face among the literary circles for her academic contributions towards Urdu literature and history. Her columns touched on feminism, syncretic North Indian culture and other major social issues of Muslim society. With more than fifty research articles and twenty books, she has been acknowledged with many national and international literary and academic awards. On her illustrious ancestors, the blogger and an acclaimed author Mayank Austen Soofi wrote on her mother ancestral legacy from Maulvi Sattar Buksh Qadri, one of the noble resident of the historic city of United Provinces, 19th-century Badayun. Maulvi Sattar Buksh belonged to the family of first Caliph widely known as Siddiqui who were the forebearers of oriental scholarship from the time of early Muslim rulers in India. The small city, Pilibhit is located one hundred two kilometers North East of Badayun in Western Uttar Pradesh has the dual connection with the literary historian. Her late maternal grandfather, Ale Ahmad Suroor, a great Urdu poet and literary authority spends his childhood years at Pilibhit when his father Maulvi Karam Ahmad was deputed as the Postmaster in British India. Around hundred meters west of the southern historic gate (Bareilly Darwaza) of the city build by British Magistrate R. Drummond located a house that once belonged to Shiekh Abdul Lateef, a Punjabi Muslim.
This historic gate ( Bareilly Darwaza) was built by British Magistrate R. Drummond in the mid-nineteenth century. The home of Shiekh Abdul Lateef (Grandfather of Dr. Rakhshanda Jalil) is located approximately hundred meters west of this landmark.
The locality where the house is located was documented in District Gazette (1909) as Pakaria Mohalla and still identified with the same name.
The left flank of the house in length. The current resident made some modifications though the main structure was same.
According to the Late Prof. Iqbal Hussain, an expert of Ruhela history, this locality was established in the mid-eighteenth century when the city was built by Afghan ruler, Hafiz Rahmat Khan. During its heydays when the trade was flourished in this Afghan principality, the quarters of the city, Pakaria, and adjoining Punjabian were inhabited by Punjabi Musalmans ( Shamsi/Muslim Khatri) who were considered as traders of repute all over North Indian even in 18th century Shahjahanabad. The name of the locality was probably derived from the presence of Pakar (Ficus Venosa) trees. Shiekh Abdul Lateef owned zamindari rights of the Village Tondalpur that is located around twenty-five kilometers east of the city in Terai plains of Sharda river. The village remained in his possession up to 1952 till the abolition of zamindari rights in the district. In addition, he also owned many shops in the commercial square of the city near the clock tower. Mr. Shahabuddin who is the grandson of Sheikh Abdul Lateef sister told that he had four sons and two daughters. The eldest among them was Mr. Abdul Jalil, the father of Dr. Rakhshanda. Sheikh Abdul Lateef, a traditional businessman, and zamindar was keen for the modern education of children. A small city of United Provinces with limited educational opportunities had two schools up to the level of matriculation in those days. The eldest son Mr. Abdul Jalil completed his matriculation from Drummonds high school in 1943 and send to Christian College, Lucknow for higher education.
Dr. Abdul Jalil passed his matriculation in 1943 from Drummonds high school at Pilibhit.
After qualifying premedical exam, he secured admission at the prestigious medical center of United Provinces, King George Medical College in 1945. Mr. Abdul Jalil was the third one from the small city to study medicine after Dr. Sharma and Dr. Abdul Ghafoor who attained bachelors of medicine in 1921. Notable medical educationist & Ex-Head of the department, Anatomy, KGMC, Dr. A. Halim was one his early day’s friend and batchmate at Medical school. After completion of MD from KGMC, he also attained Masters from McGill. One of the earliest Indian who got training in Acupuncture as an alternative therapy from China & Japan. A small city boy with global exposure in the days of closed economy, Dr. Abdul Jalil was a secular and liberal face of Muslim community in Delhi. Two of his younger brothers pursued Engineering as a career and the youngest one Abdul Shakoor studied Medicine. Both of his sisters also completed Masters in Arts from prestigious Aligarh Muslim University.
The front face of “Zenankhana/Main” section of the house. It was modified by current occupant. The half of the section was used as a Kindergarten school and in another half, he was residing. On visiting, I found the old construction was under the stage of demolishing and most of the inner constructions has been razed.
Mr. Shahab got emotive while explaining the heydays of this home when it was constructed by Shiekh Abdul Lateef during colonial days. With thick walls, high ceilings supported by timber and iron beams, arched verandas and extended wrought iron shades, the home has the total area of four thousand square feet. It was divided into two sections, Zenankhana and Baithak. The “Baithak” was a separate unit and most of the male guest lodged here for the overnight stay. He recalled the days when many high profile friends of Dr. Jalil stayed here. Most of the time, the visits were arranged for exploring the adventures and hunting expeditions in Terai forest.
Front facade of the “Baithak/Guest lodge”. This section still retained its old construction. Presently one of the Nephews of Dr. Jalil resides here.
During the lifetime of his parents, Dr. Abdul Jalil and his brothers frequently visited the ancestral home. Shiekh Abdul Lateef passed away in 1977 and buried in the closeby graveyard. Dr. Rakhshanda visited fathers hometown in 1986 on the sad demise of her grandmother. She told that her brother Jamil Urfi recent release titled as “Biswin Sadi Memoirs: Growing Up in Delhi During the 1960’s and 70’s” has many accounts from the memories of the third generation of Mr. Abdul Lateef visiting ancestral home during Eid and summer vacations. I am looking forward to reading Jamil Urfi memoirs. Among the four sons and two daughters of Shiekh Abdul Lateef, only Dr. Abdul Shakoor is alive and resides at Aligarh.
Acknowledgments: Many thanks to Dr. Rakhshanda Jalil and Mr. Shahab for providing me valuable inputs.
References:
Husain, Iqbal. The Ruhela Chieftaincies: The Rise and Fall of Ruhela Power in India in the Eighteenth Century. Oxford University Press, USA, 1994.
The Delhi Walla. City Library, Rakhshanda Jalil’s Urdu books and her forthcoming festival, Central Delhi. Retrieved from: http://www.thedelhiwalla.com/2017/01/17/city-library-rakhshanda-jalils-urdu-books-her-forthcoming-urdu-festival-central-delhi/
Nevill. H.R. (1909), PILIBHIT: A Gazetteer, VolXVIII of the District Gazetteers of United Provinces of Agra and Oudh.
The story of the Colonial Zamindar, and a Philanthropist from early 20th century, Pilibhit, United Provinces
Text by Rehan Asad| family Pics & Portraits by Mr. Mohammad Aslam
The portrait of Haji Sheikh Mohammad Buksh, the father of Sheikh Nazeer Ahmad dressed in the traditional attire with the long cap and draped with the shawl. This portrait was from his late years of life probably taken in the decade of 1900. Haji Shiekh Muhammad Buksh is still remembered among the local villagers of his estate as the pious and kind landowner with the title of “Bade Mian”
On 18th February 1917, a zamindar from a nearby village Daang, Pargana Jahanabad addressed a convocational gathering at Karghaina Building, Pilibhit, United Provinces as President of the Anjuman. I translated excerpts of his speech published in the Rawaid (minutes/proceedings of the convocation) from Bareilly in the same year. It reflected the profound insight of the man towards the role & the importance of modern education. “Modern education is the only tool to remove ignorance among communities. Muslims like other communities in subcontinent don’t have an inclination for modern education and this is the reason of the lagging of Muslims in all walks of life. Especially for our community in Rohilkhand, we are deliberately parting away from modern education. It is the lack of the modern education which is responsible for our heavy losses to the zamindari estates, and it will remain same in future. It would be a sense of grief for all of us that in the time of British governance that blessed us with a lot of favors, facilities, and freedom and still if our community would be isolated from the jewel of modern education. It should be our duty and efforts that we should accept the importance of modern education from our hearts. By the grace of God, you all are quite capable of resources to provide higher education to our young generation and also to those orphans of the community those are in utmost need. Therefore it is necessary to donate hefty amounts related to the scholarships for higher education.”– Speech Sheikh Ahmad Nazeer, 1917AD [1].
The cover page of the 18 February 1917 community convocation from where I translated the speech of the Shiekh Nazeer Ahmad. Its written in Urdu, Rawaid Ajlas e Awwal, Anjuman Rayyan, Rohilkhand Kumaon. Venue: 18 February, at Pilibhit on the residence of Shiekh Maulvi Abdul Haqq Sahab, Joint Secretary, and Landlord, Pilibhit. Addressed to Sheikh Nazeer Ahmad Sahab, President, and big Landlord, (Raese Aazam, Daang), Sheikh Tajuddin Sahab Joint secretary. With efforts of Hakim Mohammad Sarwar Khan Malik printed at Kohadapeer, Bareilly. At the top of the cover page, there is an inspirational verse in Urdu Khuda ne aaj tak us qaum ki halat nahi badli, Nahu jis ko khyal apni halat badalne ka
Family Background and Introduction: Sheikh Taj Mohammad was the founder of the household in Rohillkhand region and sixth in the generation of Sheikh Taj Mohammad was born Sheikh Nazeer Ahmad in the family Sheikh Mohammad Buksh [2]. According to Tarrekh Arain his ancestors originally belonged to Salarpur, District Jalandhar, Punjab, who migrated to Mangala, District Sirsa (presently in Haryana) and then moved to Rohilkhand in the late 18th century [3]. Nevill in the District Gazette of Pilibhit (1909) cited the family of Sheikh Nazeer Ahmad as one of the notable and leading zamindars of Pargana Jahanabad, District Pilibhit [4]. His father Haji Sheikh Mohammad Buksh was a pious landlord who donated a considerable property from his zamindari shares in Pargana Richaa, District Bareilly to the waqf of the historic Jama Masjid, Pilibhit. In the late 19th century, a Madarsa was also stared by his father at Village Daang, the headquarter of his zamindari estate. As the trend of the time among prosperous cultured families in those days, he was groomed by his father & private tutors. He had a good understanding of Arabic, Persian, and Urdu.
Description of his estate: The District Gazette of Pilibhit cited the revenue of his estate “Sheikh Nazeer Ahmad son of Sheikh Mohammad Buksh, an Arain hold seven villages and fifteen shares in District Pilibhit and pay revenue of ten thousand four hundred thirty-eight INR (Drake, 1934AD) ”[5]. He also held three whole villages in District Bareilly. Eighteen years later when the assessment report was prepared for the abolition of zamindari system based on the revenue in United Provinces, the total number of the zamindars in the highest strata i.e., ten thousand Indian Rupees were only three hundred ninety [6]. On reviewing District Gazetteer, I found that it was the highest revenue paid to the Government in Pargana Jahanabad and third highest in the District. As a foresighted man, he understood the outcomes of the upcoming reforms of United Provinces. It was during his time, the Daang estate also created a huge agrarian farm under the category of “Sir/Khudkasht” land with newly introduced machines and tractor. All these records showed that he belonged to one of the richest families in the district and among the top strata of United Province’s zamindar aristocracy. In 1952 after the abolition of Zamindari his descendants were able to hold an agrarian farmland spread over an area of more than two hundred acres of the land. He also had an honorary exemption from British Government arm acts [7].
More than century-old mosque build by the Sheikh Muhammad Buksh, the father of Sheikh Nazeer Ahmad at village Daang
Services & Charities: Whether it was the organization of feast on special occasions of Muharram, Rabi Ul Awwal or the expense of the “Urs” of the revered saint who was resting in the premises of Jahanabad Police Station, Sheikh Nazeer Ahmad continued the traditional charities of his forefathers. Aged locals still recalled him and his father as “Chote Miyan” and “Bade Miyan” who always treated their ancestors with generosity irrespective of their caste, creed, religion & social status. A trait that was rare to be found among the zamindars in the stratified rural settings of Colonial India. In 1915, he was one from Rohilkhand Arain community along with Shiekh Tajuddin, his brother Shiekh Wisluddin and Sheikh Abdul Haqq who attended the Arain convocation held at Lahore under the leadership of Sir Mian Mohammad Shafi. The main goal was to spread the awareness of the modern education. On 16 March 1916, Anjuman Arain, Rohilkhand & Kumaon was formed with its main goal to push the community towards modern education. Shiekh Nazeer Ahmad was appointed as the President of this society. During the span of a year handsome amount of three thousand three hundred twenty was collected with a donation of more than two hundred Indian Rupees by him. Almost a century before, two hundred Indian Rupees was the monthly salary of Class one officer. Among the many beneficiaries of this Anjuman, the foremost was Dr. Abdul Ghafor who got Indian Rupees Four/Month scholarship for his studies at Agra Medical School. He was also one of the contributors in established of first Islamia School at the district in 1932. The madrasa established by his father at the headquarter of the estate, Village Daang was also upgraded by him. It continued to serve as the junior high school till 1980s long after his death.His hospitality was still recalled by the locals. His ninety-year-old daughter informed that kitchen of his father offered food on daily basis to rich, poor, needy and passing by strangers. The ladies of the family personally supervised the daily preparations on the larger scale with the assistance of maids and trail of helpers.
The capacious kitchen that was once famous for its hospitality was located in Zenan Khana of the haveli. With the size of approximately 800 square yards, its arrangement is like a small apartment. The roof of covered area is supported by iron grids and timber.
Legacy: During his life, he was highly influenced by the educational moves and reforms of Sir Mian Mohammad Shafi (a Punjabi leader of Muslim league, educationist, Politician and Vice President of Viceroy Executive council) but maintained his stance to remained away from the political ideology of Muslim league. From his children, no one moved to Pakistan at the time of the partition. Later one daughter and youngest son relocated to Pakistan in last decade of the fifties due to matrimonial ties. He left behind a handwritten diary that he used to document relevant pieces of his life. Few pages had been shared by his grandson, Mr. Mohammad Aslam that showed the date, year, time of the birth of all his children.
A handwritten page from the diary of the Shiekh Nazeer Ahmad shared by his grandson, Mr. Mohammad Aslam.Mr. Mohammad Ahmad, the eldest son of Sheikh Nazeer Ahmad. He was born on 16 October 1914. After his death, he managed the estate and then continued to maintain seat the of ancestors after the abolition of zamindari. In the sixties for the education of the kids, he moved to Pilibhit City and build a home at Karghaina Building. He also stared retail business of textiles as the business venture in changing time. After the death of his wife in 1976, he took the retirement and finally moved to Aligarh where his daughter was living in 1980. He was survived by four sons and three daughters. His last resting place is located at Aligarh.The photograph of the second son of the Sheikh Nazeer Ahmad, Mr. Mohammad Tahir. He was born at 08 Jamadul Awwal, 1340 of Hijri Calendar as given in the diary of his father., Sheikh Nazeer Ahmad. The converter gives the date in Gregorian, January 1922. Mr. Mohammad Tahir passed in 1964 leaving behind two sons. The eldest one residing at Pilibhit and the younger one is software professional in Dubai, UAE.
Sheikh Nazeer Ahmad took his last breath in 1947 at the age of seventy and buried at family graveyard at Village Daang, the seat of his ancestors. He was survived by three sons, eldest Mr. Mohammad Ahmad, second, Mr. Mohammad Tahir and youngest Mr. Mohammad Athar and six daughters. Mr. Mohammad Athar moved to Italy after completing his Masters in Geology from Aligarh Muslim University in 1958. He got married to Miss. Anjum Ara Naeemi, the daughter of Mr. Abdul Hafeez Naeemi in 1960. Her wife was also 1957 graduate of Aligarh Muslim University. After his return from Italy, he joined as a geologist at ONGC India, Limited at Dehradun. In 1967, the couple relocated to Pakistan where he joined as Assistant Director in Ministry of Petroleum and Natural resources. Working at different positions, he retired as the Additional Secretary of Ministry of Finance, Pakistan in the year 1999. Among the daughters, only Mrs. Hajra Begum moved to Pakistan. She was born on 28th October 1920 and married to the Mr. Abdul Khaliq Jilani, S/O Hafiz Abdul Rasheed of Village Karghaina, Pilibhit. Mr. Abdul Khaliq Jilani relocated to Pakistan and retired as Deputy Controller, Military Accounts.
Portrait of Mr. Mohammad Athar, the youngest son of Sheikh Nazeer Ahmad. This photograph date back to his Aligarh Muslim University days as a student at Department of Geology. He completed his masters from AMU, Aligarh in 1958.Portrait of Mr. Mohammad Athar probably from India. Joined ONGC after returning from Italy and relocated to Pakistan in 1967. In Pakistan, he started his carrerr in Ministry of Petroleum and Natural resources and retired as additional secretary of finance, Pakistan in the year 1999.Mr. Mohammad Athar, born June 12, 1933, at Village Daang and passed on June 18, 2004, at Islamabad, Pakistan. His last resting place is in Islamabad, Pakistan. He is survived by one daughter and two sons. The eldest one daughter is Doctor at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad and both of the Sons are settled in Houston, Texas, United States.Portrait of Mr. Mohammad Athar with his nephew Mr. Mohammad Aslam from Albany, Newyork during one his visits to the United States in 1984.
The eldest son, Mr. Mohammad Ahmad continued maintained his estate for short span before its abolition. Shortly after the death of his father, the zamindari abolition act was passed and villages came under the direct control of the government. The family retained the possession of agrarian lands, haveli, and other assets till the seventies. Seventy years had passed and now all his children also passed away except his one daughter, Mrs. Asiya. Born on 04th April 1926, she is currently residing with his son at Aligarh.
Mrs. Asiya Begum, the only surviving offspring of Sheikh Nazeer Ahmad. She was born on 20 Ramzan, 1344 Hijri (04th April 1926). Married to the Son of Khan Bahadur Shiekh Imtiaz Ahmad of Khamaria. She currently resides with his only son at Aligarh. His son a Professor of Botany recently retired from services as Head of the Botany Department, AMU, Aligarh.
She still recollected her memories of childhood days that witnessed the heydays of Daang estate under his father, Sheikh Nazeer Ahmad.
Mrs. Asiya Begum with two of his nephews. On her right flank, Mr. Mohammad Aslam (Son of Mr. Mohammad Ahmad), and left flank, Mr. Mujeeb Ur Rehman (Son of Mr. Mohammad Tahir). Photograph by the courtesy of Mr. Mohammad Aslam who recently visited homeland from Houston.
One of the entrances to the inner courtyard of female section. There is a brick courtyard with bounded by the high wall before this gate.
Acknowledgments: Thanks to Mr. Mohammad Aslam for sharing the rare family portraits and diary pages. He is the grandson of Sheikh Nazeer Ahmad living in the Houston, Texas, United States from last thirty years. A doctorate in organic chemistry, he is an alumnus of Aligarh Muslim University, India & University of West Ontario, Canada. He passed his Masters in Organic Chemistry from Aligarh Muslim University in 1975 and completed his Ph.D. from University of Western Ontario, London, Canada in 1981. Formerly, he had been Vice President, Research, and Development at Lonza Group, a global organization for providing solutions for pharma and healthcare.
Note: In changing 21st-century, the members of small Punjabi Diasporic community (Arain/Rain) having roots from the villages of Rohilkhand & Kumaon (Bareilly, Pilibhit & District Nainital) can be found in Pakistan, Middle Eastern countries, Canda, United States, & other western countries. Its the efforts of their elders who made great efforts more than a century ago to push the community towards modern education.
Glossary of terms:
Anjuman: An Urdu term used for the societies/organizations.
Raees: The literal meaning is “Rich”. It was common practice to be used as an honorary appellation with the landlords of Urdu speaking United Provinces in Colonial India.
Rawaid: The literal meaning of “Rawaid” is to perform or officiate. Here it is used in a context to document or officiate the proceedings of the Anjuman meet.
Sir/Khudkasht: A category of the land that is cultivated by the zamindars by their own efforts. When zamindari reforms were passed, they were allowed to hold “Khudkasht/ self-cultivated” lands.
Zamindar: A medieval Urdu term used for the landlord in Colonial India.
References:
[1]Ahmad, N. (1917), Rawaid Ajlas Awwal, Anjuman Arain, Rohilkhand and Kumaon, conducted on 18th February 1917 AD at the house of Sheikh Maulvi Abdul Haqq, Joint secretary, and Raees Pilibhit. From Sheikh Nazeer Ahmad Raees e Azam Daang and President, and Shiekh Tajuddin Sahib, Raees Hulkari Dhakia, Secretary. Printed and designed at Kohadapeer, Bareilly.
[2]Ishaaq, M., and Naseem, M. (2001), In Chapter thirteen, Arain, Sangam offset and press, pp.36.
[3] Chaudhry, Asgahr A. (1963), chapter three, Tarrekh Arain, 5th Ed., Asghar Ali Chaudhry, Ilmi Kutubkhana, Urdu Bazar, Lahore, pp.148.
[4] Nevill, H.R. (1909), PILIBHIT: A Gazetteer of the District Gazetteers of United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, VolXVIII.
[5] Rudade Ajlas Awwal, Anjumane Arain, Rohilkhand and Kumaon, conducted on 18th February 1917 AD at the house of Sheikh Maulvi Abdul Haqq, Joint secretary, and Raees Pilibhit. From Sheikh Nazeer Ahmad Raeese Azam Daang and President, and Shiekh Tajuddin Sahib, Raees Hulkari Dhakia, Joint Secretary. Printed and designed at Kohadapeer, Bareilly.
[6]Chaudhry, Asgahr A. (1963), chapter three, Tarrekh Arain, 5th Ed., Asghar Ali Chaudhry, Ilmi Kutubkhana, Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, pp.141.
[7]Drake-Brockman, D.L. (1934), District Gazeeter of United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, Supplement D: Pilibhit District.
Text by Rehan Asad & pic provided by Shams Jilani| Glimpses of Dr. Shams Jilani Life from his birthplace Pilibhit in United Provinces of Colonial India up to his Migration to Pakistan
Introductory picture of Dr. Shams Jilani on his blog www.shamsjilani.com
Shams Jilani, a Canadian from Pakistani origin had been general secretary for Hindi Literary Society and President for Canadian Urdu Society in the days that he made the history of holding both positions among South Asian diaspora in Canada. From last twenty-eight years, Shams Jilani is enriching the mainstream of Canada and another part of the world by his columns on current affairs, Islamic history, and humanities. The man from Richmond City, British Columbia is a well-recognized face who received the countless number of awards and recognition for contribution toward community services and for writings in Urdu language. His affiliations that cover a broader horizon from the founding member and chair for Richmond Multicultural senior society up to the President of Canadian Urdu Association reflected his efforts to strengthen the cultural harmony among the South Asian community.
President Gill Evans and Chairman Dr. Shams Jilani receiving city cultural harmony award from Mayor of Vancouver, Lary Cambell in 2003.
With more than twenty books in Urdu language and one in Hindi (Uttam hay Insan). The Urdu collection covers the diverse titles such as biographies of early Islamic personalities (the Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him), all righteous Caliphs , Hazrat Fatima, Hazrat Hasan, Hazrat Hussain, and Sahabiyat (May Allah be please with them), Islam & Haqooq Ul Ibad, Buniyadyat of Diabetes (translation of medical text from English to Urdu) that was written by Dr. A.R Minhas (M.D & F.R.C.S and Director for Diabetes Education). Also, he has two poetic collections, Urdu Sada Ba sehra & Gumane Moatabbar. For his book “ Islam Aur Huqqoq Ul Ibad, he received the best writer award from Honorable Christy Clark (Deputy Premier of British Columbia) in the literary event organized by Miracle newspaper.
Shams Jilani receiving best writer award of Miracle (Community newspaper) for Huqququl Ibad aur Islam (Ethics and Islam) from Deputy Primer of British Columbia, Honorable Christy Clark in 2002.
At the age of eighty-seven, he wrote biweekly columns in Miracle, The community Times Vancouver, Pakistan Times weekly from (the U.S.A and Canada). He is also the editor of the “ Aalami Akhabar, UK” run by prominent Urdu Journalist, Ex- Broadcaster of B.B.C, London, Mr. Safdar Hamdani. He had been chairman of “Mustafa Hamadani Academy” and was granted first “Mustafa Hamadni Award” in 2008 other than his sociocultural activities and participation in various multicultural organizations in Canada. From last twenty-four years, he has been the member of the various advisory Committees of Richmond City, British Columbia.
The present residence of the writer Dr. Shams Jilani at Alinmore PI, Richmond City, British Columbia, Canada
Few of his followers/readers and friends were aware of his birthplace, family background, and glimpses from his early days of life. For a long time, I intended to explore the early days of his life especially in context with his background from Urdu speaking belt of United Provinces. I was blessed to have scholarly guidance received from him for the compilation of the work titled “The Arain Diaspora in the Rohilkhand region of India: A Historical Perspective,” and he was also co-author of the manuscript.
The photograph provided to me by Dr. Shams Jilani in 2016 for authors introduction column for the book “The Arain Diaspora in Rohilkhand region of India: A Historical Perspective”.
In the last five years, I got the chance to interact with a literary figure numerous times having hours of discussion on the different aspect of his life but we never talked about his early days. It was around 9.30 PM on 23/12/2017 in Al Majmaah, Saudi Arabia and I have an appointment with him on Skype. On the other side in Richmond City, British Columbia, he was going to start his routine activities of the day. It was usually a routine from last five years that I got at least a chance in a month to spoke with him. After initial greetings, when I made a request and explained my intent for calling him today, there was a momentary pause. With the hoarse voice, Shams Jilani spoke in his eloquent Urdu accent “Kya karoge un dino ko Jaan Kar, us me utar hai chadhao hai, inqilabi din thay woh”. Curbing my disappointment that prevailed over the curiosity, I made a second request. I further added your life is divided into three phases, first one in India, then Pakistan and now in Canada from last twenty-eight years. I want to write on the place and days that carries a special social context with early days of a prolific writer. After a moment of pause, there was a gentle consent and silence was broken. Mixed with apprehension, he said, “Kya Poonchna hai, Kya sawal hain tumhare, batao.” I broke the silence with my first question after delivering my thanks for providing his kind consent.
I know some superficial aspects of your family and background. Can we discuss in detail about the place of your birth, family, ancestors background?
I was born in a well-known family at Pilibhit in 1931 at Dhakia house. My forefathers came from Tehsil Fatehbad, District Hisar from Colonial Punjab in the late 18th century where our tribe i.e., Punjabi Arains who were widely populated in those days both in East Punjab. One of my ancestors named Haji Peer Buksh created a big zamindari estate at Bahdar Gunj, District Pilibhit. After his death, his estate was divided among his eleven sons. My great grandfather named Shiekh Maulana Jalal Uddin got Hulkari Dhakia and five other villages that prospered with time. Among these villages, the Hulkari Dhakia in Pilibhit became a center of his estate. After his death when Grandfather Shiekh Wisaluddin and his brother Shiekh Tajuddin took charge of the estate, they worked hard and purchased few more villages. When the Haveli was built in the early 20th century in Pakaria Mohalla (Quarter) of Pilibhit City, it was named as Dhakia house due to this ancestral affiliation. By the side of Haveli, I remember there was a big mosque and one of its gates opened inside our Haveli. My grandfather Shiekh Wisaluddin was active in socio-political activities of the district. He was elected as Chairman of District Board, Pilibhit and also played a key role in establishing a big Madarsa Manzur Ul Uloom at Village Dhundri. In 1912, it was built on his personal resources and the income of waqf properties worth approximately two hundred thousand Indian Rupees donated by his aunt Mohtarma Rahim Bibi and her son Sheikh Manzur Ahmad. The madrasa has many shining alumni, one of them was Mian Faheem Uddin who did his post-graduation from AMU in 1935 and commissioned in Indian Financial services in 1939. Still, it is running as a senior secondary school in the same village at Pilibhit, UP, India. Later he retired as Military Accountant General of Pakistan army. My father Shiekh Kamaluddin along with his brothers and cousins were sent to Minto Circle at Aligarh Muslim University in 1924. Then Sheikh Riazuddin son of Shiekh Tajuddin, the cousin brother of the father was sent to pursue Bachelors in agricultural sciences from Edinburgh University, UK. In those days, the bachelor’s programme for agricultural sciences in India was not so well structured.
My father came back to Pilibhit after completing his senior secondary from AMU. He was engaged in agrarian affairs and managed the zamindari possessions. In 1938, he was also elected as Vice Chairman of the District board. In the same year, he had established weekly Urdu newspaper with the name “Alkamal”. It was the very first newspaper of Muslim League in the district.
Mr. Kamaluddin, father of Shams Jilani born at Pilibhit in 1905 and passed away in 1961 at Karachi, Pakistan.
Can you please provide few glimpses your early childhood days? How your early education was started. You remember any friendship from your childhood days.
I remember those days, the time was divided between my paternal village, village Khamaria (maternal grandfather home) and Pilibhit city. I could remember the village home at Hulkari Dhakia was spread over an area of more than two acres. Separate quarters for every family member, rooms for servant and baithak for lodging male guests. It was massive home approximately had fifty rooms. When I was five years old, the permanent land tenancy act was passed in 1936. Although a great social movement, it appeared to be a torment for zamindars. My family also faced the brunt of this act. Mr. Haque, a District Forest officer from Lyallpur (Faisalabad) was the good friend of my grandfather. He suggested grandfather to converting our whole zamindari villages in Sir (Khudkasht/self-cultivated land) to be exempted from the new act. At that time there was very difficult to manage such a big project without machinery which is not available in India. Grandfather started a megaproject to convert all the villages in the category of Sir. For example, one of our villages Banskhera has an area of more than eight hundred eighty acres of land. I will reflect you the scenario from one of the villages that has more than 880acres of cultivable land to transform into a self-cultivable megafarm. More than ninety thousand Indian Rupees was invested in procuring around three hundred metal ploughs, cattle’s for drawing plough, pavement construction, small bridges and other infrastructure requirements that was a considerable amount in those days. Unfortunately, it was failed as many tenants who were supposed to hire for work joined some old tenants filed legal suit for their claims on the lands as a permanent tenant. As a result, the income was stopped and project exhausted family resources. When grandfather passed away in 1941, my father gave consent to all tenants as we had more than two hundred fifty cases filed by tenants on our zamindari lands. My father was maximally affected by the aftermath of these disturbances. His extensive engagement with legal suits related to properties affected my structured formal education. Although two separate tutors were arranged for teaching me Arabic, English and other subjects. Mr. Sabir Ali came to teach Arabic and Mr. Ismail teaches me English and other subjects. I was blessed to receive the early lesson of Urdu and Persian from my father.
I had two close friends; the first one was Mohamed Ahmad who was also a relative from mother side. The second one was Mohammed Hanif who belonged to Muslim Khatri community widely popular as Punjabi Muslims/Saudagrans. His father runs a shoe shop adjacent to the Simons parks at Pilibhit city. The shop is still present with his family and whenever I visited Pilibhit, I used to visit my childhood friend. Mohammad Ahmed is also alive and around 90 year’s old living at village Khamaria.
What was the circumstance in your city in 1947? When exactly you left for Pakistan and what was the reason for your migration?
My entire district and city appeared to be calm during the event of partition. Although some of my relatives were associated with Muslim League. Khan Bahadur Imtiyaz Ahmed was M.L.A (Independent & affiliated with Nawab Chatari) and relative of my wife. Pilibhit city faced a devastating riot in 1950 when the group of mob rousers forced Muslims to leave for Pakistan. I left my city in 1950. I went to Kishoreganj in East Pakistan (Now present Bangladesh). I left my homeland for personal reasons. Due to family circumstances, I was not able to pursue higher education at that time it was the trend in my extended family. My cousin and youngest Uncle were studying at Aligarh Muslim University at that time. I was titled by the relatives with the name of “Shahzada Ali Khan” as the mark of sarcasm as they perceived I was living a comfortable life on riches of forefathers. Shahzada Ali Khan was the son of Agha Khan. This created a burnt desire to stand independently on my own feet. I have tried up to my best and achieved everything later to match the expectation from my parents and family members. At that tender age, I saw many people from my surrounding left for Pakistan. My uncle ( Khalu) and Aunt (Khala) were already living in East Pakistan and second up to that time passport for not required for Indian nationals in East Pakistan. Therefore, I took a big step and said Alvida (goodbye) to my homeland and family members. I joined diploma engineering in electrical in 1951 and also initiated part-time business ventures in Kishoreganj, East Pakistan (Bangladesh). In 1952 destiny brought me back home for few weeks, and during this trip, marriage was arranged. My wife Quresha belonged to the same village Khamaria that was the birthplace of my mother and the place for me was like my second home. Four years younger to me born in 1935. She belonged to middle-class landowner family of my tribe. She was educated at home and only took primary education from the vernacular school that existed there. Khan Bahadur Muhammad Imtiaz Ahmad, a prominent face in politics from our tribe belonged to the same village and was among her relatives. She reflected all Punjabi features in her looks as physiognomy of Arain females. Her good height, fair complexion, generous behavior, god fearing personality, soft spoken and always keen on learning are few of her attributes that I perceived in early days of marriage. She continued her journey with me as the companion of all sorrows and happiness. She was always a motivational source of all my achievements in last sixty-five years of married life. On 05th March/2017 she left me alone with her memories and started her first step to the journey that we all have to meet.
Shams Jilani and his wife Mrs. Quresha Jilani on 50th anniversary of their marriage in 2002. Mrs. Quresha was born in Village Khamaria, Pilibhit in 1935 and passed away at Richmond city, BC, Canada on 05th March 2017.
Sorry for the deviation, I went back again to East Pakistan after celebrating my happy marriage. I was living with my Khala (Aunt) and Khalu (Uncle). Actually, my Uncle Mr. Tajuddin (Uncle) who was Station Master at Railways in Kishoreganj got the transfer to West Pakistan in 1954. He was a Railways employee in British India and opted for Pakistan Railways after independence in 1947. Kishoreganj (East Pakistan) was his first posting in the newly created state. He was looking for the transfer as most of the acquaintances and relatives from United Provinces were stationed in Karachi. In 1954, we reached Karachi (West Pakistan) by a sea route. I think it was the month of March and we boarded the ship from Chittagong. It was around seventeen days journey with few hours halt at Sri Lanka. My wife accompanied his elder brother Mr. Maqbool Ahmad who has recently finished his Bachelors in agricultural sciences from Kanpur University in UP, India to join me at Karachi in the same year. My parents and siblings joined us in 1958. In 1954, I started to serve Military engineering services but left my job after some time. Meanwhile, I also took high proficiency in Urdu Language and literature from Punjab University in 1956. Later I switched many fields venturing from varied business to regional and provincial politics. My stations were switched in all these years between Karachi and Mirpur Khas, (third biggest city of Sindh). Thirty years of the later life was passed in earning bread and making the better life for my wife and kids.
The photograph of Dr. Shams Jilani of 1960 when he was living at Mirpur Khas in Sindh.
Anything you missed from your birthplace Pilibhit in India where you passed twenty years of your life. Did you ever visit India after 1952?
Definitely, there are memories that I could recollect from my early life at Pilibhit. When I was a child I used to enjoy tasty “Alu Kachodi” quite popular in the city made by Mr. Prasadilal. He used to run street food stall nearby our home. I would never forget when I and the son of my neighbors, Hamid Jilani used to go together. Hamid was our distant relative whose father was President of District Muslim league at that time. In 1948, he joined BSc (Engineering) at AMU along with my cousin Mr. Riaz Faruqi. I could remember both of them were among the few earliest technocrats in my district. Hamid moved to Pakistan with his family in 1952 and after few years to Zurich, Switzerland for higher studies. Later on, he took Swiss nationality. When I reached India from Canada, then I tried to locate Prasadilal but unfortunately, he was not alive. Although his street stall was changed in a small restaurant at the nearby site and his grandsons were running the business. From 1952, I had made more than ten visits to India. After shifting to Canada, I was fortunate to have more frequent visits as visa process from here was easier. My last visit to homeland Pilibhit and off course other parts of North India was in 2012. My son Mr. Masroor Jilani also accompanied me during this visit along with his mother Mrs. Quresha Jilani. Connecting with Pilibhit so frequently in all these years never gave me feeling that I was away from my birthplace.
How the literary interest cultivated in your childhood days. Does anyone else in your family who was also associated with literary activities?
I was born in a family where there was a big room for honing literary hobbies. Love for Urdu was coming from ancestors. My great-grandfather, Maulana Shiekh Jalaluddin was a scholar of Arabic, Persian and Urdu. The District Gazette of the Pilibhit showed his name as one the Urdu poets in the title of literary personalities. He wrote his own collections of poetry with the Nom de Plume of “Jalal”.
The District Gazette of Pilibhit, 1960 citing the name of Dr. Shams Jilani Great Grandfather, Jalauddin Jalal under the heading of “Men of Letters”.
It was first published as “Kulliyat Jalal” from Agra after his death in 1904. Its second edition was published by the efforts of Grandfather younger brother with the addition of his own collections in 1947. He wrote his poetry with Nom de Plume of “Taj”.
Urdu poet Munshi Mahshar from Ambala acknowledges Sheikh Tajuddin Taj in his historical account for receiving a generous gift of five hundred Indian Rupees almost a century ago. Its written as Ali Janab Faiz Maab Mian Mohammad Tajuddin Sahab Taj Raise Azam Hulkari Dhakia Zilah Pilibhit. Below the picture, there is verse written by poet Ahle Hajat ki tarah baqi nahi rahi koi Ahjat, Meharban Jab se hue hain mujh pe Tajuddin Taj Dua go Mohammad Ibrahim Mahshar
The youngest brother of my father, Mr. Zakauddin was enrolled in Bachelors programme of Urdu in 1950 at AMU, Aligarh. During his doctorate in Urdu, the notable poet of India, Shahryar was among his contemporaries and good friends. Uncle used to write with the pen name of “Shayan”. He passed away at Pilibhit in 2003. My father after coming from Aligarh started his newspaper with the name of “Al Kamal”. Started in 1938, it was first of the newspaper covering the activities of Muslim league paper. It covers sociopolitical news, columns and regional perspectives and poet too. I was around thirteen when my first article was published in Naseem Anhonvi Urdu digest” Hareem” published from Lucknow in 1944. Then few of my write-ups were published in Nayi Duniya. I remember that I read my verses in Mushaira held in Dhaka at 1953. At that time Akhtar Lukhnawi was secretary general of Anjuman- Taraqqi- e -Urdu in East Pakistan.
Can you recall anyone from your family who had a larger influence on your ideologies and personality?
My grandfather was a role model for me. He was the man who had a vision for his family and community. He has the courage to withstand difficult situations. He maintained acquaintance with great social leader and educationist of his time Sir. Ziauddin Ahmad. All my uncles and father were kept under his noble supervision at Aligarh. After his death, the family found a couple of letters, which were exchanged between him and great educationist, Sir Ziauddin Ahmad. As a Chairman of District Board, Pilibhit he proved himself as an effective leader and administrator. He passed in 1941 when I was ten years old. His grave is located in the graveyard of Feel khana Mohalla (Quarter) at Pilibhit.
The only surviving portrait of Sheikh Wisaluddin, the grandfather of Dr. Shams Jilani. It was taken at Aligarh in 1924.
The following verses were engraved on the gravestone by his younger brother Shiekh Tajuddin Taj:
Farsh gul bistar tha apna Khaak par sote hain ab!
Khast zer e sar nahi ya takia tha zanua e dost!
Once floor made of flowers was my bed but now I am sleeping on dust
Once we have pillows even for supporting my thighs but now even brick is not available for the support of my head.
The second one was my Nani Hamidun Nisa Begum who taught me beautiful lessons of kindness, and humanity. The third one who had a larger influence on my life was a Sufi scholar, Hazrat Meharban Ali Shah. My maternal grandfather Shiekh Fida Hussain was one of his murid (disciple). He was Sayyad (descendant from the house of Prophet (Peace be upon him) and belonged to Akora Khattak (Small town of Nowshera District in North West Provinces, now in Pakistan). I remembered that he used to visit my nana home in Pilibhit (United Province) and stayed for a long duration as an honored guest. In fact, my name Mohammad Shams Uddin Ahmad was given by him. Initially, it was Mohammad Shams Uddin but some argued that the person with this name exhibit Jalali behavior. So he added Ahmad at the end and said he will become Jamali. This was the man who introduced me with “Tasawwuf” at an early age of my life. He has affiliated with “Qadiriyya” tariqa (Sufi order). At the tender age of five years, I was blessed to receive his kind company and love from this noble saint. He loved me like his own son. For the rest of my life, I found this spiritual connection as nourishment and enlighten for my soul. It was later in 1974 I found Hazrat Maulana Waqaruddin as a murshid Kamil (Perfect Spiritual guide) and I took the bait (pledge) in “Qadiriyya” tariqa (Sufi order). He was one of the leading scholars of his time, titled as Mufi E Azam, Pakistan and has ijaza (permission) to give bait (pledge) in four tariqas (orders) of Tasawwuf. He was originally from village Khamaria, Pilibhit, and brother of my Khalu (Uncle). Later on, we also became relatives as his son Jameel Waqar was married to my daughter Uzama Waqar. They were currently living in Houston.
Now at the age of eighty-seven more than three thousands of your columns have been published in Aalami Akhbar and different other newspapers. More than twenty books and poetic collections were also published. What are your goal and mission?
Writing is now part and parcel of my life. It’s a way to express my feelings whether joy or grief. I tried to reflect on the current affairs, humanities, and Islamic history. Ibn Kathir is my role model in writing on Islamic history. The day when my beloved wife Quresha passed away, I expressed my agony by writing a column that was published in many Urdu newspapers. It was titled as “Hum safar ka safare Aakhirat”. I thought she would be happy from her resting place to saw the commitment towards my mission for which she has supported me in her lifetime in a best possible manner. I believe the life is a larger learning context believing that learning is from cradle to grave. May Almighty Allah give me the courage to stand with truth? I reserved my life for last 25 years to serve the humanity and Islam in the entire world.
Thank you very much for providing a great time and opportunity to explore the valuable moments of your life. Any message you want to add on after providing me such a great narration and context of your life.
Shams Jilani ended one and half hour talk in such simple words. I would like to write it up in Roman Urdu.“Main ek mamuli sa Insan hun. Urdu meri madri zuban hai. Bus apne buzurgun se jo kuch thoda bahut hasil kar paya hun us ko apne qalam ke zarye app logon tak pahunchane ki koshih karta hun. Aap nay bahut israr kia tu maine ne appko apne haalat ki sachaion sey ru shanaskar Karwaya hay, Warna main apne Khandan aur apne bare me bhi zyada logon ko nahi batata hun”. After receiving a lot of blessing from his side, the wonderful talk was ended. I found myself lost in the early life of the great literary person at Pilibhit. May Almighty bless him healthy and long life.
