Omar Rashid 
New Delhi: Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal have outlawed an age-old fair – the Neja Mela – held by the Muslim community to commemorate Saiyad Salar Masud Ghazi, a semi-legendary military figure from the 11th century popularly believed to be a nephew of Ghaznavid ruler Mahmud of Ghazni. A senior police officer, while denying permission for the fair this year, said an event to honour an “invader,” “plunderer” and “murderer” would not be allowed to be held even if it had been traditionally organised year after year.
The official stand, while banning the event, was in tune with the long-held views of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its affiliates who have concertedly tried to superimpose the fable of Ghazi Mian, as he is popularly known, into current politics and project him as a villainous character, who was slayed by a backward caste Hindu warrior Suheldev.
Muslims in some parts of Uttar Pradesh venerate Ghazi Mian as a saint and in the Neja Mela – held every year in Sambhal after the festival of Holi – recite Islamic verses to honour his legacy.
However, Ghazi, whose alleged mausoleum in Bahraich district is visited by both Hindus and Muslims, has long been used as a polarising figure by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other associated groups to pit backward caste and Dalit Hindus against Muslims. The BJP and RSS have for many decades tried to project Maharaja Suheldev, a legendary Bhar chieftain, as a Hindutva warrior and national hero who stopped Ghazi Mian’s march in Bahraich and temporarily halted the Islamisation of the region.
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In 2021, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Adityanath had famously asked, can the “followers” of Maharaja Suheldev and Salar Masood join hands, as he tried to portray the opposition Samajwadi Party as pro-Muslim and rule that its alliance with other smaller backward caste-based parties was incompatible.
“Will the followers of Maharaja Suheldev join hands with the followers of Salar Masood? Can they join hands? A true ‘rasthra bhakt’ can never bow in front of invaders. He will not budge, retreat or bow,” Adityanath said at a rally weeks before the 2022 Assembly election.
In the modern context, both Bhars (backward caste) and Pasis (Dalits) compete for his lineage. However, the historical existence of Suheldev, who is often depicted in a combative stance atop a horse and with a spear in his hand, is shrouded in mystery. As per the district gazetteer of Bahraich, little is known about Suheldev except for a reference in Mirat-i-Masaudi, a historical romance by Abd-ur Rehman Chisti, written during the reign of Jahangir, in which he “turned the tide of victory” in favour of the local chieftains against Saiyad Salar Masud, a nephew of Mahmud of Ghazni.
Sambhal additional superintendent of police (ASP) Shrish Chandra described the Neja Mela as “desh drohi” or anti-national and a “malpractice.” Ironically, however, the official website of the district of Bahraich, where Ghazi’s mausoleum is located, promotes the site as a syncretic place of tourist interest and also records the annual fair held in his memory as one of the major festivals celebrated in the area. The Bahraich district website also flaunts two photographs of the dargah dedicated to Ghazi, describing him as a “famous eleventh century Islamic saint and soldier”.
A screen grab of the Bahraich district website describing Saiyad Salar Masud Ghazi mausoleum as a place of reverence for “Muslims and Hindus alike”. Photo: bahraich.nic.in
“Hazrat Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud, a famous eleventh century Islamic saint and soldier. His Dargah is a place for reverence for Muslims and Hindus alike. It was built by Firoz Shah Tughlaq. It is believed that people taking bath in the water of this Dargah become free of all skin diseases. The annual festival (Urs) at the Dargah is attended by thousands of people coming from far-off places of the country (sic),” the website said.
ASP Chandra referred to Ghazi’s relationship with Mahmud of Ghazni, who invaded many cities of India in the 11th century and plundered Hindu religious sites, to discredit the Neja Mela. He said the decision was taken due to law and order concerns, as it “hurt the sentiments of the other side,” as well as keeping in view “historical facts.”
“It was factually found that this fair is celebrated in the memory of Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud who was an invader and lootera (plunderer), who destroyed many temples including the Somnath Temple. He also killed a lot of people. Organising an event in the memory of such a murderer and plunderer is absolutely inappropriate and anti-national,” Chandra told local media.
The police threatened strict action against anyone who attempts to organise such an event. Shahid Hussain Masoodi, the president of the Neja Committee, which organises the fair was unable to understand why the police had denied permission for an event that had been traditionally-held every year. As per the tradition, a flag is raised at a designated site on the first Tuesday after Holi. This year it was March 18. After this ceremonial event, a fair is organised for three days on the next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
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On Tuesday, police patrolled the streets where the said flag ceremony was traditionally organised. There was “discontent” among locals regarding the Neja fair and police received objections from them as well, said officer Chandra, adding that the organisers were informed that their practice was “inappropriate.”
Police filled the pothole where the flag was supposed to be planted with cement, amid heavy presence of police force.
Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav criticised the BJP government for banning the Neja Mela. “The BJP is destroying every syncretic culture and every brotherhood,” said Yadav, stressing that fairs were places where people of different religions and caste mingled.
“The BJP does not like the way in which we used to live together, how people of all religions used to live together,” said Yadav.
After coming to power at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP has honoured Suheldev, Ghazi’s alleged slayer, with a new memorial, a superfast train running from Ghazipur to Delhi, a new university and a stamp, among other things to reach out to the backward caste Hindus.