What Was The Elephant Telling Me ,,

we both walked
with grieving  hearts
me from bibi ka alawa
you from panje shah
our hearts locked
to your city you will depart
sharing this long journey
of the shias of hyderabad
as poetry and art ,, remember
ghame hussain before you start
the nobility of a bereaved mother
bibi fatima the daughter of our
hallowed holy prophet  a
message of hope humanity
as hussainiyat she imparts
her sacrifice on the sands
of karbala stands apart
imperialistic hegemony of
a maloun yazid her son
did thwart ..our hope he is
our mother thou art

The Bibi Ka Alam Ashura Hyderabad

from wikipedia

Bibi-Ka-Alam or Alam-e-Mubarak is an annual procession during Moharram. Bibi-ka-Alam, installed in the name of Imam Hussain Prophet's Grandson and the third successor of the prophet at the Shi'ite ashurkhana at Dar-Us-Shifa,[1] Hyderabad, India on the 10th day following Moharram.[2] It is a Shia event. The procession starts at Alawa-e-bibi situated at Dabirpura and ends at Chaderghat. During the procession the devotees mourn the death by reciting Nauhey, (narrating the incidents occurred during 10th Moharram 60 Hijri in Karbala). The daughter of Mohammed. Hazrat Fatima-e-Zehra is called Bibi. The locality is known as Mohalla Bibi Ka Alawa.[3

History[edit]
Throughout the history of Qutub Shahi reign, the tradition of Azadari or Mourning of the Martyrdom of Imam Hussain and his followers was conducted with high regard under state supervision.

This Ashur Khana was renovated by the Seventh Nizam under the advice of Nawab Zain Yar Jung. The main entrance and its roof remain unaltered on which 1299 H, the year of construction is engraved. The room in which the Alam is installed is a strong room and the Alam is kept in a safe made on the design of a Sarcophagus (Zarih).

The Relic[edit]
There is a relic enclosed in this Alam as well. The relic is a piece of the wooden plank on which Janab Syeda was given her final ablution by her husband before burial. This Relic was in Karbala for a very long time. In the time of Abdullah Qutub Shah it reached Golkonda. The Relic was preserved in the calligraphic Alam with Arabic lettering of Allah, Mohammed and Ali. It was covered with an alloy of metals and gold. later Nasir-ud-daulah offered jewellery to the Alam which still exists.

There was a Royal decree sanctioning funds for the expenses and award of jagirs for the maintenance of the attendants. The provision for the paraphernalia of naubat, mahi maratib and the Royal Umbrella for the procession were also made. Throughout the year a wooden louvred blind is placed at the entrance Two green pouches, in the shape of ear-rings containing precious gems are suspended on either side of the Alam.

The Procession[edit]
This Alam is the symbol of the climax of the observance of the Moharrum mourning in Hyderabad. It comes out on an elephant on the 10th of Moharrum and presents the impression of a Royal cortege in procession.[4]

The Alam, as it emerges from the Alawa, the mourners keep chanting Ibn-az-Zehra Wa Waila, which means Goodbye Son Of Zehra,which is a protestation against the slaying of Zehra's son Hussain. Since long years it is a tradition of the mourners in the procession to chant these words.

Moharam In Hyderabad

I do not have a Hyderabadi bloodline connection and my ancestors were from Lucknow , my dear departed father called himself Moghal Pathan.

My mother was a Syed from Lucknow Pata Nala  her father Daroga Nabban Sab was a descendant of poet Mir Anis..My fathers father had accepted Shiasm by marrying a Shia lady my grandmother Khurshed Begum,of Vazir Ganj near Khakhan Manzil.
My maternal grandmother Nazmi Begum a Syed too  was my matenal grand father Daroga Nabban Sabs second wife..

I discovered Hyderabad very late in life I came to Hyderabad first time to attend a shoot of Govindas David Dhawan film with Karishma Kapoor , I was called there by Mr Chinni Prakash for Govindas look..for a dance sequence .

After that destiny or my cosmic fate pulled me to Hyderabad in 2003 with help from Halu Bhai of Bandra I visited his relatives Sajjad Bhai and Kazim to participate and shoot Moharam i Hyderabad , I was hooked to Hyderabad ,, I liked the city the people the Shia ethos I came back to shoot Chehlum but I was faced with the ire of some Hyderabadi spiritually arrogant Nawab who had more hate for Shia photographers than even stray dogs ,,

I kept away from Hyderabad being sensitive by temperament and nature I did my kama  matam here .My wife had accompanied me too we stayed and savored the hospitality of Abid Bhai  Painter .

After that I visited Hyderabad shot Ashura in 2009 and than again the last time in 2012 .

Much as I tried to come to Hyderabad it just would not happen I wanted to shoot Chehlum in Hyderabad 2013 could not get a rail ticket till the end I did my Chehlum at home ,, as I do not participate in Mumbai Azadari for personal reasons , this was my first Chehlum in the darkness of my house and my soul.

Ashura 2013 I had to come to Delhi as my American friend cancelled Hyderabad last minute he wanted to be in Delhi so I came to Delhi and documented the same.

And I yearn for Hyderabad I have made some great friends and Qayam son of Akthar Bhai Naqi Bhai Lutfi brothers and Sajjad Bhai Abid Bhai make me feel at home.

I have another friend in Hyderabad Zain Hussain Sab I have never met him but he is cosmically attached to the impoverished poetry of my beggar soul.

And so I am reblogging these Hyderabad Ashura pictures for the Shias of Hyderabad their hospitality the love I can never repay save by this token of Memories of Ghame Hussain.

All this was shot in 2012 at Hussaini Koti Hyderabad. on 8 Moharam..

In Every Street Corner Of Mumbai Drug Addicts Perverts Are Waiting To Destroy Childhood

wherever you go they lurk
but the cops look the other
way they are badly overworked
beneath the skywalks drug
addicts smoke freely faces
with evil smirk see the fear
in the girl childs eye scared
a system failure law and order
dead governance uninterested
tears on the soul of my artwork

In India Even God Cant Save The Girl Child

In Mumbai a five year old
child raped brutalized
a broom inserted in
the nether region of
her womanhood
forever traumatized
what was her fault
assaulted left to die
our law order gone
down the drain even
rape is politicized
tourism is more
important billions
of dollars while a
little child  cries
when a girl child
is born her god
 dies mumbai
loss of governance
dance of democracy
innocence chastised
to vote you to power
is not the worth the
right to franchise
you play with our
lives building your
mansions towers
of babel touching
satanic skies

Farewell Fred Rest In Peace

1950-2014
Fred Miller passed away at 10PM with his family around him.

life is a temporary house
given by god to us on lease
as rent we try to live in peace
prayers our way of connection
to him a connection that even
after death does not cease
through goodness kindness
helping others god we please
we fall we rise we help others
through charity god  we appease

take care my friend you were
our hope on Flickr you loved
photography ..you were an
erstwhile poet wordsmith
touch others your holistic
ability you supported us
through thick an thin this
was your Indian ancestry
your love selfless for
all us hallmark of your
dedication to humanity

benn bell
glenn losack
anthony posey
linda schaefer
roland w luthi
will miss you
your firebrand
music bound
synergy

you will live in our hearts forever till eternity

a beggar poet waits for you at cafe leopold
a cup of black coffee and your malt whiskey

The Humility Of The Nawabs Of Hussaini Koti

One iconic Shia markaz I have shot since 2003 is the 8 Moharam mournful celebrations at Hussaini Koti in Hyderabad .

I was bought here first time by Sajjad Bhai and I met the patriarch his son Ghazanfar bhai and the other Nawabs a bond was formed and I began making this event an integral  part of my Moharam in  Hyderabad ,

This is a unique ancient ritual by the scions of the Nawabs family all united in our pain we call Ghame Hussain,

The Nawabs are gentle folk cultured impeccable and Moharam brings them together with the rest of the Shia people , the kids are exemplary in their Deccani Adab Tehzeeb.. and I love their kids , who think I am some man from alien space with a camera.


And these are old posts I am reviving and bringing out from my 55000 documentary at Flickr titled Shiasm In India , it can be viewed with a Yahoo account as a Flickr member ,, because of the blood and Shia rituals of Kamazani some portion of this set is not for public view at all.

This is in keeping with Flickr terms of service and Guidelines  as my Account is marked Safe and self moderated .

Though I am a Shia born please note this documentary is not a religious promotional one , I shoot all religion I respect all religion and if my pictures were to hurt a particular religion by shooting them I would stop photography completely .

I shoot all this as pure photo journalism as most of my friends are Non Muslims non Shias and  it is for them that I shot all this  as it would be beyond their reach to enter certain premises where these religious events take place .

Most of my friends from abroad come down to shoot Moharam with me in Mumbai but as I dont participate in Mumbai Azadari .. I make sure they get the neccessary help through my Mumbai Shia friends and are ably taken care of ..

I shoot Moharam where Bibi Fatima takes me with her handkerchief to collect the tears of the Shias as Ghame Hussain.

I must reiterate I dont glorify bloodletting but it is part of Shia mourning tradition and I cut my head , my grandchildren too have taken part when they were just a year old.

All my three grandkids dont fear the kama at all..

My American friend Glenn Losack tries not to miss Moharam , I know a few friends from abroad who sold their house and car to extend their stay in Mumbai just to shoot Ashura..and it is for these friends I shoot Ashura ..and my house is open to them during Moharam.

I hope to shoot Moharam in Hyderabad , I once thought of shooting Moharam in Jammu I was invited by a Hijra head Sarah Haji  a great lover of Hussain...but I could not make it ..

I am a peaceful man my Moharam is simple , I am not into diatribe I dont care a fuck who is who , I dont care a fuck what a man s believes are , I am not here to judge him or his actions as long as he does not teach me my faith .

My parents did a great job and though both are dead I am happy they did not teach me to just love only my faith they taught me to love my neighbor , I take part in Hindu festivities I take part in Christian festivities ,,,but my Faith is intact.

And I became a Malang in 2011 .. and shoot and document Ajmersharif and few other Dargahs..

And I shall shoot both the Ganeshas in Mumbai Lalbagh Chya Raja and Lord GSB King Circle ..