Centennial celebrations: An evening of poetic eulogies in honour of Dr Syedna Burhanuddin

Qaseem Amrohvi, Asghar Dars and other poets hold audience in raptures.

KARACHI:

Much to the delight of the Dawoodi Bohra community, the Burhani Literary Society held a Naat and Munqabat programme that continued till late into the night on Friday as part of the celebrations of their spiritual leader’s one hundredth birthday.

Against a simple stage that twinkled with fairy lights, dignitaries, poets and scholars wowed the audience with their luminous verses in praise of the Holy Prophet’s (pbuh) family and for his Holiness Dr Syedna Muhammad Burhanuddin (TUS).

Among other poets in attendance were Professor Sahar Ansari, Qaseem Amrohvi and Asghar Dars who read eulogical poetry with Nauhas reflecting on the tragedy of Karbala. The evening was chaired by Naeem Bhaisaheb Mohyuddin who is a member of his Holiness’s family and Janab Nooruddin Bhai Zakiuddin, the Karachi Amilsaheb. The guest of honour was the vice chancellor of Karachi University, Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, who recited an Urdu couplet to the effect of: “Among us, in the time we are in, among the blessings bestowed, is his Holiness Syedna Muhammad Burhanuddin. A heart and a mind as shining as his is not seen anywhere today”.

The poets evoked repeated responses of “Subhan’Allah” from the audience for their excellently worded Madhas, eulogical compositions in praise of Syedna Buhanuddin. Qaseem Amrohvi’s easy to understand, friendly, relatable recitations were well received. He not only knew Syedna Burhanuddin but also talked at length about his father Syedna Tahir Saiffudin. Equally enjoyable were the passionate thunderings of Asghar Dars who has the ability to make the pulse pound. His voice echoed throughout the hall: “The one who is a support to the world needs no walking stick despite being a hundred years old.” As his voice died off, the audience inhaled collectively and burst into passionate “wah, wahs” of appreciation.

The audience, mostly made of elderly members of the community, was dotted with the bare heads of the non-Bohras who were invited as guests. The appreciation of the audience can be gauged by the fact that one woman kept borrowing my pen to record the verses, while another, who kept asking whether I had taken down any of them, exclaimed, “This was excellent... very different from what we usually do, and very beautiful”. For guest Tasneem it was “so impressive to know that the world thinks so highly of our Syedna Burhanuddin”.

While the invitation cards did not mention it, one of the highlights of the evening was a five-course meal that followed the programme. As with all traditional Dawoodi Bohra meals, it began with a taste of salt. The thaal was laden with sweet and savoury dishes with fresh salad on the side. The meal began with mango ice-cream followed by a full roasted chicken in green sauce. The loki (bottle gourd) halwa garnished with roasted almonds followed, after which the operi (the men who serve food in thaals) served chicken qorma with croissants, normally referred to as naan roast. The main course was chicken biryani that was served towards the end, with raita on the side. Mint lemonade and paan topped it off and the meal ended as it had began, with a taste of salt.



Published in The Express Tribune, June 12th, 2011.