Tag: Muslim

Allahabad High Court Declares UP Madrasa Education Act Unconstitutional

The Allahabad High Court, by a verdict given on 22.3.2024 has declared the UP Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004 to be unconstitutional, being against the principle of secularism.
https://www.firstpost.com/india/studying-in-madrasa-violates-secularism-allahabad-hc-declares-madarsa-education-unconstitutional-13752135.html
https://www.newsclick.in/explained-why-has-allahabad-hc-struck-down-madarsa-act
The full judgment is given below :
https://www.livelaw.in/pdf_upload/anshuman-singh-rathore-vs-union-of-india-thru-secy-ministry-of-edu-new-delhi-and-3-others-2024-livelaw-ab-189-allahabad-high-court-529904.pdf
I agree with the verdict that madarsa education violates the constitutional principle of secularism. It also violates Article 21A of the Indian Constitution which declares the right to get education upto the age of 14 a fundamental right of every child.
Education, to my mind, means modern, secular education, not the largely theological education imparted in madarsas or saraswati shishu mandirs, which inculcate bigotry, and brainwash the tender and susceptible minds of children with religious extremism.
No doubt in para 100 of the judgment the Court observed :

”Since there are a large number of madarsas and madarsa students in the State of U.P., the State Government is directed to take steps forthwith for accommodating these madarsa students in regular schools recognized under the Primary Education Board and schools recognized under the High School and Intermediate Education Board of State of U.P. The State Government for the said purpose shall ensure that as per requirement sufficient number of additional seats are created and further if required, sufficient number of new schools are established. The State Government shall also ensure that children between the ages of 6 to 14 years are not left without admission in duly recognized institutions ”
However this is easier said than done. Already the existing government secular schools are overcrowded ( some have 200 students in one section of a class, as I have myself seen ), and private schools are extremely expensive.
It is estimated that there are 25,000 madarsas in UP, of which 18,500 are recognised by the UP Madarsa Education Board. There are about 25 lac ( 2.5 million ) students in these madarsas,and thousands of teachers.
So before closing down the existing madarsas, thousands of modern secular schools will have to be built, with proper classrooms, laboratories, libraries, etc and competent teachers and other staff appointed. This will require a huge outlay of funds, and careful planning, and cannot be done overnight..
I would also like to suggest a way to accomodate the thousands of teachers who will be rendered unemployed by the closure of madarsas.
I have delivered a judgment in 1993 in the Allahabad High Court, Ramesh Upadhya vs State of UP, in which I have recommended that Sanskrit and Urdu, our two great cultural language, should be made compulsory in every school in UP for 5 years upto class 8.
https://www.casemine.com/judgement/in/56e14632607dba3896627186
If this judgment is implemented a large number of posts of Urdu teachers will be created, and the teachers presently teaching in madarsas ( who would all be knowing Urdu ) can be appointed on those posts.
Also, on the same logic, saraswati shishu mandirs run by the RSS should also be closed down, and the students transferred to modern secular schools

March 26, 2024
Muslims prefer to live in BJP ruled India rather than in Pakistan

It seems that life in Pakistan has become hellish, with exorbitant electricity bills, skyrocketing prices of food, gas cylinder, petrol; medicines, etc, record unemployment, and fascist reign of terror unleashed by the Pakistan army and police, so that many Pakistanis want to migrate to a foreign country.

https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/pakistans-economy-suffers-as-brain-drain-reaches-record-levels-619158

Some are even willing to migrate to BJP ruled India, as this email which I received today from a Pakistani Muslim discloses ( he requested me not to reveal his name or address )
” Assalaam Valekum Sir,
I am xxxxx from xxxx Pakistan.
Sir kaise hain aap ?
Main aapka follower hun aur aapka fan bhi. Sir aap to hamaare mulk ke halaat jaante hain.
Sir aap mujhe yeh bataa sakte hain ki kya mujhe India ki nationality mil sakti hai India mein rehne ke liye ? Kyonki mera mulk Pakistan bilkul tabaah ho chuka hai, aur yahaan jeena ab naamumkin hai.
Hamaare log intiha buzdil qoum hai, aur inmein nainsaafi, jhoot, faraib, rishwatkhori, dhokadhari, wagairah koot koot ke bhar chuki hai.

Zaroori cheezon ke daam aasmaan choo rahe hain, magar hamaare hukmaraanon par joo bhi nahi reng rahi hai.
Sir mujhe apni rai zaroor deejiyega ki hum kya karen ? ”.
Now what should I reply to him ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th799hFkucDk&t=7s

September 1, 2023
Muslims have a right to take out Tazia during Muharram: Justice Katju

Muharram, a period of mourning for Muslims over the martyrdom of Imam Husain, grandson of Prophet Muhammad, is going on these days ( today is the 8th day of a 10 day period which will end on 29th July )

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muharram

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/religion/festivals/muharram-2023-date-story-and-significance-of-ashura/articleshow/101819083.cms#:~:text=In%202023%2C%20Muharram%20commenced%20on%20Wednesday%2C%2019th%20July%202023.&text=Muharram%20holds%20an%20immense%20importance,remembrance%20for%20the%20Muslim%20Ummah.

On the last (10th) day of Muharram, known as Ashura, Muslims take out the Tazia procession to bury the Tazia ( a replica of the mausoleum of Imam Husain ) at a ground called Karbala ( named after the city in Iraq where Imam Husain and others were martyred in 680 AD ).

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/muharram-2022-know-why-tazia-are-made-and-its-significance-3236669

In this connection I may refer to a judgment on the Tazia procession which I gave in 1999 when I was a Judge of the Allahabad High Court ( Imambara of Mulnapur vs State of UP )

https://legaldata.in/court/read/1576550

The facts were these : there is an Imambara ( the building from where the Tazia procession is taken out ) in village Mulnapur, Tehsil Handia, district Allahabad. Every year Muslims of the area would take out the Tazia in a procession on the 10th day of Muharram for its burial at Karbala.

However, in 1999 some anti social elements allegedly obstructed the path of the Tazia procession by occupying and constructing unauthorisedly on it, and hence a writ petition was filed before me.

After hearing the parties I allowed the petition, observing :
” This is a free, democratic, and secular country. Article 25(1) of the Constitution states ‘subject to public order, morality and health and to the other provisions of this part all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practice and propagate religion’.
Tazia is a part of Muslim religion and Muslims are fully entitled to take out Tazia procession. Hence, we direct that there should be no obstruction and the authorities will ensure law and order in peaceful taking out of Tazia.

However, we have repeatedly held that religion is a private affair and must be carried out peacefully without causing harm or harassment to anybody, and hence Tazia cannot be taken out through the private land of anybody. It can only be taken out peacefully on a public path and in a manner which does not cause inconvenience to anybody. The path of the Tazia has been recommended by the S.D.M., Handia and the map is Annexure-2 to the petition. The petitioner is agreeable to this path suggested by the S.D.M.
Hence, we are of the opinion that the Tazia procession can be taken over on the aforesaid path as suggested by the S.D.M., Handia, Allahabad but we direct that no private property or trees should be damaged during the course of Tazia procession.
The petitioner and the authorities will also maintain law and order.
With these directions the petition is finally disposed of ”.

July 27, 2023
Justice Katju : Husaini Brahmins

Moharram, an important occasion for Muslims, is going on these days,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muharram
I may tell an interesting story in this connection related by Intizar Husain, an eminent Pakistani novelist, short story writer, and poet.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intizar_Hussain
This is in his own words :
WITH the arrival of Muharram this year, I was reminded of an encounter I had with an unusual, intelligent girl in Delhi. I recalled referring to Prem Chand’s play ‘Karbala‘ in one of my addresses, which was based on a legend. The legend was about a group of eight Hindu brothers who had somehow reached Karbala determined to die fighting for the cause that Imam Husain stood for. They fought bravely and sacrificed their lives in devotion to Imam Husain.

It was in this context that I was talking about Husaini Brahmans, who seemed to have vanished from
the social scene in India.
All of a sudden, a girl from among the audience stood up and challenged my statement. She said, ‘Here I am before you. My name is Nonica Dutt. I belong to a Husaini Brahman family.’ It was clearly a pleasant surprise for me,
something like discovering a rare bird while walking through a jungle.
The girl promised me an exclusive meeting to enlighten me with interesting information about the Husaini Brahman background of her family. But the proposed meeting kept on being postponed for one reason or the other.
Finally, on the last day of my stay in Delhi, I received a call from her.
‘Let us meet now,’ she said
‘But I have no evening to spare for you. Today is the last day of my stay in your city,’ I said.
‘But I am already in the lounge and I must meet you,’ she said.
So we finally had a meeting. She entered my room with two large volumes under her arm. I proposed a detailed sitting on my next visit, which was due after a month or so.
‘But in the coming months, I will not be in Delhi. I am
moving to Germany and will spend four months at the Humboldt University.’
Nonica Dutt taught history at Jawahar Lal University, Delhi and had been honoured with a fellowship from the Humboldt University. Hence she was on her way to Germany.
She said, ‘ I told my mother about your comments regarding Husaini Brahmans and how I introduced myself as one. To that she said, did you tell him that we don’t perform the rituals the Brahmans are obliged to perform. That we don’t go to the temples?’

‘Should I presume from this,’ I asked, ‘that you have turned Muslim.’
‘No, we are not Muslims,’ she exclaimed.
‘Then what are you?’ I inquired.
‘We are Husaini Brahmans,’ she said with a certain sense of pride and added,
‘Now, I will tell you about a sign each and every Husaini Brahman carries with him/her. On his/her throat s/he bears a line of cutting, which is indicative of the fact that s/he is the descendant of those Brahmans whose throats were cut in the battle of Karbala.’
Then she told me about the ritual carried out on the birth of every child in her family. She said,
‘Among Brahmans, after child birth, the ritual of Moondan is performed. In our family this ritual is performed in the name of Imam Husain.’
She then went on to tell me the historical facts.
‘I will now tell you about the history of our martyred forefathers.’ Pointing to the two books placed on the table she said, ‘Our entire history is conserved within these two
books. When needed, I will quote from them.’ Considering their worn out and pale pages, the books, which were written in English, seemed to be centuries old.
The history of Husaini Brahmans, as told by Nonica Dutt, begins with ten Brahmans going to Karbala with the determination to die fighting for Imam Husain. Among them were Rahib Dutt and his seven sons who fought bravely and
resolutely.
They met their death in a heroic way. Rahib Dutt was the lone survivor of the battle. From Karbala he escaped to Kufa, where he stayed for some time. It is said that Rahib had
the privilege of meeting the members of the Imam’s family after the massacre. He introduced himself by saying, ‘I am a Brahman from Hindustan.’
The reply came, ‘Now you are Husaini Brahman. We will always remember you.’
Rahib went from Kufa to Afghanistan, and from there came back to India where he stayed for a few days in Nankana. Nonica paused for a while and then spoke, ‘In the Sialkot district there is a town known as Viran Vatan. That place is our ancestral home. We are the descendants of Rahib Dutt.
She then recited a few couplets from the book she had
brought along with her, in which these incidents have been recorded. ‘These couplets,’ she said, ‘are very popular among the Husaini Brahmans.’
Nonica shut the book and said ‘Let me inform you that Sunil Dutt, the famous film actor, was also a Husaini Brahman. And the father of his wife Nargis too was a Husaini Brahman.’
She got up saying ‘Now I must go.’
‘I think,’ I said, ‘after you return from Germany, I should make a point to come to Delhi so that you can introduce me to your father. I will perhaps be able to know much more about your ancestors from him.’
She said goodbye and left hurriedly. I had been under the impression that the story of the eight Brahmins was just a legend. But Nonica said it is a historical fact. And it is the belief of Nonica and her community that really counts. For them the event is a reality.

https://thewire.in/religion/the-forgotten-history-of-hussaini-brahmins-and-muharram-in-amritsar

July 22, 2023
Muslims, stop behaving like fools

By Justice Katju
Some mischievous person burnt a copy of the Holy Quran before a mosque in Sweden, and almost the whole Muslim world is raising a hue and cry over it. Many Muslims have protested against this desecration of the Holy Quran. In Baghdad the Swedish embassy was stormed, Iran has decided not to send an ambassador to Sweden, and in Pakistan and elsewhere there have been massive demonstrations.
https://www.indiatoday.in/world/video/watch-quran-burning-in-sweden-triggers-fiery-protests-across-muslim-nations-2402364-2023-07-05#:~:text=The%20act%20of%20burning%20the,Pakistan%20among%20other%20Muslim%20nations.
https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/from-iraq-to-saudi-arabia-how-muslim-countries-reacted-to-quran-burning-in-sweden-12805852.html
Muslims should realize that such acts like burning the Quran or portraying cartoons of the Holy Prophet are deliberate acts by miscreants to provoke a reaction, and by reacting to them Muslims are stupidly giving publicity to such rascals, which is exactly what they want, and on which they survive.
In my opinion the best way to react to these provocations is by not reacting at all, in other words, by ignoring them.
When the great Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib was asked why he did not respond to malicious criticism he replied “ If a donkey kicks you, do you kick it back ? “.
There are millions of copies of Quran in the world. Anyone can go to a shop and buy one. Once he buys it, it becomes his property, and he is entitled to do anything with it, even tear or burn it. Why should Muslims get so worked up about it ? By reacting to such mischief Muslims only play into the hands of such rascals.

When the Babri Masjid was demolished ,there was a huge uproar by Muslims all over the world, who held demonstrations and all manner of protests against this outrage. At that time a prominent social activist and leader of Kerala, Panakkad Sayyid Muhammad Ali Shihab Thangal, appealed to Muslims to remain silent, and told Muslims to protect Hindu temples which may be attacked by agitated Muslims.
Today a Keralite post graduate student of English Literature, Sayyid Muhammad Hafiz, met me in Calicut ( where I have come for a conference ). I asked him what should be the reaction of Muslims to burning of the Quran in Sweden ? He replied that it should be ignored. I told him that is the correct answer, and he has displayed the maturity and wisdom which all Muslims in the world should cultivate and develop, instead of behaving like fools.
Sayyid Muhammad Hafiz told me that in the Holy Quran there is a an ayath “Turn away from the ignorant”.(Surah A-araf-Ayat 199). Sayyid Hafiz also told me many incidents when the Holy Prophet was abused, taunted and jeered, but he did not react, but kept silent. A woman would throw garbage on him, but he would only smile. One day when she fell ill, the Prophet went to enquire of her health.
Muslims should follow the example of the Prophet, and stop behaving like fools

July 11, 2023
Siddaramaiah hails SC observation over Amit Shah’s remarks on Muslim quota

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Bengaluru: Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Tuesday lauded the Supreme Court for objecting to the statements of Union Home Minister Amit Shah over Muslim quota during the election campaign in Karnataka.
“The Supreme Court has objected to Amit Shah’s irresponsible statement over cancellation of Muslim quota of reservation during campaigning.
“Justice B.V. Nagaratna’s observation to maintain sanctity of the subject when the matter is seized by the court and the political statement in this regard is undesirable is apt,” he said.

“When the matter is being looked into by the court, the Solicitor General or an advocate can give their opinion. Justice Nagaratna had asked why a third person is intervening in this matter?” Siddaramaiah asked.
He hoped the Union Home Minister would give his opinion carefully in future.
Siddaramaiah maintained that the move of the BJP government to withdraw the reservation of Muslims and distribute it to Lingayats and Vokkaligas is nothing but to bring enmity and hatred between communities.
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 9, 2023
Karnataka Muslim quota: Supreme Court frowns at poll statements

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court Tuesday voiced displeasure over political statements being made about withdrawal of four per cent quota for Muslims in poll bound Karnataka, after it was told Union Home Minister Amit Shah was making public statements about the hugely contentious issue at the hustings.
Terming as “inappropriate” the political statements about the matter which is sub-judice, the apex court asserted “Some sanctity needs to be maintained”.
The withdrawal of four per cent reservation for Muslims and its reallocation between the politically influential Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities just before the assembly elections has become a hot button issue in the southern state.

“When the matter is pending before the court and there is court order on Karnataka Muslim quota, then there should not be any political statements on the issue. It is not appropriate. Some sanctity needs to be maintained,” a bench of Justices KM Joseph, BV Nagarathna and Ahsanuddin Amanullah said.
Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for the petitioners who have challenged the scrapping of the Muslim quota by the state’s BJP government, said, “Every day the home minister is making statements in Karnataka that they have withdrawn the four per cent Muslim quota. Why should such statements be made?”
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Karnataka government, said he is not aware of any such remarks being made. He, however, contended those criticising religion-based quota are not wrong.
“Solicitor General making a statement in the court is not a problem but someone saying anything on a sub-judice matter outside the court is not appropriate. In 1971, a West Bengal political leader was hauled up for contempt for holding a press conference defending a rationing order which was pending before the court,” Justice Joseph said.
“We understand and respect the sentiment of the court,” said Mehta but added as a counsel, “I am saying that any religion-based reservation is unconstitutional”.

Justice Nagarathna also expressed displeasure over statements being made outside the court on the quota issue.
The arguments turned bitter when Dave said statements proudly claiming credit for the withdrawal of Muslim quota were being made every day. An agitated Mehta urged the court to restrain the senior lawyer from making such statements without a context.
“This is the Supreme Court bench and don’t let it be turned into a fish market. This court has to restrain him (Dave) from making such statements. What they (Dave and others) are saying is without any context. They need to show what is the context, what is the content, and tenor of the statements. Let them file an application to this effect, we will file our reply,” he said.
Dave told the court he will file an application and bring it on record what kind of statements are being made.
Mehta said without any application nobody would know what statement has been attributed to him (the Union home minister).
“Please see this statement. The Union home minister said that four per cent reservation for Muslims was unconstitutional and BJP removed it. This amounts to contempt of court,” an angry Dave told the court.
As decibels rose, Justice Joseph asked Dave to not shout or make political statements in the court.
“We will not allow this court to become a political forum. We are not party to it. We cannot allow the issue to be politicised in this manner. We will adjourn the matter,” the bench asserted.
At this juncture, a lawyer appearing for the petitioners told the bench that the BJP has stated in its election manifesto it will do away with four per cent Muslim reservation if voted to power.
The enforcement of the government order on scrapping of the Muslim quota has been kept in abeyance by the Supreme Court.
Replying to the submission, Mehta insisted there is nothing wrong in such a manifesto and, in fact, every political party should include in their manifesto the promise that they will abolish religion-based reservation.
Advocate Ravi Kumar Varma, appearing for Central Muslim Association, made a prayer to restrain the press from publishing such speeches, a contention Mehta opposed, saying media cannot be censored like this.
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#Karnataka #Muslim #quota #Supreme #Court #frowns #poll #statements
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 9, 2023
Muslim boy tops UP Sanskrit board, beats over 13000 students

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Mohammad Irfan, the 17-year-old son of a farm daily wage labourer Salauddin in Uttar Pradesh’s Chandauli district, has scored 82.71% in the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Sanskrit Shiksha Parishad Board’s Uttar Madhyama-II (class 12) examinations.
The board requires Sanskrit language and literature as two compulsory subjects, along with other subjects.
Irfan, who aspires to be a Sanskrit teacher, is the only Muslim among the top 20 scores in classes 10 and 12.

The boy reportedly got admitted to the Sampurnanand Sanskrit Government School because that is the only school his father could afford to send him to. Salauddin earns a mere Rs 300 per day and the school charged Rs 400-500 as an annual fee.
Irfan comes from a devout Muslim family and his father said that they have never stopped the kid from achieving his dreams.
“In junior classes ‘Sanskrit’ was a compulsory subject and it was from there that he developed a liking for the language. He now plans to do Shastri (equivalent to BA) and Acharya (equivalent to MA) and will then look for a job as a Sanskrit teacher,” he said, speaking to The New Indian Express.
Irfan on language- religion connection
“I’m not sure why people associate a language with a religion. A Hindu can be extremely good at learning Urdu, while a Muslim can be very good at studying Sanskrit. I am a graduate who understands the value of education,” Irfan said, addressing media on the question of people connecting certain languages with some religions.

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#Muslim #boy #tops #Sanskrit #board #beats #students
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 6, 2023
Muslim student assaulted with rod for speaking to female Hindu friend in Karnataka

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An 18-year-old Muslim young man was assaulted by Hindutva workers for hanging out with a Hindu woman in Puttur district, Dakshina Kannada.
According to Puttur town police, Mohammad Parish, a first-year PUC student was brutally attacked by a hot iron rod by Hindutva workers after he was seen having juice with his Hindu friend.
His repeated pleas that they were just friends went unheard as the Hindutva workers began thrashing him. Parish is currently undergoing treatment. His condition is said to be stable.

The Puttur town police have identified four persons Dinesh Gowda (an autorickshaw driver), Prajwal, Nishanth Kumar, and Pradeep (students) as accused.
The previous day, the Congress party released its manifesto for the upcoming Assembly elections promising to ban the Hindutva organisation Bajrang Dal if voted to power.
It identified and compared Bajrang Dal to the same lengths as the banned Islamic organisation PFI (Popular Front of India).
It created a stir in Karnataka politics as well as outside with many leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and RSS charging that the Congress is a threat to India’s sovereignty and integrity.
“This is the last election for the Congress party. If they are defeated, they will go straight to their houses. This is a do-or-die situation for them. It is indeed a dying situation for Congress,” he slammed.

He waved the saffron shawl, raised the slogan of ‘Jai Bhajrangi’, and chanted the slogans of Bajrang Dal activists.
Several posters claiming ‘I am Bajrangi’ coming up at many places challenging the authorities to “ban and arrest” them on Wednesday
Tejasvi Surya, the BJP National Youth Wing chief and MP from the Bengaluru South seat shared a poster on his social media claiming that he is a Bajrangi. “I am a Bajrangi. I am a Kannadiga and this is the land of Hanuman. I dare the Congress to ban me!” he challenged.
Meanwhile, Congress president D K Shivakumar questioned the “connection between Bajrangbali and Bajrang Dal” while saying he is also a devotee of Lord Hanuman.
“They are panicking over our proposal to ban Bajrang Dal. There will be no changes in the manifesto. What is the connection between Bajrangbali and Bajrang Dal?” Shivakumar questioned.
“Anjaneya (Lord Hanuman) and Bajrang Dal are different. The BJP should do campaigning by taking the name of Bajrangbali. Let them tell you about what they have done to end hunger and unemployment?” Shivakumar questioned.
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#Muslim #student #assaulted #rod #speaking #female #Hindu #friend #Karnataka
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 3, 2023
Unending story of Prince Mukarram Jah; could he have been the Caliph of Muslim world?

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Hyderabad: Like the famous Thousand and One Night (Alf Laila wa Laila) unending episodes, stories from the enigmatic treasure trough of Prince Mukarram Jah keep tumbling out.
One is more intriguing than the previous one.
Alexander Azam Jah, the son of his second wife, Australian Helen, was conspicuous by his absence during his funeral.

He has not shown up in Hyderabad since.
A ceremony was held in Khilwat Palace (also known as Chowmohalla Palace) where perhaps only one of the oldest loyalists of the Nizam family, Kumari Indira Devi Dharaj Girji was seen honouring the Ninth Nizam Azmat Jah on his coronation.
A few days after the ceremony, the traditional family acrimony came out in public. One of the late Mukarram Jah’s cousins said the family members would not give up on the cases that had been filed in the courts of law against the Eighth Nizam. “We will continue the fight against the injustice done to us,” he said firmly.
Still, a few days later, one of the members of the House of Asaf Jah, prompted by a section of Sahebzada’s, Raunaq Yar Khan, declared himself the Ninth Nizam. He now claims that he has some documents to back his “rightful” place.
Mukarram Jah married Jameela Boularous of Morocco in 1992 and divorced her within a year or two. The reasons for this short-lived association are shrouded in stories that cannot be confirmed. However, the couple had a daughter Zairin Unnisa Begum known in short as Zairin. She was born in 1994.

Intriguingly, John Zubrzycki, the Australian who wrote the book The last Nizam, chronicling the life of Prince Mukarram Jah does not acknowledge Jameela as his wife and does not mention Zairin as his daughter. Zubrzycki on the other hand gives the names of four women as the wives of the Prince. Says he, “Jah leaves behind four children – Azmet his eldest son and a daughter Shekhyar by his first wife Ezra; Azam his son by his second wife, Helen; and Nilofer by his fourth wife Manolya Onur…” He skips the mention of the third one, who over she was.
The story of Zairin becomes more intriguing because she and her mother were not there during the funeral of the Prince who was a little less than 90 years when he passed away in Istanbul, Turkey. His body was brought to Hyderabad and given a gun salute by the government of Telangana State before he was laid to rest at the Asaf Jahi graveyard located within the premises of the historical Makkah Masjid.
A few days ago Zairin and her mother arrived in Hyderabad and besides attending numerous functions, held an exhibition of paintings and photographs mainly of Sultan Abdul Majid and the Prince. There were two paintings that caught my attention.
One was a letter purportedly written by the Sultan and the other by the last Nizam Osman Ali Khan.
Syed Ahmad Khan, the editor of Rahnum-e-Deccan an Urdu daily published from Hyderabad, says that he found the letters of Sultan Abdul Majeed and that of Osman Ali Khan in the archives of his newspaper as late as 2021.
The first letter purportedly written by the Sultan declared Osman Ali Khan as an interim Caliph in his place. The letter was addressed to Osman Ali Khan. It has a date on it. It also has the names of several other people.
The second letter is written by Osman Ali Khan and addressed to one Col. Syed Mohammad Amir Uddin Khan wherein he tells him how the Caliph has handed him over the caliphate. He also asks him to deliver the letter to the ‘rightful’ successor of Imam Mahdi, whom a section of the Muslims believed would arrive in the last days of this world.
These intriguing letters have brought the entire visit of Zairin and her mother into the circle of more doubts.
Syed Ahmad Khan, says that he discovered the letters some two years ago. He does not explain why he did not disclose their existence to the family of Mukarram Jah or the Hyderabad public. He did not even bring them to the notice of Prince Muffakham Jah, the younger brother of Mukarram Jah who frequently visits Hyderabad. He could have made them public and allowed some experts to scrutinize the documents.
A Hyderabad-based historian who does not wish to be identified said, “The second document has no date. If there was a gap of some years between these letters how is the paper and the ink appear to be the same as if both were written at the same time.”
I have my doubts too. Why is the existence of these letters not known to anyone of some consequence in Hyderabad or anywhere else? For instance, the immediate family members of Mukarram Jah or those who were close to him for decades had no clue about them. My second doubt is this. When Osman Ali Khan had declared that the son born to Azam Jah and Durrushehvar will be entitled to Caliphate why he did not accept the offer given by Abdul Majeed?
I, as a long-standing journalist who is interested in the history, culture, and politics of Hyderabad, demand that a judicious inquiry be held over the authenticity of these letters and that the public be made aware of the results of any such investigation.
I leave the claims of Zairin and her mother to the family and legitimate heir of the late Prince. Intriguingly, no family member of the late Mukarram Jah worth the name has responded to the sudden appearance of Zairin on the Royal horizon of the former Hyderabad State.
Mir Ayoob Ali Khan is a seasoned journalist based in Hyderabad
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 3, 2023