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Azadari Movement
Lucknow is known as a seat of Shiasm and the epitome of Shia culture. Muharram which is observed in Lucknow is famous worldwide.
The processions of Muharram in Lucknow have a special significance. They were started during the reign
of the Nawabs. The Majalises, processions and other
rituals that are observed by the Shia community to commemorate the
sacrifice of Imam Husain A.S. are known as Azadari.
The processions like Shahi Zarih, Jaloos-e-Mehndi, Alam-e-Ashura and that of Chup Tazia have special significance for
Shia community, which are taken out with great religious zeal and
fervour. These processions which started during the reign of the
Nawabs continued till the year 1977.
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Maulana Syed Kalbe
Jawad Defied Curfew and was arrested |
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Procession Banned
The first problem regarding Azadari started in the year
1906. Communal riots took place in the years 1968, 1969, 1974
and 1977. The Government banned the Azadari processions
in the year 1977. The Shia community from time to time has been
constantly protesting against the ban imposed on Azadari.
Many memoranda were sent to the Government regarding the ban
but to no avil. The system of courting arrest was also started
later by the late Maulana Syed Kalbe Abid in which thousands
of Shias courted arrest on the 10th of Muharram every year, at the Imambara Asifi in the protest of this ban.
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View of Azadari
Procession |
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Self Immolation
On the 10th of April
1997 under the banner of "Karvane Furat" the Shias sat on a
hunger strike to press their demands and attract the attention
of the Government but the effort was in vain.
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View of "Karvane
Furat"
Shias
sat on hunger strike
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Having been irked by the attitude of the Government and seeing
that no other option was left for the community, three Shia
youth committed self immolation on 13th of April 1997 at Dargah
Hazrat Abbas A.S., Mohd. Abbas (24 years), Yusuf (38
years) committed self- immolation. They breathed their last
on 16th April 1997 in Safdarganj Hospital, New Delhi On April
16th another Shia youth, Ishrat Altaf, committed self immolation
and passed away.
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Self Immolation |
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Maulana Syed Kalbe Jawad Arrested
Noted Shia cleric Maulana Syed Kalbe Sadiq called on the community
to observe a Peace March on the 18th of April,
1997. A march was scheduled from Imambara Asifi to Imambara
Husainabad in which more than two lakhs Shias along with other
clerics particpated.
Imam Bukhari showed his interest in negotiating the
vexed Azadari issue and was expected to arrive in Lucknow on the
31st May 1997. On 3rd June he was arrested on the outskirts of the
city. Along with him noted Shia cleric , the Imam-e-Juma of Masjid
Asafi, Maulana Syed Kalbe Jawad and Sunni cleric, Late Maulana Qamar
Minai were arrested for organising a meeting and defying Section
144 I.P.C.
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Maulana Syed Kalbe Jawad
Arrested |
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On hearing of their leader's arrest, the Shias stormed the Vidhan
Sabha and performed Matam. The Government seeing the
situation going out of hand was forced to release the leaders without
further delay.
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Shia Decisive Battle
Police lathicharged Shias including women and children on 8th
June 1997 in Muftiganj in the Alam procession.
Upon knowing of this incident Maulana Kalbe Jawad called an emergency
meeting of about 115 Anjumans of the city. At the meeting it was
unanimously decided that if the government did not lift the ban
on Azadari by 24th june 1997 (18th Safar) the Shias would defy the
ban and take out the Alam procession on the 26th of June 1997. The
Administration and the government did nothing they imposed a curfew
in the city on the night of of 26th June 1997. The Chief Minister
Ms. Mayawati issued a strict warning to the Shia community that
any attempt to take out Alam procession would force the government
to deal strongly with them.
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View of Protest
March |
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The police sealed all the Shia dominated localities but ultimately
Shia's defied the curfew.
Maulana Syed Kalbe Jawad Arrested.
The Government to save itself from an embarrassment transferred
the then District Magistrate of Lucknow and issued the order for
the arrest of Maulana Syed Kalbe Jawad under National Security Act
(NSA).
The Administration on the 28th of June 1997 at 4:00 a.m. arrested
Maulana Syed Kalbe Jawad. He was sent to Lalitpur Jail while his
family was incarcerated with the prisoners of TADA. News spread
like wildfire in the city and the people again brake the curfew.
The police mercilessly beat them up. Shia women stormed District
Magistrate residence and protested there. Shia youth performed matam
at the Vidhan Sabha.
People from other parts of the country also started lending their
support to the Azadari Movement. There were also various protests
and agitations reported from the different parts of the country
against the Maulanas arrest. Indian Shias residing in New York,
Syria, Pakistan, Iran and other countries also protested against
the Maulana's arrest.
The situation went out of control and the Government was left with
no other option but to release the Maulana. Finally he was released
on the 8th of July, 1997.
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Ban Lifted
The Government assured the Shias that the Azadari procession problem
would be looked into and solved in three months time and asked for
all agitations and protest to be postponed till then.
The Shias did so. Upon the expiry of the period of 3 months the
matter was not solved and Maulana Syed Kalbe Jawad decided again
to defy the ban on Azadari on 27th of September. The Administration,
finally held rounds of talks between Shias and Sunnis.
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View of Azadari
Procession
after Ban Lifted |
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The Shias were successful in taking out the first Azadari procession
in January 1998 (21 Ramzan) with the permission of the Government.
Today the Shias have been given nine processions out of nine hundred
that are registered in the festival register of the Shias.
The struggle is on to get more processions allowed by the community
under the leadership of Maulana Syed Kalbe Jawad. |
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