Wednesday was just another routine day. It dawned on a cloudy note and as it wore on Hyderabadis were busy as ever caught in their mundane chores. Not many knew or bothered to shed a tear for the man who founded this city. Those visiting the Qutb Shahi Tombs were also blissfully unaware that it was this day 400 years ago that Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah breathed his last.
It was only towards the evening that the royal necropolis reverberated with the famous ‘Munajaat'.
Mera shahr logan se mamoor kar
Rakhyia joon tun darya mein min Ya Sami
(Oh Lord, fill my city with people as Thou have the river with fish).
Persian inscription
A couple of officials from the Department of Culture, Archaeology and Museums gathered at the tomb of the city's founder and offered floral tributes. A green ‘chader' was also put on the tomb. The ‘fateha' over, ghazal singer Khan Ather rendered the famous ‘munajaat' of the Qutb Shahi king who penned the verses after laying the foundation for “Farkhunde Buniyad”.
Mohd. Quli Qutb Shah died at the age of 49 on January 11, 1612 A.D., exactly 400 years ago. The corresponding date as per the Hijri calendar is Saturday, the 17 Zul Qadah, 1020 A.H.
This inscription in Persian is engraved in ‘Naskh' script and can be seen at the foot of the tomb. Incidentally, on the same day his son-in-law, Mohd. Qutb Shah, who built the Mecca Masjid, ascended the throne.
Mohd. Quli Qutb Shah's 31-year rule is considered a high point of the Qutb Shahi dynasty. He modelled Hyderabad on the lines of Isfahan in Persia on a grid pattern with the architectural marvel, Charminar, at the centre.
Versatile poet
Apart from being a good administrator, he was a versatile poet in Persian as well as Urdu. The first ‘saheb-e-dewan' Urdu poet, Mohd. Quli Qutb Shah, introduced new sensibilities into Urdu shayari. Who is not moved by his Dakhni verses:
Piya baj pyala peea jaye na
Piya baj ek til jiya jaye na
(Without the lover one can't drink the cup,
Without him one can't live for a moment).
Time was when ‘Youm-e-Quli' was observed on a grand scale on January 11. Mohinuddin Qadri Zor, founder of Idara-e-Adbiyate Urdu, used to take out a procession from Charminar to the Qutb Shahi tombs. But of late the practice has been abandoned. “The government ought to have observed the day in a befitting manner,” says well-known historian M.A. Qaiyum.
