Tag Archives: Imam Brothers

Save a knight’s remains – Kin of Sir Ali Imam renew demand for heritage tag for neglected 1932 mausoleum

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Freedom Fighters (under research project), Leaders, , , , , , , , ,

Dipatoli (Ranchi), JHARKHAND :

The mausoleum of Bihar's architect Sir Ali Imam on NH-33 near Dipatoli in Ranchi. (Prashant Mitra)
The mausoleum of Bihar’s architect Sir Ali Imam on NH-33 near Dipatoli in Ranchi. (Prashant Mitra)

Jharkhand’s “stepmotherly attitude” towards the mausoleum of Sir Ali Imam, one of Bihar’s prime architects, has prompted the knight’s grandson to resurrect his decade-old heritage status demand for the site that rightly deserves conservation.

In 2005, a memorandum had been signed between the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) and Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, to develop the mausoleum on NH-33 near Dipatoli, Ranchi, into an art and culture centre. But, like most other projects in the state, it sank into oblivion.

In 2012-13, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) listed some monuments for protection, including the Jami Masjid and Baradwari Masjid in Rajmahal, Khekparta temple in Lohardaga and Buddhist ruins in Benisagar, West Singhbhum, but the mausoleum was again given the pass.

Such “monumental neglect” has now prompted Askari Imam, the grandson of Sir Ali Imam, and other members of the Sir Ali Imam Trust like grandnephew Bullu Imam to request the Raghubar Das government for a heritage tag.

Justin Imam, the great grandson of the knight, said they were pursuing the matter with the department of art and culture (archaeology) so that a pending report advocating conservation rights for the mausoleum was given active consideration. “A year ago, we had submitted the report to the department. It is obvious no one took interest. We will push the matter again tomorrow (Tuesday),” Justin said.

Former state convener of Intach Shree Deo Singh conceded that Askari Imam had approached him with a conservation request five years ago. “The Trust was then formed for its maintenance. However, after my term as convener ended, the tomb was subjected to utter neglect,” Singh said.

Bullu Imam pointed out that the monument existed in a capital city and yet most people of Jharkhand were unaware of it. “This is so unfortunate,” he said.

MausoleumMPOs06jan2018

“Once the mausoleum is declared a protected site, it will attract tourists from the state and outside,” added voluntary caretaker Chetan who also runs a shop nearby.

State art and culture secretary Vandana Dadel said members of Sir Ali Imam Trust had met her last week and she had assured them that she would look into the matter. “I will send a team to the site so that we can initiate talks with the ASI,” she promised.

Ali Imam, a judge at Patna High Court in 1917, was a law member of the British Imperial Council and was conferred knighthood by the British government. Sir Ali Imam, who played an important part in the constitution of Bihar, died in 1932 after which the mausoleum was built.

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Correction:

I would like you to make amendment in one of the paragraph. Where you mentioned that Justin Imam the great grandson to Sir Syed Ali Imam. In fact Justin Imam is the great grandson to Sir Hasan Imam who was the younger brother to Sir Syed Ali Imam Saheb.
Sir Ali Imam Saheb great grandchildren are from Late Justice Jafer Imam, Reza Imam and Naqi. Kindly amend the paragraph in your article.

Many thanks
Amina Imam Ahmad / 05th April 2018

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source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph,  Calcutta,India / Front Page> Jharkhand> Story / by Arti  S. Sahuliyar / March 10th, 2015

Eighty years after death, nobody cares for ‘architect of Bihar’

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Freedom Fighters (under research project), Leaders, World Opinion, , , , , , ,

BIHAR :

Unsung hero

Known as one half of India’s legendary barrister brother duo, he has been hailed as the co-architect of modern Bihar.

However, on his 80th death anniversary on Friday, the legacy of Syed Hasan Imam, a nationalist leader, patriot and a freedom fighter, remains forgotten.

Born in 1871 in Neora village near Patna, Imam died on April 19, 1933 and lies interred on the banks of river Sone in Japla, a small village in the border of Bihar and Jharkhand.

After suffering years of neglect and facing encroachment around his tomb, his grandson, Bulu Imam, now living in Hazaribagh, is striving to restore the lost honour.

“Today, on the occasion of his 80th death anniversary, I feel heartbroken to remember the legacy of my grandfather who, instead of being remembered, let alone celebrated for his immense contribution to the cause of Bihar and India at large, has been consigned to oblivion,” said Bulu Imam.

‘Some honour restored’

“We went to his tomb in Japla and cleaned it up on the anniversary and also put a chhadar on it, trying to restore some honour to his forgotten legacy. There were encroachments around the tomb and Hasan Imam’s house,”“ he said.

“I have evicted all the encroachers and now I am trying to preserve the place as his lasting memorial,” said Bulu Imam over phone from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand.

Syed Hasan was educated in Patna and in the UK, and was called to the Bar in Middle Temple in 1892. When he returned to India, he practiced in Calcutta High Court, where he became a judge in 1912.

After the establishment of the separate province of Bihar with Patna as its capital in 1912, and with the Patna High Court opened in 1916, Imam resigned from the judgeship of Calcutta High Court to practice in Patna, according to The India Gazette’s Who’s Who in India, 1927 edition.

He was elected president, special session of the Indian National Congress, in September, 1918. He was also elected as a delegate to the London Conference on the Turkish Peace Treaty in 1921.

He and Sir Al Imam along with barrister Sachchidananda Sinha and Mahesh Narayan were instrumental in getting the British empire grant a separate province of Bihar out of Bengal in 1911, as announced by King George V at the historic Delhi Durbar that year.

Despite his exemplary contributions to Bihar and to India, Hasan Imam remains a forgotten hero, much like his elder brother Sir Ali Imam.

The two brothers or ‘Imam Brothers’ as they were popularly known, will possibly go down in history as ‘faded icons’, much like their fabulous house, all but gone now.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Metro / New Delhi – April 20th, 2013