The ancestors of Dr Iqbal were Kashmiri Brahmans from village Sopur ( near village Dhanuv ) , Kulgam
area and had Sapru as their surname . The family traces its origin to one Birbal Pandit of village Sopur, Kulgam.A large population of Anantnag district
moved out to Kishtwar , Bhaderwah and Punjab in early 19th century due to three
successive famines and cholera epidemics .When did this Sapru family actually move to Punjab is not clear. All
along his life , he remained warm
towards Kashmiri Brahmans . In Javednama , Allama writes :
“ A’an Brahman zaadganan-e-zindah dil
Laleh-e-ahmar zi rooye sha’n khajil
Tez been-o-pukhta kaar-o- sakht kosh
Az nigah-e-sha’n farang andar kharosh
Asl-e-sha’n az khaake-e-daamangeer ma’st
Matla-e-ein akhtara’n Kashmir ma’st ”
(Those scions of Brahmans with vibrant hearts,
Laleh-e-ahmar zi rooye sha’n khajil
Tez been-o-pukhta kaar-o- sakht kosh
Az nigah-e-sha’n farang andar kharosh
Asl-e-sha’n az khaake-e-daamangeer ma’st
Matla-e-ein akhtara’n Kashmir ma’st ”
(Those scions of Brahmans with vibrant hearts,
their glowing cheeks put the red tulip to shame.
Keen of eye, mature and
strenuous in action,
their very glance puts Europe
into commotion.
Their origin is from this
protesting soil of ours,
the rising place of these stars is our Kashmir.)
.Ancestors of Nawaz Sharif Bhat
(former prime minister of Pakistan ) and
Ghulam Mohammad Gama Pehalwan ( wrestler Rustam e Hind who lived in in Amritsar
before the partition of the country ) and ancestors of Kulsoom Nawaz Bhat wife
of Nawaz Sharief are also from Kulgam and she is incidentally the niece of Gama
Pahelwan. The story of poet Sufi Tabassum, Miraji , politician Saif ud din
Kichloo and many more is similar . Obviously all of them have Kashmiri roots.
Munira Bano and Javed Iqbal were born from
Dr Iqbal's marriage with Sardar Begum, a Kashmiri girl from Lahore
. Allama fondly called Munira as " Babbi ". After the death of
his wife Sardar Begum , Allama was in search of a caretaker for his
daughter . Professor Rasheed Ahmad Siddiqi of AMU arranged a German governess.
The children fondly called her “Auntie Doris” .
Munira in particular , discovered a mother in 'Aunty Doris' .Munira and Javed were also attached to their maternal
uncle, Abdul Ghani who belonged to a Kashmiri family from Lahore. Abdul Ghani
would take the children for sight seeing and buy them gifts . Abdul Ghani died
young.
Allama did not eat beef. I quote from page 17 of
the book' Iqbal As I Knew Him' by Doris Ahmed :
" He would not eat beef and if he ever took any
form of beef, accidentally it would make him ill. He commented that this was probably because of
the fact that his ancestors had been Hindu Barahmans. Among fruits, he
liked mangoes very much and his friends, who knew about this weakness, would
often send him crates of mangoes. "
During winters , Allama drank Kashmiri Kehwa tea . He would
use his Pashmina Dussa and Kashmiri Shawl. He loved smoking from
his Hookah .He liked stuffed Karelas, mutton Keema, Bhindi , Maash Daal
,Chapatis, Gajjar Ka Halwa and seasonal vegetables. He ate very
less. Slept at 1am and got up very early.
And the book
'
IQBAL AS I KNEW HIM' by Doris Ahmed informs us that Allama's sisters , brothers , nephews
and nieces would come to Javed Manzil and stay there for days at a
stretch. Allama loved his sisters , nephews , nieces and brothers . He
would extend all help to them.Allama was very close to his youngest sister
Karim Bibi.She was a frequent visitor to Javed Manzil. During winters ,
a Kangri with charcoal had to be prepared for Karim Bibi . She would also
keep it under her Lihaaf (quilt) to warm her bed before sleeping.During
daytime, she would keep the Kangri under her shawl. Munira and Javed were very
fond of Karim Bibi , their Poophi ( paternal aunt ).
Munira Bano has said this:-
" Abba Ji would lull me to sleep and then pass me on to
Auntie Doris . At morning time , I would be surprised to find myself
sleeping with 'Auntie Doris' .When Abba ji died , I was suddenly woken up
by Auntie Doris . I saw everybody weeping. There were many
relations in the house . Abba Ji's sisters and their husbands had also
come. I could not comprehend at that time as to what had
actually happened . I do not agree with those who regard Abba
Ji as a very serious person. My experience has been
different. I remember him as a person who smiled a lot and cracked jokes.”
( Sheikh Noor Mohammad Father of Allama Iqbal )
( Allama Iqbal )
( Allama Iqbal )
Khushwant
Singh, well known journalist writes this in ‘The Telegraph’:-
“I
am beholden to P.V. Rawal of Jammu for sending me a photograph of Allama
Iqbal’s Kashmiri Brahmin family taken in Sialkot in 1931. At this time Iqbal
was in his mid-fifties. He had already risen to the top as the greatest Urdu
poet, at par with Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib. Although he was proud of his
Brahmin descent, he had nothing to say about his Hindu relations. In this
picture, the elderly lady seated in the middle is his grandmother, Indirani
Sapru, nicknamed Poshi, wife of Pandit Kanhaya Lal Sapru. The man standing on
the left in a shawl is Iqbal’s cousin, Amarnath Sapru; note the close
resemblance to the poet.
The
family traces its origin to one Birbal. They lived in the village of Saprain
(hence, the surname Sapru) on Shopian-Kulgam road. Then the family moved to
Srinagar where Iqbal and most of his cousins were born. Birbal had five sons
and a daughter. The third one, Kanhaya Lal, and his wife, Indirani, had three
sons and five daughters. Kanhaya Lal was Iqbal’s grandfather. His son, Rattan
Lal, converted to Islam and was given the name Nur Mohammad. He married a
Muslim woman — Imam Bibi. The Saprus disowned Rattan Lal and severed all
connections with him. There are different versions of Rattan Lal’s conversion.
The one given to me by Syeda Hameed, who has translated some of Iqbal’s poetry
into English, maintains that Rattan Lal was the revenue collector of the Afghan
governor of Kashmir. He was caught embezzling money. The governor offered him a
choice: he should either convert to Islam or be hanged. Rattan Lal chose to stay
alive. When the Afghan governor fled from Kashmir to escape its takeover by the
Sikhs, Rattan Lal migrated to Sialkot.”
( Photo of Iqbal's Hindu relations published in The Telegraph)
( Photo of Iqbal's Hindu relations published in The Telegraph)
(
Avtar Mota )
PS
Sources for the write up..
(1)
Interview of Munira Bano Iqbal on YouTube
(2)
Book ' IQBAL AS I KNEW HIM' by
Doris Ahmd
(3) Khushwant Sinfh’s write up in ‘The
Telegraph ‘’
Further , I have uploaded some photographs
of Kulgam .You can see the highly revered shrine of Sufi sanit Syed Samnani
, Kulvageshwari
Temple ,
Bazar views
, Two Kashmiri Pandit shops selling electric items in the main Bazar , an apple orchard , two views of Veshav
river( originating from Kounser Naag ) taken from Khudwani bridge and many
other views . Kulgam is a district head quarters now. It has 5 blocks Quimoh, Pahloo,
Damhal Hanji Pora , Devsar and Kulgam.. It has 3 assembly segments Noorabad,
Kulgam and Homshali Bugh .
tu shahin hai parvaz hai kamm tra
ReplyDeleteaasman teray liye aur bhi hai
outstanding keep! it up
omething on jagan nath Azad
-dr.padha
dear Dr padha ji
ReplyDeleteThanx for the comment .yes i want to write a blog on jagan nath Azad. i do not have his phoographs . I consider it my privilege to have talked to Azad sahib twice. He was an authority on Allama. What a wonderful man he was! He was also a very very close friend of Faiz, sahir and ali sardar Jafri.I just have a single photo of Azad sahib with me . I happen to know his son in law and shall try to get some photographs to be put on blog. i can write a good blog on his life and Art. Till that blog comes out enjoy a couplet of Jagan Nath azad which i like
"Maine Poochha ki Zindagi Kya Hai
Haath Se Gir Ke jamm toot Gaya .
"I started to enquire the purpose of this existence
suddenly my glass of wine slipped from my hands , fell down and broke."
My Dear Mota Jee,
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed wonderful to see your literary & photographic inputs. It updates us all. Keep it up & God bless you. Do attempt a full story on Shadipora Prayag.
With blessings & best wishes
... IK Kilam
Respected kilam sahib
ReplyDeletethanx for the comments . i have done a piece on Shadipora Prayag with photographs taken by me when i had gone there with hakumat singh our driver in the bank. kindly visit the blog.looking forward to your another visit to happy valley .
your own
A k mota
Long time since we met/spoke. Are you still in Srinagar. Which is the place you went around the valley latest ? Have yopu visited Nagdandi Ashram lately ?
ReplyDelete... IK Kilam
yes kilam sahib i am in srinagar. i visited nagdandi and there is a post on my visit.
ReplyDeleteregards
Ashok kaul
ReplyDeleteBanaras Hindu University
Dear Mota Sahib:
I am really happy to see your interest in Iqbal.My father,Pt ved Lal Kaul'Raz', a poet in his own right was an authority on Iqbal.I took my facination for Iqbal from him and at the moment I am seriously spending time on his persian poetry.I am strogly convinced Iqbal needs to be known beyond religious perspectives also.
shoke huzoor dar Jahan,
Rasme sanam gari nihad
Ishq fareb ma dehad,
Roye dil aram ra!
THANX KOUL SAHIB .
ReplyDeleteHow many monuments are there in Kulgam for Allma Mohd Iqbal, famous Urdu poet ?
ReplyDeleteSapar village, native plave of Allama Mohd Iqbal is a VERY BACKWARD place. How did it remain so, ignoring its belonging to so much great personality ?
ReplyDeleteAre state ministers SLEEPING ???
Lets stand for the voice to make sapru(kulgam) Allama Iqbal's enlightment venu.
ReplyDeleteI was moved to read from the above blog the love and respect Allama had for Kashmiris. The way he received and treated the visiting Kashmiri Hind girl exemplifies such love.There is a legend ( the authenticity of which is doubtful)that Sheikh Abdullah once went to meet Allama and as he was leaving, Allama heaved a sigh and is reported to have said that this man is going to deceive his "Quam"-community. Can any body throw some light on this.
ReplyDelete