LUCKNOW: Shia religious leaders will start a campaign and write letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to restore original names of Muslim historical heritage sites said Maulana Mohammad Mirza Yasoob Abbas to TOI, after after archaeological survey of India (ASI) raised sign board which mentioned Imambara Shah Najaf as Ghazi-ud-Din-Haider's tomb.
General secretary of all India Shia Personal Law Board, Abbas said, "There is a continuous attempt to destroy our (Muslim) history and heritage. Annually heritage sites such as Bara Imambara, Hussainabad Imambara, Imambara Shah Najaf, picture gallery, Safed Baradari and other monuments are generating crores from tourism for the government, but ASI has failed to maintain or restore the dilapidated structures. Now they have started changing names of Muslim religious sites."
"Imambara Shah Najaf was built to offer prayer by its maker Nawab Ghazi-ud-Din-Haider. When the maker didn’t name Imambara Shahnajaf as tomb, then how can ASI name it as tomb," he said.
Shah Najaf Imambara currently located at Rana Pratap road, was constructed by Nawab Ghazi-ud-Din Haider, the last nawab wazir and the first King of the state of Awadh in 1816 - 1817. The imambara served as his mausoleum and is a copy of Ali's tomb in Najaf in Iraq. Apart from Nawab Ghazi-ud-Din, his three wives Sarfaraz Mahal, Mubarak Mahal and Mumtaz Mahal were also buried here.
Speaking to TOI, Aftab Hussain, the ASI Lucknow superintendent said, "In the Government of India 1920 ancient monuments preservation act, the name of Shah Najaf Imambara has been mentioned as Ghazi-ud-Din-Haider 's tomb and as part of heritage site restoration, we have raised sign board with its correct name."
"The ASI in Lucknow has undertaken several measures to restore the heritage sites in the city and preserve it for future generations to let them know our history. Inside the Shah Najaf Imambara, there is the tomb of Ghazi-ud-Din-Haider. Similarly, Bara Imambara (Asfi Imambara) has tomb of Asaf-ud-Daula, Nawab of Awadh, and Chota Imambara (Imambara Hussainabad Mubarak) has tomb of its maker Muhammad Ali Shah. So if there is objection in the names of sites, we will consult and take appropriate measures," he added.
Responding to ASI reply, Maulana Mohammad Mirza Yasoob said, "The names given by ASI have remained on papers only, but for centuries the heritage sites like Shah Najaf Imambara have been known by its original names, as it’s a place of worship and ASI wants to designate them as tombstones."
"In December, large numbers of Shia clerics will participate in All India Shia Personal Law board session, and we plan to launch campaign to restore the original names of such Muslim heritage sites. We will also write the same demand to PM Narendra Modi," he added.
