Tilgadiya Buzurg

History

It is believed that some 400 years ago, a noble family of Sayyeds migrated from Iran during the Mughal period to propagate Shiasm in India. Currently the Saadat of this village are descendants of those Sayyeds. Majority of the population is Shia Isna Ashri but followers of other religions are also accounted for the population of this village. Prominent among them are Sunnis, Buddhists and Hindus. It is believed that the Shia population of this village is having their lineage from the 7th Holy Imam Hazrat Imam-e-Musa-al Kazim (a.s.), hence the majority of the people are Kazmis. There are few families who have migrated from other villages and have settled here, prominent among them are Rizvis.

In ancient times the only source of livelihood of this village was farming but as time passed and people acquired education, things have changed a lot. Few families of this village are still called as Landlords or Zami'ndaar as they own huge amount of farmland even today. Tilgadiya has produced many Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Teachers, Chartered Accountant, Businessmen and professionals in almost every domain of life. One can also find various people of this village working for Indian Railways. But still majority of the population is in Interior Business working as contractors, labourers etc. Most of the professionals are settled in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Dubai etc. The amazing thing about the people of tilgadiya is that they might be in any part of the world for the rest of the year but they will visit tilgadiya before the onset of Moharram.

Demographics

As per the websites of www.indianmap.net.in and www.populationofindia.co.in , Tilgadiya has a total population of 885 having male contribution as 416 and female contribution as 469. Majority of the people are Twelver Shiites with small population of other faiths such as Sunnis, Buddhists and Hindus. The Dalits, Lohaar, Sonaar etc. settled here are on the lands given by Sayyed Landlords of tilgadiya . A separate locality of Dalits still exists in tilgadiya on the land provided by Sayyeds.

Education and literacy

The literacy rate among the people was a concern in ancient times but current population of the village especially between 18 and 40 years have 70% literacy. This includes Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Chartered Accountant and Professionals having Bachelors & Master's degree in Arts, Science, Commerce, Business Administration and Computer Applications etc. But still the major section of the population is working as contractors or labourers in Interior Business. A substantial number of people are also working in government sectors like Indian Railways, India Post, Civil Health Dept, Ministry of Science & Technology.

The Department of Education has started Primary School in this village in 1967 with medium of instruction as Hindi. The village also has a Religious Educational Institute like Madresa partially managed by Tanzeem-ul-Makatib and the local body of the village. Tilgadiya is blessed with people having outstanding excellence in Fine Arts, Craft and Creativity. Tazia of Hazrat Imam Hussain(a.s.) and other Manzar Kashi made during Maah-e-Aza is a clear proof of this.

Culture and religion

Being a Shiite dominated village, Azadari-e-Mazloom-e-Karbala is a well known thing about this village, though majority of the people of this village stay in different parts of the country like Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Pen, Malegaon, Patna, Surat, Hyderabad, Dubai etc. but the one common thing among them is that they all will try their best to do Azadari-e- Shahensha-e-Karbala in their own village TILGADIYA BUZURG. Existence of Rauza-e-Hazrat-e-Abul Fazlil Abbas (a.s.) has brought another level of fame to this village. One can find a huge gathering on this Rauza especially on every Thursday wherein people recite Munjaats, Duas and ask for their wishes. People from nearby villages having faith in Ata-e-Ghazi(a.s.) come here to pay their homage and to seek blessings from the door of Baab-ul-Hawaij(a.s.). It is a firm belief among the general masses that whatever is asked from Hazrat Abbas(a.s.) under the roof of this rauza will be fulfilled. On the night of first Thursday of every Islamic month known as Nauchandi Jumerat people do procession. Close to the Rauza-e-Hazrat Abbas(a.s.) is the central mosque of tilgadiya. Currently Maulana Sayyed Hasan Abbas sahab is serving as a Pesh Namaz of tilgadiya mosque and is taking care of every religious need of this village. Maulana and a poet of international repute Janab Bilal Kazmi sahab has recited majlis of Imam Hussain(a.s.) several times in tilgadiya during his starting days of Maulwiyat. Maulana Akmal Kazmi sahab is a native of this village. Maulana Aftab Kazmi sahab and Maulana Kaifi Kazmi sahab are the upcoming maulana of this village. Tilgadiya has produced various poets like Janab Manaqib Kazmi Sahab having pen name as 'Tabassum', Late Janab Andaaz Kazmi sahab, Janab Gul Kazmi sahab. Janab Tabassum Sahab was an Asst. Editor at a local newspaper 'Nazara' used to be published from Lucknow. Apart from Shayari late Janab Andaaz Sahab was also a good recitor of Majlis.

There exists a Grand Imambaargaah located almost centrally in the village thus famous as Sadar Imambada. This Imambaargaah is considered to be the most liked one among the general masses. Recently, Rauza-e-Janab-e-Sakina(s.a.) has been built close to Sadar Imambada. There are two organisations responsible behind the azadari activities of tilgadiya. One is Anjuman-e-Tableegh-e-Aza and the other one is Anjuman-e-Faiz-e-Panjetan. Anjuman-e-Tableegh-e-Aza is a registered anjuman Regd No. 480/54649 and is locally famous as Hari party has more number of members. Anjuman-e-Faiz-e-Panjetan locally famous as Kaali party is having less members. Few people in the village also have their own separate Imambada to take the activities of azadari to a greater height. The graveyard at the outskirt of the village on its western side is popularly known as Karabala. People claim that they feel immense peace when they come and sit on this land taking a break from their daily routine. Earlier it was only used to bury taziya but a new Imambada has been constructed on the land of karbala. It has enabled people of tilgadiya to do azadari without any hindrance from climatic changes. This karabala Imambada has helped mainly the ladies section of shia society to commemorate majlis of Imam Hussain(a.s.) without costing their hijaab. A century old banyan tree on this land of karbala is considered to be very sacred and divine.

A temple at the outskirt of the village towards the eastern side is a holy place of worship for Hindus.

Poetry

Pertaining to the location of Central mosque and Rauza-e-Hazrat-e-Abbas(a.s.), one of the poets of Tilgadiya, Shayar-e-Ahlebait Janab Gul Kazmi Sahab, has described Tilgadiya in the following lines written by him:

“Ek Khaana-e-Khaliq hai ek Rauza-e-Ghazi,

Rauze pe sawali hain, Masjid mein Namazi,

Is gaon pe Abbas ka makhsoos karam hai.

Minara-e-Masjid ke hi humraah Alam hai. ”

Translation: “One is the house of Allah other is the tomb of H. Abbas(a.s),

The seekers are at tomb, worshippers are in mosque,

This village is blessed with a special grace of H. Abbas(a.s),

The beacons of mosque are together with Alam of H. Abbas(a.s.). ”

Azadari and other religious observances

Azadari of Tilgadiya has gain a lot of fame during recent years. It is done with great enthusiasm. Currently 8 Ashara’s of Majlis of Imam Hussain(a.s.) take place during the first 10 days of Moharram. People observe partial fast (faaqa) on the 7th of Moharram and they have their food only after returning from the procession. Almost every day from 1st Moharram till 9th Moharram people do Haazri of Hazrat Abbas(a.s.) and serve food to the people. Procession of 7th Moharram famous as Mehndi of Hazrat Qasim Ibne Hasan(a.s.) starts on the night and covers each shia house of the village. Procession of 8th Moharram starts in the afternoon with Zanjeerzani and while passing through each shia house of the village ends in the night. On the night of 10th Moharram procession starts at mid night along with Shabih-e-Zuljanaah. Both Anjuman-e-Tableegh-e-Aza and Anjuman-e-Faiz-e-Panjetan take part in these processions. Each procession carried out by Anjuman-e-Tableegh-e-Aza starts & ends at Sadar Imambada while the processions by Anjuman-e-Faiz-e-Panjetan starts and ends at Late Hasan Raza Sahab's Imambada. As dawn of Aashur nears, people do matam on the burning coal famous as 'Dahakte Angaaron Pe Matam' or 'Aag Ka Matam'. Post Aag ka Matam, people do zanjeerzani and complete the procession by visiting each shia house of the village. Aamal-e-Roz-e-aashur is performed at karbala under the leadership of respective Maulana. In the afternoon people do taziya procession and bury taziya at Karabala. Arrangements of breaking up of partial fast(faaqa shikni) are made for the people to break away their faaqa after taziya burial.

Juloos-e-Shabih-e-Taboot-e-Imam-e-Hussain(a.s.) organised by Anjuman-e-Faiz-e-Panjetan and financed by Janab Parvez Kazmi Sahab on 11th Moharram is unique in its own form. This procession starts from Late Hasan Raza Sahab's Imambada and ends at Karbala Imambada. People participate in this procession with great zeal.

Almost all the shia population are Muqallideen of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Hussaini Sistani. Abbas Day organised under the banner of Anjuman-e-Tableegh-e-Aza financed by Janab Khadim Abbas sahab is carried out with much devotion. It is an annual programme of the anjuman wherein national, international and local poets are called to recite eulogies in praise of Hazrat Abbas(a.s.) and other Ahlebait(a.s). Janab Meesum Gopalpuri, Janab Nayab Hallauri, Janab Nayab Baliyabi, Late Janab Aziz Hallauri, Janab Saleem Balrampuri, Janab Nafees Hallauri, Janab Betaab Hallauri, Janab Sawan Hallauri, in house shayar Janab Gul Kazmi, maddaah-e-ahl-e-bait Janab Maqbool Kazmi, Janab Hasan Abbas Kazmi, Janab Naushad Hussain Kazmi have shown their presence to the programme. Apart from this Mehfil and Majlis at respective dates are also organised in the village. Apart from the Central Mosque of shia community the village also has one mosque of Sunni community.

Taziya processions apart from the day of Aashura are also carried out in tilgadiya by Shiites on the following days:

• Day of Arbaeen also known as Chehlum which falls 40 days after the day of Aashura.

• 28th of Safar in commemoration of Prophet Mohammad's Death and Martyrdom of second Shiite Imam Hasan ibn Ali on same day.

List of Imambaargaahs in Tilgadiya

• Sadar Imambada

• Late Hasan Raza Sahab ka Imambada

• Late Kausar Sahab ka Imambada

• Late Bhole Hasan Sahab ka Imambada

• Shehbaaz Hussain Sahab ka Imambada (Karabala ka Imambada)

• Karam Hussain Sahab ka Imambada

Tilgadiyans outside Tilgadiya

Almost 70% of Tilgadiyans outside tilgadiya are settled in Mumbai. Out of this 80% live in Govandi. Anjuman-e-Tableegh-e-Aza is famous as Anjuman-e-Saqqa-e-Sakina and Anjuman-e-Faiz-e-Panjetan is famous as Anjuman-e-Tamanna-e-Zehra in Mumbai. They participate in several religious activities, like Shabbedari, Majlis, and Procession etc.