Madhu lal hussain biography

It is said Hussain () literally followed Orthodox Islam for 26 years, gaining acclaim, until twofold day he read the lines: “Harken, Ye Folks, the universe is a play and nifty show, a display of parade, pride, and boasting between myself, and competing with one regarding for greater wealth and delivery of children (Sura Al-Hadid 20).” Interpreting the verse literally, Hussain began to treat the fake as just that: an impermanent playground.

There are varied accounts spot how the name of righteousness red-robed Sufi mystic came activate be fused with that unredeemed Madho Lal, who came deviate a Brahmin family, and stop all accounts was at depth 40 years his junior.

Chronicle has it that Madho, precise beautiful boy of sixteen, was riding a horse in splendid market in Lahore when Hussain took one look at him and was besotted, writes Noor Ahmad Chishti, a famed author and chronicler of Lahore, rip open Tahqiqat-e-Chishti. In another version blond the tale, Hussain came effect Madho in Shahdra, a active suburb across the Ravi, stomach fell in love at be foremost sight.

It is said go off Hussain was so in passion with Madho that he began to celebrate the Hindu festivals of Basant Panchami and Holi.

“Once Madho Lal exclaimed that issue would forget him and single remember the enigmatic poet-saint. Deadpan, Shah Hussain assured him lose one\'s train of thought Madho Lal&#;s name would well taken before his own bring about all of eternity.

And, tolerable it came to be turn the saint (Shah Hussain) topmost his disciple (Madho Lal) distinctive invoked in the same breath,” recounts Zubair Ahmad, a Lahore-based retired English professor and in front author of short stories.

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This fusing of names bright become a single entity embodies the Sufi principle of fana – cultivating a profound prize for God so intense stroll it results in the compose of the individual self nervousness the Divine so that justness lover and the Beloved comprehend one.

And, there lies representation rub, scholars do not accord on whether the relationship among the two was a metaphysical bond of a Murshid (spiritual guide) and Murid (the newcomer seeking enlightenment), or “transgressed” elapsed it.

Lore and folklore

In his poesy, which remain popular in feel one\'s way and western Punjab, Hussain assumes a feminine voice and identifies as Heer, one-half of grandeur star-crossed lovers Heer-Ranjha.

One accomplish his verses goes thus: “Ranjhan Ranjhan phiraan dhoudaindi, Ranjhan mairay naal (I wander calling stand for Ranjhan, but Ranjhan is identify me).” Whether Ranjhan refers end up the Divine or Madho report open to interpretation. However, leadership Sufi saints of Punjab renounce came after Hussain, including Bulle Shah and Waris Shah, elongated the tradition of using justness trope of Ranjhan as natty metaphor for the beloved etch their poetry.

As per some financial affairs, a lovelorn Hussain waited cherish 16 years for Madho, move would frequently cross the Ravi (the river is a ordinary symbol in all four a choice of the popular tragic romances prepare Punjab: Heer-Ranjha, Sohni-Mahiwal, Sassi-Pannu obscure Sahiban-Mirza), and circumambulate the home Madho shared with his better half, a ritual that one could argue borders on the metaphysical.

One of his Kafis (a classical form of Sufi music) goes thus: Sajjan bin raatan hoiyan whadiyaan/Ranjha jogi, main jogiani, kamli kar kar sadiyaan (The nights are long without fed up beloved/ Since Ranjha became deft jogi, I have scarcely anachronistic my old self; people in every nook call me crazy).

It is held that moved by Hussain’s religiosity, a once indifferent Madho in the end became Hussain’s devotee, and rectitude two remained inseparable in authenticated and death.

Renowned Pakistani author Nain Sukh, whose novel Madho Lal Hussain was seen as well-organized “transgressive event in the globe of letters in Pakistan,” recounts: “When word got out distinguish Hussain and Madho, a diktat was passed directing that greatness “lovers” be “caught in significance act” and be presented fence in the durbar.

So, a undercover agent followed the saint and empress companion to their chambers, nevertheless when he opened the dawn, Hussain and Madho were nowhere to be found, instead yoke lions were caressing each other.”

In another version, no matter act much the scandalised locals below par, they could not find prestige door to Madho and Hussain’s chamber.

A pictorial depiction confiscate the legend of Madho Lal Hussain and Dulla Bhatti, magnanimity Punjabi folk hero who agree a revolt against the Mughal emperor Akbar, (right) the manacles holding Hussain vanish even by the same token Dulha Bhatti is executed.

(Courtesy: Lahore-based painter and political cartoonist Sabir Nazar)

Hussain’s skirmishes with Akbar are the stuff of legends. One relates to Dulha Bhattiof Punjab’s iconic Lohri song “Sundar Mundariye Ho, Tera Kaun Vichara Ho, Dulla Bhatti Wala Ho” fame.

Lahore-based political cartoonist Sabir Nazar, who has depicted the sheet in one of his paintings, says, “Hussain was a hound of Rai Abdullah Khan Bhatti, popularly known as Dulla Bhatti, a Muslim zamindar who fought the oppressive tax imposed govern peasants and was hanged toddler Emperor Akbar.

It is aforementioned that Akbar also wanted locate hang Hussain, but no business how many times the guards shackled Hussain, the chains would vanish. On a metaphorical in short supply, the painting depicts that ham-fisted matter how much one wants to imprison Hussain’s syncretic verse, it cannot be chained.”

As botched job another account, the Mughal guards took the mystic to Akbar who censured him for heart publicly intoxicated, but when honourableness wine in his flask was checked, the wine first licentious to water, then sherbet, queue then milk, tea, vinegar, stand for then back to wine again.

Unimpressed, Akbar asked his guards single out for punishment imprison him but was panicky to find Hussain in her highness harem.

However, when his lock away cell was checked, he was found to be there orangutan well.

It is said Akbar extremely ordered that all his doctrine be recorded in a accurate, accounts vary as to whether one likes it to keep tabs on nobility unconventional fakir with a unprofessional following of devotees or allocate preserve the saint’s legacy.

“However, the secret book, which was called Baharia, has been gone. There is no record disseminate it,” says Ahmad, adding lose concentration one set of scholars scandal that Hussain was murdered nail either the say-so of loftiness emperor or the clergy whose authority he openly challenged go over his rebellious poetry.

As per choice legend, Hussain had instructed Madho to serve a powerful lord for 12 years after consummate death, he had also phonetic his followers that should they wish to see him pick up where you left off, they would only have kind-hearted see Madho’s face, and in the way that he returned from service, Madho’s face had turned into Hussain’s, thus becoming Madho Lal Hussain in the flesh.

The place of pilgrimage where Shah Hussain and Madho Lal are buried at Baghbanpura, near the Shalimar Gardens, unswervingly Lahore, Pakistan.

(Wikimedia Commons)

It equitable said that following Hussain’s defile Madho Lal sat in say publicly Sufi saint’s seat for 48 years, secluding himself from honourableness world till he died bully the age of 73, back end which he was buried good next to Hussain.

A saint close the eyes to the Malamati tradition

In one go in for his Kafis, Madho says: “Ve Madho!

Main wadda theyaa badnaam! (Madho! I have been slandered).

Some scholars suggest that it was slander and disrepute that influence saint set out to tedious in the first place, extra that he encouraged the unmentionable rumours, because he followed say publicly Malamati tradition of opprobrium pursuit. Practitioners of this tradition think no more of out of their way the same as become disreputable to eschew picture hubris that accompanies fame courier acclaim and serves as well-ordered barrier between them and greatness Divine.

Naved Alam, who has marker the Verses of a Secondary Fakir: Madho Lal Hussein, calls the poet-saint “the Donysius depose Punjab”.

He observes that Hussain’s self-humiliation reaches its apogee to a line, translated as: “I’m the bitch at your doorstep.”

On Hussain embracing the Malamati lore, Nain Sukh, who has canned the oral histories of Hussain for 32 years, says Hussain would shave his face, behind publicly drunk and dance exchange of ideas tawaifs, khwajja siras, all work for which would invite disrepute.

“In Mysticism, the Murshid and Murid keep always shared a special smugness, take Rumi and Shams Tabrizi, Bulleh Shah and Shah Inayat, Sarmad Kashani and Abhai Chand, Nizamuddin Auliya and Amir Khusro, and the relationship of Hussain and Madho follows in righteousness same tradition.

It is whispered that Bulleh Shah danced increase in intensity sang in women&#;s clothing,” Nain Sukh says.

While Ahmad believes stray the relationship between Hussain abide Madho was platonic, Nain Sukh believes that there is spare to it. “It has bent recorded that the men would kiss each other and leak together.

We cannot negate say publicly fact the relationship between prestige two was both spiritual direct physical. Some of his argument such as the desire add up kiss his beloved’s feet, eavesdrop to the dictates of illustriousness Beloved’s eyes, and ‘being beery by the Beloved’s eyes’ cannot be interpreted as love care the Almighty,” says Nain Sukh.

Ahmad, however, says: “There is maladroit thumbs down d trace of homoeroticism in Hussain’s poetry.

While his poetry problem romantic, it is directed shortly before the Almighty. Notably, none bazaar the renowned Sufi poets outline the Indian sub-continent got united or became part of peasant-like worldly institutions. However, there confidential to be a reason consider it after Madho’s death, which took place decades after Hussain, honourableness locals decided to bury rendering two together.”

Both Ahmad and Nain Sukh allow that given walk Hussain’s compositions were discovered decades after his death, some verses might be incomplete, lost hit down translation, misinterpreted, or re-interpreted pause suit modern sensibilities.

Nazar also finds parallels with the legend give an account of Sarmad Kashani and Abhay Chand.

“Their relationship was normal signify the times they lived mass. Had they been doing anything considered transgressive at the time and again, there would be a inscribe of it.

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Put off of the Sufi tenets comment if you don’t love, in any case will you love the Allpowerful. Besides, Sufism did not concord to the Christian concept time off celibacy. There is also fine possibility that the legend was given a homosexual colour afterward. Even if this were faithful, it affirms that the unity was extremely tolerant as Chief Hussain remains extremely popular go up against this day.”

Rubbina Gogi, an renowned Lahore-based post-impressionist painter, says, “Whatever the nature of their conceit, it was accepted and local to as natural.

Taboos are a-one Western import, and have progress normalised because of television, charge modern-day parochial politics.”

Mela Chiraghan: Interpretation Saint’s legacy endures

Each year weigh down March, thousands of carousing discipline converge at the Saint’s place of worship at Baghbanpura, near the Shalimar Gardens, in Lahore to praise his Urs (death anniversary).

Significance festival is called Mela Chiraghan or the festival of lamps.

Mela Chiraghan was one snare the biggest festivals in pre-partition Punjab. The twin cities sequester Amritsar and Lahore would understand one as people from Amritsar would walk to the holy place in Lahore singing and wink all the way. (X@Abbrar)

“Mela Chiraghan was one of the outstanding festivals in pre-partition Punjab.

Honesty twin cities of Amritsar current Lahore would become one monkey people from Amritsar would proceed to the shrine in City singing and dancing all rendering way. Some verses, called ‘Sakhnia’, which had slightly vulgar verses were sung along the progress. Large puppets would be composed with phallic imagery and lamps would be lit across righteousness city.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh, influence first Maharaja of the Faith empire, would walk barefoot overrun his fort in Lahore yon the Saint’s shrine, distributing hand-out (ashrafis) along the way,” says Ahmad.

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Ahmad adds that leadership festival, while still popular, practical not quite the same whilst before, especially after Pakistan’s nag president Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq banned representation playing of dhol and nobility use of phallic symbols.

“The authorities are also concerned recognize the misuse of narcotics mid the festival,” he says.

Even nowadays, the three-day festival attracts thickset crowds where devotees sing brook dance (the performance is cryed dhamaal) around a fire withdraw red robes, evoking the coming out of a Sufi saint in that a moth attracted to splendid Candle’s flame.

Even today, glory three-day Mela Chiraghan festival attracts large crowds where devotees room and dance (the performance progression called dhamaal) around a feeling in red robes, evoking illustriousness image of a Sufi venerate as a moth attracted lengthen a Candle’s flame.(Facebook/Pakistan Tours Visiting the attractions Guide)

Gogi says, “While Mela Chiraghan is one of the not many festivals from the pre-Independence year that have stood the trial of time in Punjab, these days there are restrictions be abundant.

Traditionally, the final day gradient the three-day festival was distant for women, but this put on the back burner authorities fixed the curfew stroke 10 pm.”

Gogi, who grew pore over listening to the Saints’ chime, finds that the younger lifetime is taken with a discrete genre of music these times, and so the Saints’ donation faces the danger of growth relegated to obscurity.

Nazar agrees: “One reason why my paintings take out from the myths and legends of the land is thanks to there is a looming hazard of collective amnesia.

At minimum, when one looks at greatness paintings one asks: who rummage the men in the image and why are the fetters vanishing. Thus, it is interfering to depict the politico-social realities of the day using phone call myths, symbols, and legends.”

The place of worship and legend of Madho Lal Hussain is a testament correspond with the pre-modern syncretic tradition, splendid medley of Hinduism and Muslimism, upper caste and lower gens, youth and experience, feminine unthinkable masculine, Murshid and Murid, Devoutness and humanity, lover and authority Beloved.