By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: Har ek ki chashm aansuon se dab daba gayi/ Goya sada Rasool ki kaano mein aagayi-Meer Anees (1803-74). The glorious days of Marsiya (couplets highlighting the Karbala incident) will be revived in Lucknow. The Hussainabad and Allied Trust (HAT) will soon launch special school training in writing and reciting Marsiyas.
Lucknow regarded as epicenter of Shia Muslims was a Mecca of Marsiyas. During the Nawabi era several renowned poets as Meer Anees contributed in making the martyrdom of Imam Hussain in Karbala incident immortal by their works. Penned in couplet form, Marsiyas depicted the various incidents of Karbala. These couplets were recited by people during the Moharram, the mourning month in Islamic calendar.
Marsiyas also became an integral part of various majlis and other programmes held in memory of Imam Hussain. Several anjumans (organizations) in Lucknow train their members in penning Marsiyas followed by their recital.
“We understand that Marsiyas an integral part of Lucknow’s culture. It has given several eminent poets and their works are still relevant. We plan to revive this process once again,” said Secretary, HAT and ADM (west) OP Pathak on Thursday. For this HAT which manages various historical monuments of Nawabi era will launch a school for raining students in marsiyas writing and reciting. The school is likely to be functional from Rajab 13 (likely June 16) to mark the birth anniversary of Hazrat Ali.
The school will run at Picture Gallery, a protected monument presently under control of HAT. The ground floor of the monument is being spruced up for this purpose.