I have always been curious about the ruined structure standing in the
graveyard situated in Dargah complex of Shahvilyat. Whenever I have
visited that place from my early childhood till the time, I always used
to ask my father or other elders with whom I used to be with about that
structure. The answer was always so absurd that it could not satisfy my
curiosity. The answer
used to be, “ Log kahte hain yahan Tawayfon ki qabrein hain ( Some people say that
there used to be the graves of the nautch girls). Another reason for their
absurd answering was that in their culture it was considered inappropriate to discus about the nautch girls
before the kids of my age. I was a kid indeed, a kid with so many questions
about such places. It was obvious to have that intensive curiosity about such
things and all my questions were yet to be answered.
During a certain span of time, I paid no such
attention to that place. It is now when I have started working on this blog
(Exploring Amroha) I thought of reopening that Pandora box, by doing this,
I may get answers of my questions that are still unanswered. Today, when I visit
this place with my point and shoot camera, I found nothing but few clues
indicating the existence of a walled structure and a small dome lying 4-5 yards
away from the place. Though there remained only a wall of that building, but I still
have a clear impression of that Tomb in my mind, Tomb of the Nautch Girls.
To satisfy my curiosity, I went through some books
written on the history of Amroha (Tareekh e Asghari by Syed Asgher Hussain and
Tareekh e Amroha by Mahmood Ahmad Abbasi) and enquired some elderly persons but
absurdity was still maintained about the place.
If you can recall the frames from Kamal Amrohvi’s
Pakeezah, you can see that he beautifully picturised that scene of the burial of
“Nargis” in that graveyard. That graveyard was a replica of Dargah of
Shahvilyat.
I am not sure if Kamal Amrohvi had this story in his
mind while writing that scene, but somehow it leaves some clues that he may
have that narration of that nautch girls of Amroha buried in the graveyard.
Amroha has always been in royal influence during the
reign of the Mughals and in the rule of Company Bahadur. There lived a majority
of landlords and persons of greater influence powered by the wealth and land
they owned. Nautch girls have been a major part of that culture. Dance was one
of the major sources of entertainment at that time. It is possible that these
nautch girls have inhibited the city during those days.
Though I found no historical evidences
supporting that story, but it may be the case that the story has been concealed
intentionally, to counter the dignity of
that culture that gave no place to such things. In concluding phrases I can say
that the place is enough itself narrating the untold story of the nautch girls.
2 comments
Accha likhne page Ho...by that I mean the selection of simple n suitable words to be understood by mass n the pattern u do with expressing the whole taking people back to ur childhood days.....these all things r good....keep it up....
ReplyDeletethank you :D
DeleteNote: only a member of this blog may post a comment.