Feminism and my age

 Born 22 Jumad-al-thani 1352 Hijra. (this isJumadaII 1433)
Makes me feel old but I have wanted to write about feminism and Islam and how does gender equity fit in with this concept. That is nothing to do with MOTHERS DAY today  and  a month later will be father's day and so is the difference maintained; genders are meant to be different but equal. First the points from Qur'an-el-Hakeem:
"Divorced women shall wait concerning themselves for three monthly periods. Nor is it lawful for them to hide what Allah hath created in their wombs, if they have faith in Allah and the Last day. And their husbands have the better right to take them back in that period if they wish  reconciliation. AND THE WOMEN SHALL HAVE RIGHTS SIMILAR TO THE RIGHTS AGAINST THEM, according to what is equitable BUT MEN HAVE A DEGREE (of advantage) OVER THEM, and Allah is exalted in power,Wise." Al-Baqara Aya 228
 and then Aya 34 of Alnisaa
"Men are the "PROTECTORS AND MAINTAINERS (Qawwam) of women because Allah has given the one more (Strength?) than the other and because they SUPPORT THEM FROM THEIR MEANS Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient and guard (in their husband's absence) what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct (Nushooz), admonish them (first), )next) refuse to share their beds and (last) beat them lightly but if they return to obedience , seek not against them means (of annoyance), for Allah is Most High, Great (above you all)
As I understand from the quoted verses, Allah is giving instructions to husband and wife who have marital problems in which clearly stated a degree superiority to husband is accorded. This is NOT a question of  men and women in general. Allah is swift to mention however that women (wives) have similar rights to those of men (husbands), leaving the stated condition where a degree of superiority is applicable that is as I see the right of taking back his wife whenever he wants to during the time of divorce (the three monthly periods), meaning thereby that wife, even if she wants to does not have THAT right of taking back the husband--in other words 'she is on the receiving end', for obvious reasons as it is the husband who has declared the divorce, not the wife. This does not mean wife has no right to divorce which is a subject not covered in these ayat except the all-important statement-women shall have the same rights as men ACCORDING TO WHAT IS EQUITABLE (Maaroof). Secondly if there "marital discord" (Nushooz) what should be the husbands conduct. Here the word marital conduct is translated by all translators as disloyalty, disobedience of wife which indicates to me that all translators all males and they all tend to ignore the true meanings and stick with such interpretation and in tafseers all go on to say
"because women are inferior in strength and intelligence".
 I agree with bodily strength being superior in general but I am not sure about the intelligence. Most writers bring out some such statements of Qur'an in support: ".. .. .. .. and get two witnesses out of your own men and if there are not two men then a man and two women such as ye choose for witnesses so that if one of them errs, the other can remind her. . . . ." (Verse 282 of Al-Baqara.) To most writers that means the women have poor memory as compared to men and along with that the intelligence also suffers. To me that is outrageous because that is NOT what the creator is saying. Evidently women are not used to making such contracts or business ventures etc. (Some women of today however do not conform to that statement) and so they are likely to forget just as a man who is asked to do something that 'usually' done by women is likely to forget. Commentators pair this with woman getting half of man's share of inheritance to reach an easy conclusion that women is half as intelligent as man. Such is not the case as the reasons for half the share have nothing to do with memory or intelligence etc.
 Individual men and individual women are equal in everything except in physical attributes and in their temperaments etc. and these differences result in some rights of husbands being different.
 To refute the feministic claim however, I want to challenge everybody that the CREATOR DID NOT SAY THE WOMEN HAVE HIGHER DEGREE OVER MEN (and also did not say women can spank men when they "noshooz")  but made that statement in favor of the men (husband) only. However if Nushooz is translated as disobedience of wife making her liable to punishment that is NOT correct inference because Nushooz is applicable to both husband and wife and better understanding is discord rather than disloyalty and disobedience. The method described in the Qur'an as to how to deal with that "discord" is different for husband than that for wife. The reason for that is the contract of marriage and its applicability is such. If you will forgive me and open up the question of this contract I suggest you look up on Prof. Aziza al-Hibri's concerns who is aware of problems of these contracts and proposes to write contracts differently yet ACCORDING TO ISLAMIC TEACHINGS. The rights given by Islam to women and to wives are not fully understood or practiced. ( I agree with her in general)
 That I feel is because of lack of "Feminism" amongst the Muslim men in general.
 Having said that I would like to state that Husband and wife are two different genders and have different roles to play for harmony of married life, which is intended and NOT the forced roles given to each gender that seems to be the feminist's proposition. Would you then force your female child to  play with guns and ball and force your male child to play with dolls? A female child is interested in make up and clothes but how are you going to create that in your male child?
 These days "single parents" have shown the man can look after and raise a daughter and a woman can raise a boy with efficiency. That only means if a man is forced by circumstances to do things usually expected of a woman he can do it and likewise when a woman is forced by circumstances to do things usually expected of a man she can do it. Both have the ability and in THAT ABILITY THEY ARE EQUAL. A man can do everything except become pregnant and a woman can do everything except make her partner pregnant. Those are biological differences which are not the subject of discussion.
 In any case a marriage contract is between two PERSONS who must make their 'division of labor' of their "home-government" that suits THEM and here the Harmony is the goal ; if too much 'masculinism' (if you will) interferes with harmony it is wrong, just like if too much feminism interferes with harmony it would be wrong The 'rules' should bend to produce harmony which cannot be forced. Harmony will result from how much "feminism" is tolerated by husband or how much lack of feminism is tolerated by wife.
Happy mother's day to all mothers.

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SAUGOR and its spellings

 I guess I'll have to do better.
 My idea is to show the Railway Station of Saugor written in English in this picture and in Hindi. Unfortunately the English is poorly seen but this picture taken in 1986 shows the spelling of sagar is "saugor" according to the English written in British Raj days.
 I think I'll get it enlarged

 and see if it can be seen
 the spellings clearly. My sister is standing as she was visiting there in 1986. May Allah grant her al-Jannah. She passed away in 2005.





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Jum'ah Journal--Human vs Divine Law

Every now and again in some country I end up finding some regulation for the human activity related to sex and procreation. What God has placed as "instinct" in all of us remains unchanged. Rules are made for majority so that exceptions are treated as exceptions and not vice versa.
Humans however tend to ignore the reality and go after exceptions and tend to overrule the reality of rule. We have seen how "gay" movements have been advancing. Then we see not only "baby selling" but also Sperm selling and Ova selling and the regulations attached to that.. Just see how "abortion" is treated in different  countries  Most ridiculous however I heard about some political Pundits trying to define life between "sperm", "Ovum" and finally "Zygote" and to see such statements in this day and time? (One of the Comedy, shows)


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Sunday Surkhi-New life

 Yesterday we had addition in our family a beautiful daughter born to my nephew's son (Faizan) i.e. grandson of Bhaijan Meraj marhoom. This little one lost her grandma just four months ago but is a source of happiness for all.
I, myself remember my brother and Bhabi in addition to Isbah, dear wife of Mansoor. She would have been so happy. Of course this house in Gujranwala is, for me, Bhaijan Meraj's for I have so many things to rememebr about it.
 Incidentally yesterday was the birthday of my favorite niece, Shabana. I travelled all the way from Derby to London Walthamstow and I made Azdan in the ears of the newborn and that was today I did so many years ago but that is what I am remembering today. God bless you all baccho.


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Jum'ah Journal- Essence of God

 "Divine Feminine"
 A note from a Muslim feminist appeared last year that I happened to come across now. She tries to search out and emphasize feminine qualities of God and through that she tends to contend God could be just  as much feminine, so why the male-oriented Islam or Muslim jurists and Ulama are stuck with God being masculine only. She quotes some Qur'an and some Hadeeth in support of her contention which is what all Ulama do ; extricate what they think is important from any aya or from any hadeeth.
 No! I have nothing against that tendency after all we need to learn from the scripture. But is there a point where the flow becomes reversed that is knowledge coming from scripture seems to take a reverse gear?
I am frankly intrigued by that feminine thinking for I am not against feminism itself but I worry about excess, going overboard and that is true for both sides of the equation. In general we have known for example that Allah has chosen to refer to Himself as male knowing that He is NOT MALE (NOR FEMALE) as is apparent in the Qur'an. We also know that when in our conversation we refer to "Man" it means mankind inclusive of men and women (Are all the cultures of the world and languages "male-oriented" or dominated by male?) When I first herd from a girl saying to her friends, "Are you guys going to the same place?" I was kind of surprised because I learnt English in the villages of Punjab, purely bookish and did not get used to "English medium" until much later so 'Guy' in my book was only for men. (Just giving some examples.)
 She also quoted Jalaluddin Rumi and other soofi literature which sometimes shows the object of love being 'feminine'(Because the poet is male) as God is 'treated as such for poetical purposes just as in some Urdu poetry beloved is sometimes treated as masculine and compare it with Hindi literature where even though the poet may be male but writes as female pining for male deota or acting as "Bhagwan ki dasee".
 The finer characteristics such as benevolence mercy etc. are 'considered feminine' and she takes that approach also to advance her point of view. I think that essence of God is best left to HIM alone calling Him as such knowing fully well that He is not Male any more than female and He is not female any more than male. He is what He describes Himself. "There is nothing like unto Him" and leave it at that.


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Sunday Surkhi--April Fool

 Is it really foolish to observe this day and play pranks on friends etc,?
I dont know. I was aware of it in Pakistan but since coming into The West, I have seen it more and probably it is a tradition of the West, although Wickipedia says, Iranians do it on 1st or 2nd April (connected to Nawrooz)
 First time I was a 'victim' of the joke was in England 1962. I was on call working in a busy surgical unit and was called early in the morning to see an emergency Appendicitis patient, a "Mr. Bones." The nurses had a good laugh

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Jum'ah Journal--Happy Pakistan Day

 72 years ago today,
 The Idea of "Pakistan" was given a shape in words in Lahore, a city where I started studies 8years later and visited that (then called Minto Park) historic ground where that annual meeting of all India Muslim League was held under the chairmanship of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
 During Bhutto's regime a Minar was built to commemorate that event and the grounds were named Iqbal Park


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Jum'ah Journal- "My lesser Pilgimage"

  Umrah is referred to as lesser pilgrimage and this one has brought some good and not so good experiences I wish to share with you.
 My Muslim friends will understand the situation better who already know about "Zamzam" (holy water). I first tasted and enjoyed this spring water of Makkah 1981. and have been familiar with a distinct taste as I tasted it from time to time since then. Over the last few years though the taste has changed. Either there has been some 'chemical reaction' or 'treatment' or there is 'dilution' given to "pure Zamzam". Rumor has it that the Saudi Government has added other water to it and a "Fatwa" obtained about how much percentage of Zamzam will be considered Zamzam. So I told my wife that if you are drinking two cups of this water that will sure make one definite Zamzam cup.
 It feels to me the whole Islam has become "diluted" and not just this pilgrimage everything is now 'lesser".
  So it is OK to accept it (My sarcasm does have some truth) today. I found the Haram Shreef that is still undergoing extension (why?, when will it be enough?) It is now surrounded by magnificent buildings mostly five or more star hotels and beautiful air conditioned shopping centers etc. those small shops are gone, may be moved to farther places. The whole town of Makkah-al-Mukarramah is undergoing renewal/reconstruction . Rules change with numbers of people visiting. At this time of the year Umra visa is opened and large numbers of Muslims in small and large groups from all over the Muslim world. Every Salat time, the women folks are driven out of the "mutaaf" or Sehan, they must be in the verandahs in the female sections only. Previously there was a part of Mutaaf just for women, may be they will open it up for them again when the numbers reduce for example I expect them less in numbers during summer.
  On the one hand it is good to see better looking buildings, modern etc. and lesser filth but I miss the older less sophisticated streets of Makkah with simple living, small shops etc. The new shops are asking for high prices of the same stuff that was within easy reach of poor people before. I feel that there is too much commercialism visible now and Makkans/Saudi people (Government) are making lots of money and are likely to continue to do so as the people will visit more and more for the air travel is so easy now. The only thing still costing the same today as it did 30 years ago is haircut after completion of the Umrah. The other Barbers may cost more however. What made me uncomfortable however is one doughnut costing four Saudi Riyals (3.74 Riyals for a dollar). I do expect some rise in price over thirty years but not this much.


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Additional Jum'ah Journal

 Did not know how to approach but since I wrote something about "respecting symbols" it seems to me that some do not quite understand that.
Some comment was made on the 4 day old rioting in Afghanistan triggered by "Qur'an burning".
: Why go as far as killing just for protection of a book?
But you do not realize this is NOT Just a BOOK this is Qur'an which has more respect among Muslims than Christians have for Bible. However I agree that killing is wrong no matter how loss of life is brought about in these riots  Killing is NOT justifiable at all.
OK so if the Christians or Non-Muslims of these forces burn Qur'an, why not retaliate and burn Bible?--- there is the catch. Muslims hold Bible just as special and respected as a Sacred book--well may be not as much as Qur'an. (After all Bible is just an English translation) But the point that is missed here is the SYMBOL.  Qur'an is a symbol of Islam. For example: people burn the flag of a country-well it is just a piece of cloth why get excited about it?
There is the whole point
 There was also a comment that Terrorists shoot and kill attacking a mosque so what about the Qur'an copies that get burned by Muslims also?
Again the point is they are not burning Qur'an copies  they are killing people and of course they desecrate the mosque. They lost the faith and therefore they attack the mosque. I do not consider them Muslims.

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Jumah Journal--Queen Sheba's wisdom

  The story in Qur'an-el-Kareem  indicates that when this wise queen received the letter from King Soloman she called her advisory council/ shura/ her cabinet or whatever you may call and addresses them how to respond to this invitation (change in religious thinking just like these days people want democracy and threaten the king/president like in Syria).
"She said, Ye chiefs!advise me in my affair; no affair have I decided except in your presence. They said: We are endued with strength and given to vehement war, but the command is with thee, so consider what thou wilt demand." (Sura 27th verses 32, 33.) Very simple and very instructive. They are telling her we have all the weapons and strength and would be willing to jump into armed conflict if you decide. But here is her wisdom in the next verse 34th:
 "She said, Kings when they enter a country despoil it and make the noblest of its people meanest, Thus do they behave."  Next, "But I am going to send him a present .........." (35th verse)
 She is clearly worried that war is likely to bring misery to the people and so many of my people will be killed or maimed or driven into low life, or something like that. It is unnecessary to do so therefore let us take an alternative approach---OK come back to modern times: in the case of Syria would translate to the following scenario
 The president should have considered that and called the "rebels " to a table to talk. That would have avoided loss of 10K lives. As it is now the West and more importantly America has challenged Bashar to step down. Even if he does not do so soon there will be consequences he will  have to face and eventually either leave in miserable state or even lose his own life and "chair" which he thinks is his right because of 'inheritance''. Then there are other examples of  Muammer Qadafi and Husni Mubarak before him
 Queen Sheba's wisdom is sorely needed in the present day politics and is applicable to all the heads of state today where even fake excuses are manufactured to hurry to war.

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Starvation in Pakistan vs. Arms race

 Please read this
http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/22/feeding-the-bomb-starving-the-nation.html

  Now. My own thoughts.
 Is it wrong to have Nuclear and other arms in Pakistan?
 If not, then where do we draw the line how much to spend on which arms?
  If Pakistan had NOT gotten into Nuclear equality with India, what would have happened?
 Would starvation in Pakistan and all the  other ills of the nation such as electricity/gas load-shedding, grains deficit, low growth, low supplies etc. etc. would NOT have been experienced if Pakistan does not spend on arms?
 If the answer is NO then should we not look for the culprit some other place than the expence of defence?
 May I venture on what would have been the position of Pakistan if such expense was not undertaken?
 I shall let you think about how India would have behaved with Pakistan
 No waters for Pakistan and Pakistan could not negotiate.
 Kashmir question would have been solved overnight just like Haidrabad was solved by India at the time of Partition. Yes, Bengalis would NOT have had a Bangladesh because it would have been all India
 and who knows here would have been no existence of Pakistan itself . NOBODY would have blamed India. The West all would have supported India and blamed the Muslims
 Why did they want a separate country of their own in the first place?
   Well folks I think the problem is  leadership as has always been from the beginning. There are statistics available to show:
 There is enough food, enough electricity, enough gas enough everything for Pakistanis to resolve these deficiencies. Those are created politically to feed the hungry leaders and their families which will remain hungry no matter how much is provided for them.
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Sunday Surkhi- Is 'marriage' just a piece of paper?

Once we are born, the only dead certain thing for each of us, is death.
 It used to be that everybody would think of getting married and having children as a great wish, part of life. But then some may remain unmarried or even if married may remain without children. I remember the old joke of a simple man who was instructed about how to be 'social' in a gathering, like asking somebody are you married or how many children you have, etc. So he asks a lady are you married and she says no and then he asks how many children you have?
   She was furious but nowadays that may not necessarily be considered rude or impertinent. Recent statistics from NY show that over half the children are born out of wedlock. They subdivide it  saying 73% of African American,  53% of Latinos and 29% of white women have children out of wedlock and so on and so forth. Then the Pundits say there is a change in tradition during the last couple of decades and all is becoming accepted. They bring into the etiological factors things such as college education and also that women seem to be earning more than men at this time. (So, they are not attractive any more for the women?) Men are making less money and are more likely to be out of job but the factor of socioeconomic background is not as important any more.
 What will happen to such children born out of wedlock? Considering that two third of unmarried couples having a living together arrangement split by the time their child is ten years old, they will be the ones to suffer and such is definitely the case as the statistics pile up how these children are functioning,socially and academically. there is so much talk about children born with handicap which is physical but the social and psychological handicap is totally ignored. Are these children accepted in the society in the same way as the others or for that matter the 'single parent' family situations? And of course, you are familiar how the media talk about gay parents having a child of their own or adopting or getting a child by donated ovum or rented uterus or donated sperm of choice. I am still waiting for the media to talk about what happens to such children conceived.
 So the unmarried couples, statistics show, have a higher rate of separating than those who do have 'a piece of paper', and yet some continue to hold such ideas that marriage is just a piece of paper.
What is the responsibility of Journalists or media? Just reporting anything aimlessly?

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Jum'ah Journal--respecting symbols

 In connection with the history of Whitney Houston (Funeral today- or tomorrow) One of the the best performances of the National Anthem at some game (1991) was done by her with full fervour and zeal, putting her heart and soul in that performance along with her art. Exactly opposite to it was  that reminded me of the one that Roseanne had done in some other game probably earlier 1989 or 90 which sounded like she was making fun of the National anthem and I was really very angry. I have since that time positively disliked her, not that I was any fond of her show before that.
 Respecting such symbols is important and without quoting the verse of Qur'an I may add here that Muslims are supposed to respect such "symbols" of other religions even if they are idols as we know that we not supposed to show deference but at the same time we are not to degrade them in front of those for whom they mean equivalent to some god.
   May be Roseanne does not know how to sing, but then she should not have taken that assignment. I think it is preposterous to make fun of a national anthem.

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Sunday Surkhi--Whitney Houston

 America mourns today another young death of a music legend Whitney Houston, with a remarkable and distinct voice and a talent beyond description.
 Other veteran music legends like Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, etc. pay tributes and they are older and still alive. When I first heard of this death, I suspected drugs- terrible on my part as I did not know her except as the singer- but so far we do not know the cause of death, may be it would require autopsy. Somewhere her friends and relatives 'failed' her just like they did for Michael Jackson, or those of  Elvis Presley. Sorry I blame such 'friends' because I believe these are "preventable" deaths Like the doctor of Michael who knew better and should have taken precautions both as a friend and as the physician. May be such extraordinary talented people are more self centered and 'alone', do not allow anybody else including friends to come too close to supervise.
 It is sad, very sad.

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Jum'ah Journal-- Contraception and Obamacare

  That the Catholic teaching is in direct opposition to the Government mandated free supply of contraceptives of all types to all employees is not new and regulation has been imposed with full knowledge which is surprising. It provides excellent opportunity for the GOP "wannabe" candidates for forceful rhetoric as the other questions have limited the number of 'bullets' or arrows to throw on Obama.
 However, this seems rather illogical approach because even though contraceptives are used by Catholic men and women either in open defiance to the Church Rule or in modification and gradual relaxation of the strictness of the rule, Government cannot enforce such "preventive care" as many other "preventive care" methods are NOT regulated or "forced to be free". Dental care, eye-glasses prescription filling, hearing aids are some of the things that come to my mind.
 You may say that these things are options BUT
 Low hearing may put some people out of job, out of social gathering, out of listening to good things including music etc. causing psychological distubances or mental torture.
Poor vision may result in bad accidents, a definite deadly risk- not driving means loss of job or other consequences.
Dental problems. Many diseases originate, get worse etc. due to poor dentition
  I understand the real reason is not contraception as much as it is prevention of AIDS but the same argument can be against contraceptive use (there is no doubt that free availability of contraceptives has increased promiscuity in the society).
 No matter how you see it the objection for the Governmental rule remains more appropriate.
 IMANA (Islamic Medical Association of North America) has its position paper on the subject of abortion and use of contraception. (the Ethics Committee of IMANA)

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Sunday Surkhi-Islamic Welfare State

 Now, our friend Imran Khan has also started thinking of Islamic welfare state that he envisages in Pakistan. Same was the slogan of Bhutto and of Zia and I believe everybody else

 What remains to be understood what is the meaning of that term 'according to' who. I read somewhere that he in his speech said if the Scandinavians converted to Islam they would be better Muslims than us. I second it and wish to add that all the Western people if they convert they would be far better Muslims than all the existing Muslims of today--- Well, Maybe for some time and then they would learn from us------ and..........
 No, no, no
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Sunday Surkhi-child-proof medicine bottles

 Last week I heard a long story (TV) of how medications bottles started saving lives of babies who would not know the difference between candies and dangerous tablets. There was no safety before but then in sixties (20th century) statistics developed  how many children get hurt even losing lives and  experiments were done how to make those bottles child proof. So these bottles you see these days came into being somewhere in 1973.  Curiosity and frailty, inability to see danger etc. were thus bypassed to produce safety measure, and of course it has been worth the trouble, since then.
 However for people of my age with arthritis etc. experience is opposite. I end up asking children (a bit grown) to help me open such bottles for me. Not much curiosity but frailty is back, haha.


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HM Chiraghuddin Marhum - 3

 We shall go over his Political life  in this section and spend some time reflecting in the completely retired life before his death in the village Kotla.
    Most of the young Muslims who got Islamic teachings in Deoband mastered the art of speaking at the turn of the (20th) century as the most important thing for all Indians was to see their country free from the British empire. Indian National Congress was the first political party established (1885) which attracted most of the intelligentsia of India. Education amongst the Muslims was not common Madrissa Deoband induced many Muslim young men for joining such freedom movements. Mahmood-ulHassan and Hakim Ajmal Khan were well known Muslim leaders so their students, many of them were fired up with the enthusiasm. I suspect therefore that Mianji became interested and joined the movements (Indian National Congress) and must have developed the oratory power from that school, partly because it was the need of that day.  Muslim League was established in 1910 when Congress had already gotten established (from 1885).  Mianji also joined, at the national level, Jameeat-ul-Ulama-e-Hind. He must have worked hard to reach popularity giving him the position of provincial chairmanship of these national bodies. He belonged to that group of Ulama who supported Congress and he took part in all those local and general elections of these  parties. I remember slogans on the walls in Saugor written for he had at one time "yellow box" for voters, "Place your vote in the yellow box" (Peeli paitey main vote dalo) I am looking at and describing after four decades of his work. He had been jailed by the British Raj many times during his days of powerful speeches against the English and followed all the methods and philosophy of Gandhi. I am told one time Gandhi visited Saugor and my older brother (Bahijan Meraj) as a child had the priviledge of riding on Mr. Gandhi's shoulders, a gesture of friendliness toward the leader, "maulvi saheb". Since most of his previous adventures of fighting against the British must be similar. I shall describe the one I remember from my own experience.
   I was about 9 years old. Aug. 1942 Gandhi started the famous "quit India" movement against the British. Gandhi had several non-violent methods of "agitation" (This word was used by Mianji, I clearly remember, some English words he must have picked up in his  endeavors. He also knew Arabic but he was fluent in Urdu, Persian  and Hindi languages) Any way the whole India was in "agitation" (unsuccessful)   and one of the rallies that took place in our home town where Maulavi Saheb spoke as a leader of Congress party was witnessed by me which I vividly remember for obvious reasons.
 Jamia Masjid is in a central location and there was a large ground on its side where many buses and other motor vehicles traveling to and from the city would stand (kind of a makeshift bus stand  and in 2006  there was still some ground present during my visit) I could not see the stage because I could not even get to the Masjid so I was unable to see him or hear him. Crowds were gathered for his speech and he was known for fiery speeches eloquent, knowledgeable in Islam, Hinduism, Jainism and quoting other leaders freely he was able to excite the crowd's anger against the British. So after midday when many persons from the crowd attacked the Post office (government office) and put fire to it, brought down the lamp posts and wires, the main crowd was familiar with the results. The speaker will be arrested (the police Officer was well-known Sikh who we all considered our friend). He was there but the group of people had Maulavi saheb in the center of their circle so that no police could approach him. That continued till the evening. I had gotten home had my dinner and went to sleep when my mother woke us (all children)up. The police and Army came and our street was closed. Army announced curfew after 10 pm. Father was home and had already packed ready for the arrest. We were saying 'goodbye' to Mianji. Sure enough at 11 PM they knocked at our door.
 Next day appeared just usual for us but we kept hearing news which jail he was taken to etc. but a few months later he was brought to Saugor for court appearance and the judge was to announce the punishment after the hearing. They allowed the family to meet with him (for a couple of hours) outside the courts under a tree, I remember because it felt like picnic for me, outing with family, good food etc. He was given 2 years of jail. I did not read papers so I got to know his whereabouts from others who kept a track of what city he  went to. The movement continued unabated. I may remind you all that he being a "political Leader" the treatment in the jail was different according to the British law. They were well looked after and he being a physician always obliged the jailer and other officials so his respect while in the jail was only increased because after all they were Indians and all wanted to get rid of the British. In the society also our home suffering without father for two years had only increased his respect higher.
 He was sometime in Umraowti jail and some time in PachmaRi jail. (I have an article he wrote on Iqbal in this jail which is the only written thing from him, other than a book he had handwritten about Nabz or pulse) He was given meat well prepared by the jailers and their workers for the favorite prisoner, Maulavi Saheb. It was 1943 we were looking for his release from Jail. How did the family fare without him and the regular income. For some time Buddhoo Mian would run the clinic filling up his prescriptions from the dispensary so some income continued which as time passed it gradually decreased. I measure the financial strain from my breakfast. We were used to Paratha and Tea. At first the ghee started decreasing in the parathas; then it reduced to nil eventually and four five times a week meat reduced to vegetables and daal. We lived with these difficulties until he would be released. Ammanji (my mother) had the philosophy that she did not want her girls to be married in Perdesh (Lived for years in Central India but never felt it 'home'). So for that reason she had a two story house built in Kotla (ArabAli Khan) sometime in 1933 my birth year so we could have a house on return. My older sisters were getting of that age so migration was planned as soon as Mianji got out of Jail about 1943 Aug/September. He was greeted by crowds on release and garlanded "Maulavi Saheb Zindabad" before he got home. Jan or Feb 1944 the whole family transferred to Panjab by train (took 2and 1/2 days by train) and I traveled after finishing my 6th class exams in May '44. Maulavi Saheb became increasingly disappointed by many Congressmen's behavior and by 1945 he resigned from Congress on the basis that the principles of Congress are being trampled by some and 'Maha Sabha' element (BJP of today) was increasing as the partition of India got closer and his secretary Dr. Shukla replaced him as chairman. Shukla  was the first premier of Maddh pradesh after Partition. He did offer Maulavi saheb a position, out of respect, in his cabinet but Mianji refused as he was planning to leave Central India permanently. He did not Join Muslim league but basically retired from Politics and by 1948 retired from practice of medicine too. He traveled on 26th July 1947 to Panjab and that was the last safe train after which most trains traveling from  Indian side to Pakistan side were looted and Muslims massacred. On 14th of August he held a small gathering in the village Kotla and spoke to the villagers what that day meant (I had prepared the Pakistani flag myself) and what was Pakistan and that now Hindus and Sikhs living here are to be given your protection as you are the rulers the British are gone. Indian Government locked up our house until Mianji went back to Saugor, paid some money to the Government of India and took over the house where his sister (My Phoophijan) lived afterward until she died and then the house was donated to the local Jamia Masjid. Mianji  came back from India for the last time (1948) along with Kakkaji and was arrested in Kotla by "Azad Kashmir Forces"  as somebody complained that he was a past Congressman and now may be spying for India. He was taken by third day to Mirpur when he was presented to the Officer in charge and they realized their mistake and he was released as he told them that Nawab Siddiq Ali Khan (personal seceretary of Nawab Liaqat Ali Khan) knew him personally and  would vouch for him, if you call. That was his last 'arrest 'and he passed the rest of his life seeing patients without charge sitting in the sitting room of our village home. Many persons interested in politics would come to chat with him of whom I remember two. One was a young man from Murarian who became Highcourt Judge later and the other was the retired headmaster from Ladian the father of  Major Aziz Bhatti Shahid.  His skills as hakim were quickly realized by the surrounding villages so he was kept busy by patients who came to see the "siana" and that was my father's practice/life until his death with a stroke on 31st July 1957, just before my final results of MBBS were out, Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajeoon. During the two weeks before death Phoophijan and Shakir were able to come from India on his burial in Kotla ArbAli Khan. (There are other 'Kotlas" with different names, so I write full name here)


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HM Chiraguddin Marhum-2

   Leaving home at early ages for those youngsters who would not lend a hand to their fathers (at least in Panjab villages) for cultivation or farming, was not unusual. Mianji left, however, for education for Lahore with two anna piece (eight paisa) in his pocket. He spent his youth quite unknown to anybody pursuing his love of life the education of his choice. How he supported himself where did he sleep, eat etc. we have no information, except that somewhere in Anarkali such youngsters had some kind of lodgings. This daunting undertaking carried out by Mianji alone and neither I nor any of my older siblings ever heard from him mentioning anything about that period of his life, no suggestion how he passed his time and how he studied, what difficulties he faced, nothing. We are only told that, after schooling in Lahore he proceeded to Tibbia College Dehli graduating at the end of 19th century and then to Deoband madrasa graduating from that institution he had "Dastaar bandi"celebration in the year 1900, the green silk turban on a 'kullah'.
     By that time his father had married locally and settled in Saugor (CP) as the mother of Mianji had died back in Sahontra earlier and father decided not to go back to Panjab. There being no attraction in that small village Mianji decided to settle with his father in Saugor, starting his own clinic (Matab). He had learned great things from the two institutions he attended and all I see here is that he turned the 'family hobby' of using folk medicines (herbalist?) for villagers into a solid profession of medicine (Hakim) and more professional Islamic teachings (Imam masjid and teaching Qur'an etc.) being the family tradition he changed to 'hobby' if you will. Among his teachers in Dehli was the famous Hakim Ajmal Khan who was also known in national political circle and in Deoband Madrasa was the famed leader and Muhaddith Maulana MahmudulHasan, (Aseer-e-Malta) a political leader who infused the same spirit of independence and study of Qur'an into all his students and Mianji perhaps was more impressed because of the name resemblance with his own father.
 He started medical practice in 1901, It did not take him long to get established as a medical man with some political attachments like many educated young men of those days would do for the freedom of India. Muslims had been suppressed by the British more than Hindus but as is known about Maulana Mahmudul Hasan who was arrested by the British for "treason" and jailed and eventually banished (Kala Pani) to Malta giving him the name of "Aseer-e-Malta". He was freed from jail sent back to India due to poor health dying in 1920. MahmooduHassan, Mianji's father died in plague that broke out in 1905 leaving him all by himself with the step mother and her daughter (My Phuphijan). These were days of struggle for him so he waited till later for marriage with his cousin, older daughter of his uncle Hafiz Nizam Din. Unfortunately for both this did not work out and after one child's birth (Bhaijan Siraj) they divorced. It is known that both were equally 'hot-tempered'. A few years later how-ever, the second daughter of Hafiz Nizam Din (My mother, Fazal Begum) became his wife moving from Panjab down to Saugor This was probably about 1915 or 16. I cannot say how it came about that one daughter is divorced by a man and you offer the second daughter to him except that his younger uncle (Yaseen) played a significant part in this reconciliation. Although all the brothers of these two sisters boycotted him although they still had great respect for their well-educated cousin.
  By this time Mianji (We, all his children called him by that name, so that word to me carries the awe and respect of a great father) was well established as hakim, was involved in the  city and national politics, a hardworking man of strict principles he was eventually elected to be chairman of local municipal committee. In public he was known more as Maulavi Saheb and less often as Hakeem Saheb. As we have seen the first phase of his life was short in Sahontra and second one spent as a student collecting diplomas of Hikmat and Maulaviat.. Now we are in the third phase in which he spent most of his life in Saugor city. We shall talk about his personal life, along with his professional one and then take up political life separately.
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE:
   After the second marriage his life became well arranged as his wife although only educated at home was an intelligent and expert in house management freeing Mianji for his outside pursuits completely. Between 1919 and 1941 10 children were born but one was lost before birth, so I had 6 sisters and two brothers, in addition to the oldest brother Siraj. Oldest sister Sakina and brother Meraj were born in Sahontra and the rest of all of us (Shakeela, Jameela, Zubaida, Wahaj, Minhaj, Zarina and Amina) in Saugor. We had one family photograph taken in 1940 which was before the birth of my last sister Amina. The step-sister of Mianji, our phoophi Aamna got married about the same time or just before Mianji's marriage. Our Phoopha was a wealthy man owner of lot of land around a small village about three miles from Saugor Our Phoophi had only one girl born just before the birth of Sakina, my oldest sister. We as children all grew up in Saugor city educated there until my older sisters got to a marriageable age. Our mother after coming to Saugor quickly picked up the language and cultural habits and ways and manners of central India. She being the wife of a popular leader (Maulavi Saheb) had to maintain a certain standard of living but not that of rich people. She was always teaching us to be "poor at heart" so Mianji was well-to-do or wealthy but not 'filthy rich'.
     Dress of Mianji  : (As you read on you will realize why I am describing this) By the time I was able to understand I saw him dressed in Shalwar and Kurta (Collerless shirt)  and being follower of Gandhian Philosophy he would not use any foreign things at all. So he would only wear white Khaddar (Khadi), most of the time the cloth was from the thread weaved by my mother; we always had "charkha" at home even in India although Charkha is more common in villages of Panjab. The head wear for men was a must in our culture (Remember the tall cap of Mirza Ghalib?) at that time and more respectable persons would wear turban woven around a "cap" called kullah (See its significance in the Urdu verse from Iqbal I wrote before my writing)  The silk was called "Kosa" locally produced and colored green. This turban would have two parts 'Shimla'. (I am writing for the younger generation who only wear such a thing on their wedding day and may not be familiar with all the significance.) The long part hangs down by the side and may be 24 to 30 inches long. The shorter one in the middle of the turban's cap stays by the side of kullah, may be about 2 to 3 inches long. Now the younger people know it to be standing up with a lot of stiffness induced by the starch and that was also used in those days but it was considered "dandy" or indicative of richness/haughtiness though sometimes also seen in highly placed respectable people (Raja Ghazanfer Ali Khan--Such high shimla is better referred to as Turra). For going out he always wore a coat cotton or wool depending on the weather. The shoes only one kind- Gurgabi somewhat similar to today's Golf shoes, all locally made.
     I remember his routine of a day. After Fajr prayer and breakfast he would get ready and would go to the large front room (his matab or clinic) divided into a dispensary and waiting room with chatai (a palm-mat) and a dhurri (dari) on its floor, one chair and a bench. He himself would be seated on a carpet/rug with a  round pillow (gaow takia) set against the house wall and  a "chawki" (a small desk-like structure, with short legs,)  in front of him on which were placed papers and inkpot and pen for him to write prescriptions.  He will see patients till midday and then come back in the house. The door would always be locked when he sits down with family for lunch. No interruption was allowed.  After a short siesta (longer during summer) he would go back to see patients until about 4 pm and would then come back put on his coat and turban a walking stick and would go to the local Municipal Offices finishing the work come back relax and after supper and Isha prayers would go to bed. Lunch and dinner times were family times and unless some guests have been invited he would not allow any visitors to interrupt his 'family time'. He was strict in his principals and would not change them for even "big shots" visitors.
   He was a very keen herbalist and always relied upon his own judgement for the correctness of herbs. That was the clue to the successful results of his 'treatment' Most of the concoctions and such complex medications were prepared by his capable compounder,  Imamuddin otherwise known as "Buddhoo" in our house. There was separate bigger "choolha" (fireplace) for that purpose. I was more interested in the preparations of such 'medicines' like Sherbat Gurhal or M'ajoons (these were sweet). His work ethics and relations with patients and the community in general are worthwhile legacies that myself and my two older brothers carry with us in our professional lives. He had developed tremor in later years of life but the componder could read his prescriptions without any trouble. In fact he had become a sort of Hakim on his own after having worked for years under Hakim Saheb. He is the one who continued that clinic during the absence of Hakim Saheb and even after we all moved back to Panjab. His 'students' would sit on one side to learn from him the art of practice of 'hikmat'
  Many things were stored in the house, grain (wheat), wood (for burning) and water supply in earthenware pitchers in one corner called " Gharonchi".  From his many grateful patients we would get milk supply from some farmers, other presents from grateful Hindu families. So we as children had 'plenty'. He himself was against movies and dramas, never saw one but he allowed his family occasionally for instructive type of movies. As a little boy I remember seeing with family including my mother and sisters, "Khandan" and "Sikander-e-Azam".
 Next I wish to take up his political life. Please click here to continue the story.



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HM Chiraghuddin Marhum-1

 حدیث دل کسی درویش بے کلیم سے پوچھ                          ھ                         
                    خدا کرے تجھے تیرے  مقام سے آ گا ہ  
      برہنہ سر ہے تو عزم بلند پیدا کر 
یہاں فقط سرشاہیں کے واسطے ھے کلاہ
 علّامہ اقبال رح
  I am not translating this but it has its message

 The ancestors of H (Hakim) M (Maulavi) Chiragh-uddin 
(Short name will be "Mianji" as we, his children called him)
          In the population of northern Punjab there are a lot of Kashmiri families ('people from Kashmir'). They may have such family or 'surnames as Bhatt or Butt or Khwaja or Mir or Dars etc. but not all of them maintained such family names as we know about Mianji's elders had not chosen any, so they were called just "Kashmiris". Some did take up such names as Butt or Mir or Dar through matrimonial or other connections into such "kashmiri" families.
   Background historical synopsis.   Although there were Muslim converts present, at least from the 12th century onward, but majority of non-Muslim residents in Kashmir (about 85%) accepted Islam around late fifteenth century under Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin who was a pious Muslim and promulgated Islam by peaceful means and worked for uplift of the subjects. When the Mughals took over in the 17th century only some improvement (Like Gardens or water enclosures and water fountains) was added to the beautiful landscape of Kashmir but the cultural and economic life of Muslims or minorities (mostly Hindus) remained poor and undeveloped. Ahmad Shah Durrani, the brute Afghan ruler was invited to Kashmir (1752) because the Mughal power had started declining resulting in too much hardship for the poor Kashmiris. Afghan rule, however, turned out to be no better. In fact it caused much more misery with increased taxes and no educational institutions or other support for cultural uplift.
    Why leave home? Considering above along with other factors such as economic constraints, must have been the reasons for Khair Din and Fazal Din, the two brothers to leave the beautiful valley in 1760 or thereabout. Their first priority was Islamic education (They were still very young my guess-"preteen") so they enrolled themselves in the teaching institution in Sialkote ,a well-known city in those days for Islamic and other teachings. After graduation they decided not to go back to Kashmir for reasons best known to them and settled in the Panjab. Khair Din went to Amritsar and Fazal Din got married and settled in a small village called Sahontra -- (Punjabi-wise-سھونترہ  and Urduwise- سہونترہ  in pronunciation), hardly 3-4 miles from the southern border of Kashmir
  We have no further information about Khair Din what happened to him and no information how and why Fazal Din found this small unknown village attractive enough to call his home. He was young and educated good looking promising fellow so it is not difficult to see that some father gave the hand of his daughter (named "Rasoolan") to him. Life here was pretty static and unchallenging.  He started educating the local people and must have brought books from Sialkote on leaving. There were no teaching institutions of any kind in the village or anywhere nearby. So the education of children was at home from generation to generation.
    His grandson  Saheb Din continued the same family tradition and here a hobby was added to these "persons of wisdom" (Siany- سیانے)-  Living was very simple as they had acquired small pieces of land for cultivation of whatever they fancied. Non-Muslims in these small villages made up 10 to 15 % only. Saheb Din therefore was a man regarded with respect and a local leader who everybody would consult for everything. Some change started now. He had three sons, the oldest was Nizam Din who was the first one to perform Hifz of complete Qur'an and became a regular Imam and teacher of Qur'an in the nearby village of Sidwal (Sidwal Kalan) just about a hundred or so yards from Sahontra. Next was Mahmud-ul-Hassan (Not "Din")though he was commonly known as "Allah Loke" and the youngest was Yaseen (again not "Din") who stayed in Sahontra making his earnings from the land and is reported to be Hafiz also. Allah Loke, the father of Mianji, however was of a more adventurous disposition.
    Most Kashmiris are said to indulge in cloth weaving or selling etc. Mahmudul Hassan would sell cloth but not from his home. Instead he would travel from place to place and he traveled far off places in this undertaking. So when Mianji was born in the village he did not see his father often. Other elders were unable to provide enough intellectual challenge for this bright kid. They instead tolerated lot of his mischiefs spoiling him, as he was the only boy in the family and there were no other children. Children of his Uncle were in Sidwal, though not very far but not in Sahontra either.
  So if you see these conditions of childhood of this kid, there being no school, no teacher nothing nearby to occupy his mind or provide a modicum of satisfaction to his urge for learning, it is not difficult to understand that he took the same step as that of his great grandfather--he left his home while very young probably no more than 6 or 8 years of age. this brings us to the first phase of his life to an end. We shall continue second phase next. Please click here to continue.

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