Chronogram of Jamal Mohammed College's Mosque

-

 A Chronogram Reveals A Bond Between                                    JMC and MMES 

The photo of this stone tablet posted in history group by Prof. Dr. Nazar Mohammed sahib (Former Head of the Department of History, Sadaqathullah Appa College,  Palayamkottai)  taken in the mosque of Jamal Mohammed College, Trichy has kindled my interest. Today we say the world is small because of sophisticated communication facilities. But in reality, I feel the world is moving apart compared to olden days. This epitaph reminds me of how close Melvisharam and Tiruchirappalli were and how far they have become now. 


This epitaph is a chronogram consisting of a Quranic verse, a hadith in Arabic and two verses in Urdu. The Phrase from Quran has been selected to indicate the English year (1960) and the Hadith has been selected to indicate the Hijri year (1380).

The person who selected these phrases and also authored the Urdu verses (also indicating Hijri 1380) was Abdul Khuddus ‘Shadan’ Urdu Munshi of Islamiah Boys School, Melvisharam. The fact that the mosque of Jamaal Mohamed College has an inscription which was designed by Urdu Munshi of Islamiah Boys School, Melvisharam is an astonishing fact for me.

He was born in Timiri (near Arcot). Joined as an Urdu Munshi during early 1920s in Islamiah High School Melvisharam. From a Tamil predominant town of Visharam, he strived for the promotion of Urdu language. He and M.J. Sayeed Sahib (headmaster twice till 1947) and teachers founded the Islamiah High School Literary Association at Melvisharam in 1934. Through the activities of this association, they kept the torch of Urdu burning.

 He was known as ‘Shaadaan Sab Hazrath’ among the students and Shaadaan Visharami amid the learned men of his time. He was a very close student of Abdul Majeed Sharar Alandoori, Editor of Qaumi Report.

As he produced many Urdu poets in the town of Melvisharam, he was honourably called as Ustadush Shu’ra (Teacher of Poets). After his retirement in late 1940s, he served as a manager in ‘Siddiq Sarai’ a hundred year Muslim Choultry at Chennai. During leisure he would treat the audience with his ghazals.

Shadaan Sahib was succeeded by Tajuddin ‘Taj’ as an Urdu teacher. He was from Trichy. Had his schooling at his native city. Studied at Baqiyathus Salihath, Vellore. Learned poetry from Allama Ziauddin ‘Amani’ Hazrath. It is this Tajuddin sahib from Trichy who compiled the school song of the Islamiah Boys School, Melvisharam in Urdu in late 1956 (Madarsa ka Tarana). Even today, this song is read and sung in the Islamiah Boys Higher Secondary school.

We all know that JMC and MMES share one more great personality, the founder Principal of JMC who was earlier headmaster of Islamiah Boys School, Melvisharam. Shaadan hazrath’s relationship with M. J. Sayeed Sahib (founder principal) had been so cordial that he had asked to design the chronogram for the JMC mosque. The chronogram is a living example for the connection between the two distant educational institutions.

Sayeed Sahib, to take charge as a principal (Usmania College Kurnool and later Jamal Mohammed College) was relieved by the MMES from Islamiah High School on the request of Dr. Abdul Haq Sahib. The whole town gathered to bid farewell to the loving headmaster.

“As one lamp lights another, nor grow less,

So, nobleness enkindleth nobleness” (James Russel Lowel)

In 1965, when C. Abdul Hakeem College was established, Sayeed Sahib was helpful in many ways. Again, History repeated itself in reverse now. Prof. M. Ahmed Basha Sahib, founder principal of C. Abdul Hakeem College, Melvisharam was a professor of history serving in JMC. He was relieved by JMC to take charge as a Principal in the CAH College, Melvisharam. Similar exchange of teaching faculties had taken place in the past.

 All happened because the founders of both the Colleges shared a good relationship. When Moulana Sulaiman Nadwi visited Islamiah Boys School, Melvisharam in 1927 he wrote in the Visitors book "Besides me are two good friend of mine Jamal Mohamed sahib and C. Abdul Hakeem sahib." Jamal Mohamed sahib and Abdul Hakeem sahib were good friends. However, Trichy and Melvisharam have been close and they need to come still closer. The inputs I received after viewing the video of Krishnagiri Ehsan sahib on The Tales the Stone tablets tell were helpful for this write up. https://youtu.be/hp32crjUc3w?si=tkkbDcjONdHcZhVr


I thank Prof. Dr. ABUL FAZAL sir for necessary inputs and conclude this write up with a couplet of Abdul Khuddus Shaadan Visharami

“Allah ke mehboob ka farman dekho

Kya tumko sabaq deta hai Quran dekho 

Aghyaar Ke aibon  ku na dekho hargiz

Qudi mein kya aib hai tum Shaadan dekho”    (Rubayee by Shaadan Sahib)

  S.MD SADATHULLAH, B.T.ASSISTANT, ISLAMIAH BOYS HR. SEC. SCHOOL, MELVISHARAM (written in Memoirs of Melvisharam V in 2023)


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MALACK MOHAMMED HASHIM SAHIB

-
Image
  MALACK MOHAMMED HASHIM   SAHIB - THE HATIM OF OUR TIME A few days ago, Hazrath Moulana Malack Hafiz Gulzar Ahmed Sahib and my mentor, Dr. Abul Fazal Sahib asked me to document the life and services of Hashim Sahib. His contributions were so vast that it is impossible to record everything, since he followed the principle that what the right hand gives should not be known to the left. However, both my teachers and some of my blog readers insisted me to write whatever I know about him.  Kids who grew up in Melvisharam during the 1980s and 1990s often heard about the benevolence and generosity of Nawab C. Abdul Hakeem Sahib, who was regarded as the Hatim of his time. And the British government conferred upon him the title of 'Nawab' for his innumerable Charites. Similarly, the Hatim of our time was Malack Mohammed Hashim Sahib. Many admired his personality and services so deeply that some even named their children after him. Early Life     ...
Read more

JANAB SEPILLAI ABDUL WAHAB SAHIB

-
Image
JANAB SEPILLAI ABDUL WAHAB SAHIB –  A VISIONARY LEADER AND A CHAMPION FOR THE CAUSE OF  GIRLS’ EDUCATION IN MELVISHARAM              SEPILLLAI ABDUL WAHAB SAHIB Introduction Janab Sepillai Abdul Wahab Sahib also known as B.S. Abdul Wahab was the son of Sepillai Abdul Kareem Sahib. The family name Sepillai is of Tamil origin and is believed to be a contraction of Sigappu Pillai , meaning "Red Child." (Refer to the facial appearance i. e. fairness) According to oral traditions, the family's origins trace back to Goa. Over a period of time, they gradually migrated southward along the western coast to Kerala, and then to Tirunelveli. In Kadaiyanallur also we have Sepillai  family. It is to be noted that the first Muslim Minister of  K.Kamaraj's (Chief Minister  of Madras Presidency) cabinet  Janab  S.M. Abdul Majeed Sahib was from  Sepillai family. He served as the minister for local administration from 1962-196...
Read more

PAKTHINI MASJID

-
Image
  Pakthini Masjid   Mosques play an essential role in Muslim society. Mosque is primarily a place of worship. To establish five time prayers, Offer Friday congregation prayers, funeral prayers, conduct marriages, settle disputes, important discussions and consultations, collect alms and sadaqa to help the needy,   fulfil religious requirements, Islamic learning centre and community centre etc., . In short Mosques are the nucleus of Islamic society.              Big mosque of Melvisharam is the oldest mosque in our town. It was constructed during early 18 th century or later 17 th century by the residents of UPPUPETTAI (Old name of Melvisharam), an area comprised of Big street, Dargah Street and Big Mosque street.   As the population increased, the settlement extended towards the eastern part and there arose a need for a mosque in this region (for the residents of Mara Street, Big Street, Dandukar Street,...
Read more