URDU SPEAKING TAMIL MUSLIMS OF MELVISHARAM
Urdu Speaking Tamil Muslims of
Melvisharam
Tamil Speaking Muslims
The
Muslims of Melvisharam primarily spoke Tamil and were predominantly from the
Markayar, Ravuthar, and Labbai sects of Tamil Muslims. In addition to Tamil,
they also used Arwi (Arabu-Tamil), especially in earlier times and it was
taught as a subject in Azeez Bhai School, Melvisharam. During the month of
Rabiul Awwal, aged women would traditionally sing the Moulood in Arabu-Tamil.
Until the 1960s and 70s, elders communicated exclusively in Tamil.
Transformation to Urdu
As
Visharam is situated at the gates of Arcot, Cultural interactions, teachings of
Sufi saints and Islamic Scholars inspired the native Tamil Muslims to learn
Urdu language. Further the establishment of Madarsa E Baqiyathus Salihath,
Madarsa E lathifiya, Vellore, the activities of Tableeghi Jamath, inception of
Urdu medium schools more than a century ago, played a key role in the
development of Urdu language in this town. A notable feature of these
institutions were that it was located in an area where Tamil Muslims were
voluntarily switching over to Urdu as their spoken language, at the cost of
their mother tongue. Urdu is widely used and spoken by the people in a unique
dialect different from the North Indian style. As a result they constitute a
distinct group among the south Indian Muslims, having a mixed Tamil-Urdu
cultural identity. The main reason for the spread of Urdu language in
Melvisharam was the eagerness of people for the Islamic Knowledge. Because,
most of the Islamic books are preserved in Urdu next to Arabic and Persian.
The establishment of Islamiah High School in
1918 proved to be a key catalyst in the promotion of Urdu language in this
region in Melvisharam which was both profound and transformative. Janab Abdul
Khuddus Shadaan Sahib, the Urdu teacher of the school played a significant role
in the promotion and development of the Urdu language among the students. It
can be assessed from through a letter by Dr. Abdul Haq (Professor of Urdu,
Mohammedan College, Madras) who after correcting the essay scripts he had
received on the fifth Meelad and annual day celebrations remarked the following
“The students should be
appreciated for their good performance. How much I am delighted by knowing
their Urdu writing is beyond expression. If this situation prevails we can
expect a bright future for Urdu in our Presidency. I think there is an extra ordinary development
in Urdu writing of your school.” (Dated 20.11.1925)
In
1931, with an objective of teaching Urdu basics to the Madarsa E Islamiah
students, Munshi Faazil Mohammed Raheemuddin Sahib compiled an Urdu grammar book
titled ‘QAWAID AAMOOZ’.
Establishment of Literary Association
In
1934, Janab M. J. Sayeed Sahib was appointed as the Headmaster of the school by
MMES for the second time. To improve the literary skills of the students
further, in Urdu, Tamil and English he established Islamiah School Literary
Association. In 1941, a separate Urdu council was organised.
Anjuman-e-Tarqiye Urdu (Council for
Promotion of Urdu)
A meeting was conducted under the
presidentship of S. Abdul Wahab Sahib to establish the Urdu council on
09.11.1941 in the Islamiah High School. On this occasion, Dr. Abdul Haq, Professor, Mohammadan College
Madras gave a lecture on the need and significance of Urdu from historic point
of view. Later, S. M. Abdul Jameel Sahib was elected as the President and Janab
A. Ahmed Basha Sahib as secretary of the Council for Promotion of Urdu.
Finally
it was decided that the school would be the office of the council and a library
was maintained for the same. In 1944, the council for promotion of Urdu
language was linked with Qaumi Anjuman e Tarqiye Urdu, Delhi (National Council
for Promotion of Urdu). The school was the headquarters of the National council
for promotion of Urdu. Most of the members of the council were alumni of the
school. The council worked for the promotion of Urdu language in the town.
First Mushaira (1942)
Many
programmes and conference in Urdu were conducted by the council of Urdu. For the
first time in the history of Melvisharam a Mushaira was conducted on 14th
March, 1942 under the presidentship of Allama Mohammed Hussain Mahwi Siddiqi
Sahib of Lucknow. The programme started sharply at 9:30 pm and nearly 100 poets
from Madras, Bangalore, Vaniyambadi, Ambur, Vellore, Arcot, Arni, Arakonam and
Madurai took part in it.
Thirty
poets of Visharam also participated. Mr. Venkatachala Iyer (former Headmaster
of the School) whose mother tongue was Tamil, but his fifteen years of service
at the Islamiah School made him acquainted with Urdu. He delivered a speech
about the difference between prose and poetry. Hazrath Moulana Abu Savood Ahmed spoke on the
propriety of Mushaira from an Islamic point of view. This programme lasted up
to 5:00 am in the morning. At the end, the members appreciated the teachers and
applauded Janab S.M Abdul Jameel Sahib for his zeal to promote Urdu language in
the locality.
The
next day, it was mentioned in almost all the leading dailies of Madras
Presidency. This Mushaira conducted by the school made an everlasting impact on
the town. Since then Mushairas have been conducted regularly by the MMES and
also, Mushaira was a part of S. M. Abdul Jameel Sahib’s family functions. Earlier, Rahmania Hall at Islamiah High School
was the venue, and nowadays the auditorium of the C. Abdul Hakeem college of
Engineering and Technology is the favourite spot.
For
more than four decades, Janab Sakvai Ziauddin Ahmed Sahib, (General Secretary (MMES)
has been very active in the promotion of Urdu language in our region. Similarly,
his wife, Mrs. Ameerunnisa Sahiba familiar among literary circle as Ameeruz Zia, a distinguished female writer
and scholar in Urdu, made significant contributions to the field of Urdu
literature.
Tamilnadu
Urdu Publications and Tamilnadu Urdu Literary Association presented ‘Nawab
Mohammed Ali Walajah Award’ to Janab Ziauddin Ahmed Sahib for his philanthropy
towards Development of Urdu Literature by his holiness Dr. Salahuddin Mohammed
Ayub Sahib, Govt. Chief Qazi, Tamilnadu.
On
account of the school’s contribution and services for the development of Urdu
language, Janab S. Ziauddin Ahmed Sahib the General Secretary MMES received a memento
on 17th February, 2009 from Shri. Surjith Singh Barnala, the then
Governor of Tamilnadu in a function held at Krishnagiri.
For
the past three decades, the Islamiah Welfare Association of Melvisharam, an NGO,
has been organizing Mushaira frequently, making significant contributions to
the promotion of the Urdu language in the region. When I came across their
public invitation for a Naatiya Mushaira to be held tonight (30.11.24) at my
Alma Mater, it inspired me to write a few pages on this topic.
Contributions
For
over a century, our elders have worked tirelessly to preserve our mother
tongue. Thanks to their selfless dedication, Urdu has become an integral part
of the curriculum in all the educational institutions of Melvisharam. Despite
the challenges, the community continues to make every effort to sustain its
linguistic heritage.
During 1940s and early 1950s, the Urdu Anjuman
of the school conducted monthly Mushairas whose participants were students.
Where they would be given a poetic verse in Urdu, based on the theme and weight
of that verse they had to compose their own verses. These gatherings continued
up to mid-night. Prominent members of
MMES like Janab Pakthini Abdul Khadar Sahib, Janab B.S. Abdul Wahab Sahib,
Janab S.M. Abdul Jameel Sahib and other committee members used to take part in
it and encouraged the participants by awarding prizes. It is said that Pakthini Abdul Khader Sahib
would invite these students to his house, where he would listen to their poems
and appreciate them with rewards.
S. M.
Abdul Jameel Sahib invited Allama Mohammed Hussain Mahwi Siddiqi to stay in
Melvisharam. Mahwi Siddiqi was a native of Bhopal and a Professor of Urdu at
the University of Madras from 1930 to 1949. He made significant contributions
to the promotion of Urdu in South India. He frequently visited Melvisharam,
emphasizing the importance of developing strong writing skills for literary
excellence. He also presided over the first Mushaira held in Melvisharam.
After
retiring in 1949, Mahwi Siddiqi settled in Jameelabad, Melvisharam, where he
founded the Tameer-e-Adab Book Depot. Famous Urdu books were sold at reasonable
prices. In 1951, under his guidance,
two important Urdu publications were launched:
1.
Al-Irshad: An Urdu monthly Islamic
magazine focused on Islamic literature.
2.
Meyar-e-Adab: A leading monthly
magazine dedicated to Urdu literature, poetry, and literary critiques. It
featured a special column for the poetry of emerging poets. The editorial board
included Janab Adam Ahmed Basha, Janab Hamid Hussain Siddiqui, and Janab Mumtaz
Madrasi. I have one copy of Meyar E Adab issued in February 1952.
Notable
scholars like Hazrath Kamali Vellori (Kamali Hazrath) and Hafiz Abdur Razzaq
Baqwi (Hafiz Baqwi) were among his disciples in Urdu poetry. In 1952, he went
back to Bhopal due to health reasons. But the above magazines were published by
the editorial committee under Allama Mahwi’s supervision for few more months.
He died in Bhopal in 1975.
I
feel it is important to mention Allama Mahwi’s wife, who was equally renowned
for her exceptional teaching abilities in Arabic, Persian, and Urdu at Madarsa
E Niswan. Established in 1941 at Melvisharam and managed by Anjuman Ansarul
Islam, she became a beloved figure among her students, affectionately known as
‘Ammaji Ustadbi.’ Her neighbours in Jameelabad First Street also respectfully
called her ‘Ammaji.’
The
contributions of Madarsa E Niswan, particularly in promoting Urdu, Persian, and
Arabic literacy among women, have been immensely significant. Ramiza Bi
Ustadbi, the sister of Hazrath Moulana Abu Sawood Sahib, was another
distinguished teacher at the madarsa, and her legacy is fondly remembered by
the elderly women of our town. We owe much gratitude to Janab Sepillai Abdul
Wahab Sahib, the founder president, for his tireless efforts in educating the
women of our community.
Today,
the Madarsa continues to thrive, with Urdu remaining a key part of the core
curriculum. In the late 1990s, two additional branches were established,
further expanding its reach and impact.
Kitab Ghar
Adam Ahmed Basha Sahib
established a publishing house called Urdu Kitab Ghar in 1952, located on
Jameelabad First Street in Melvisharam.
For the next three decades, Kitab Ghar
supplied Urdu textbooks and other subject textbooks in the Urdu medium to
schools across the Madras Presidency. Under the supervision of Ahmed Basha
Sahib, the teachers of Islamiah School translated the textbook into Urdu. In
addition to school books, the publishing house also released works by renowned
Urdu scholars. However, the passing of Adam Ahmed Basha Sahib in 1980, led to
the closure of Kitab Ghar.
It
is to be noted that S. M. Abdul Jameel Sahib also took efforts to establish
Tamilnadu Urdu Academy.
The
Urdu Literary Association and the Seerath Committee conducted regular contests
to develop the speaking and writing skills of students. From 1956 -1965, a set of eight trilingual annual
magazines were published from the school to showcase their writing skills.
Later on hand written Urdu magazines were also published. Presently, the Seerath Committtee and Anjuman E Tarqiye Urdu Bazm E Ziaul Adab
organises elocution, Essay writing and Quiz competitions periodically.
I
believe the alumni of our school, both old and new, will fondly remember the
invaluable services of our esteemed Urdu teachers, such as Munshi Faazil Mohammed Raheemuddin Sahib Janab Abdul Khuddoos Shaadaan Sahib, Janab Hamid Hussain Siddiqui
Sahib, Janab Tajuddin Sahib, Janab Moulvi Abdul Hai Sahib Baqwi, Janab Ziauddin
Sahib, Janab Moulvi K. Mohammed Valiullah Sahib Damatbarkatuhum, Janab K.
Moinuddin Sahib, Janab Zahid Hussain Siddiqui Sahib and Janab Syed Muhiyuddin
Hussainy Sahib some of the dedicated educators who shaped our learning.
Their commitment and hard work are the reasons we can read and write in Urdu
today.
I
still remember the words of Janab Zahid
Hussain Siddiqui Sahib, who would often say, “Mian, kam az kam rozana ek safa
pad liya karo aur ek safa likh liya karo, yahi kafi hai,” which means,
"At least read and write one page daily. That’s enough." This simple
yet powerful advice continues to echo with me, and it was through following
this routine that we truly made progress in the language.
The
Islamiah High School had produced
numerous distinguished Urdu poets over the years. Here, I enlist few native poets and scholars
of Urdu, to inspire the younger generation.
Some
of the most renowned among them include:
Janab
Abdul Khuddus Sahib ‘Shadan (Teacher of all poets)
Janab
Moulana Tajuddin ‘Taj’ Sahib
Janab
Mohammed Ismail Sahib ‘Ismail’
Janab
Sakvai Abdul Jameel Sahib ‘Ajmal’
Janab
Adam Ahmed Basha Sahib ‘Ahmed’
Janab
Moulana Mohammed Ismail Sahib ‘Nayyar’
Janab
Mara Ahmadullah Sahib ‘Ahmed’
Janab
Kottur Abdul Latheef Sahib ‘Athar’
Janab
Alanji Abdul Haq Sahib ‘Mazhar’
Janab
Muthu Fazlur Rahman Sahib ‘Armaan’
Janab
Puttu Mohammed Ilyas Sahib ‘Armaan’
Janab
H. Mohammed Zackria Sahib ‘Zakir’
Janab
(Walajah) Bismillah Mohammed Zackria Sahib ‘Zaki’
Janab
Gramani Anees Ahmed Sahib ‘Anees’
Dr.
K. Masood Ahmed Sahib ‘Aadil’
Editors of magazines from Melvisharam
1. Janab
Karpoor Mohammed Umar Sahib ‘BAGH-O-BAHAR’ monthly magazine in Urdu – 1963
2.
Janab
Bismillah Walajah Mohammed Zackria Sahib
‘GULISTAN’ weekly magazine in
Urdu -1960 published from Bangalore.
3.
Kaniyar Abdul Azeez Sahib ‘NIDA-E-NAYYAR’ Urdu monthly
magazine in circulation since 2002. Abdul
Azeez Sahib was honoured with best journalist award on 26th October,
2006, by Shri Surjith Singh Barnala the then Governor of Tamilnadu.
4.
Hazrath Mufti Abul Hasan Mohammed Yacoob Sahib Visharami Damatbarkatuhum (Head)
and Hazrath Mufti Abdul Hameed Sahib Damatbarkatuhum (Editor) have been jointly
publishing AL AMEER, a monthly
Islamic magazine, since 2016. The
magazine features a wide range of Islamic articles written by local Ulamas,
offering valuable insights and knowledge on various aspects of Islam.
Traces Prevail
Although
Tamil-speaking Muslims have embraced Urdu as their primary language, certain cultural
practices continue to reveal their Tamil ancestry.
Family Names
The
Muslims of Melvisharam often use family names as a means of identification,
which is a distinctive practice among Tamil Muslims. Some of these names are
derived from the places their ancestors migrated from, such as Arani, Arcot,
Aimandi, Ariur, Aavoor, Tanjavur, Koluthangarai, and Kottur. Others reflect
their ancestors' professions, with names like Coffiyar, Erdukar, Podikar, and
Sakvai. Additionally, some names are titles given by the community, such as
Sowcar and Gramini. These family names are key to understanding the Tamil
heritage and origins of the local Muslim population.
Street Names
The
street names in Melvisharam have evolved over time to reflect the area's rich
linguistic diversity. Initially, Tamil street names were often transliterated
into Urdu. For example, Sepillai Theru as Chepillai
Gali, Mara Theru
as Mara Gali, and Kattai Kadai Theru
as Kattai Kadai Gali. This shift likely reflects the influence
of the local Muslim community, for whom Urdu served as a key language alongside
Tamil. In recent years, however, the street names have adopted a more inclusive
approach, now appearing in Tamil, Urdu, and English. There is
ample cultural evidence that demonstrates how Tamil-speaking Muslims of this
town have integrated Urdu into various aspects of their lives.
The Marriage Culture
Despite
the passage of time, certain customs prevalent in our community till recent times
offer glimpses into our Tamil roots. A notable example is the practice observed
during wedding ceremonies. Before the nikah is solemnized at the mosque, an
official from the Jamath seeks permission from the gathered congregation and
muthavallis in Tamil. The phrase "Jamathaar gal Eellan nikah Khani ku
uttarvu kundunga" is used, which translates to "Permission is sought
from the Jamath members to solemnize the marriage." A warm welcome
tradition also prevailed at marriage functions, where elderly women and their
maidservants welcome guests with the Tamil phrase, "Yellaron
vaangama," meaning "All are welcome." Additionally, during
feasts, hosts would politely ask for extra servings of rice using the Tamil
word "Marchor or Maru chor," is used which translates “Bring rice
once again” reflecting both hospitality and a strong connection to Tamil
traditions.
This
harmonious integration of Islamic culture and Tamil language stands as a
fascinating element of cultural legacy.
Friends,
the current state of Urdu in our town is significantly declining and urgently
needs attention. While referring to the sources, I realized that the passion
and reverence for the Urdu language that previous generations had seems to be
fading in today's generation. From the foundational texts to the scholarly
works of Islamic literature, much of it, is preserved in Urdu, second only to
Arabic and Persian. If we aspire to translate these invaluable works into
English or other foreign languages, a deep knowledge of Urdu is essential.
In
this article, I have highlighted the contributions of the alumni of Islamiah
High School, as well as the scholars and poets associated with it. I have also
touched upon the significant role of Madarsa E Niswan in promoting Urdu
education. Additionally, it is important to note that there exists a vast body
of literature on Urdu institutions and scholars from Melvisharam, which further
enriches the understanding of the region's contributions to Urdu language and
culture. It’s high time to search their works and preserve it for posterity to
cherish and uphold the Urdu language.
Hence,
the transformation of the Tamil-speaking Muslims of Melvisharam in to champions
of Urdu language is truly remarkable and worth studying by anthropologists,
sociologists and historians.
S.
Mohammed Sadathullah,
Melvisharam
30th
November, 2024
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