KULOB, September 8, 2009, Asia-Plus — Today, visiting Indian President Pratibha Patil is making a short trip to the southern city of Kulob.
According to the Kulob mayor’s office, during her stay in the city President Patil will visit the shrine of known Persian poet and prominent Muslim scholar Mir Syed Ali Hamadani who brought Islam to Kashmir in 14th century. Hamadani’s shrine dated to 16th -17th century is an historical and architectural relic of Kulob.
The head of the united directorate of museums of the city of Kulob Hotam Asozoda said in an interview with Asia-Plus that Mir Syed Ali Hamadani had inseparable link with the Kashmir region.
India’s Daily Times reported on September 1, 2009 that Syed Ali Hamadani invokes a similar veneration for Kashmiri Muslims, as Khawja Moinuddin Chisti of Ajmer invokes for the Muslims of India and Pakistan. Hamadani not only spread Islam in Kashmir, but had a major role in shaping the culture of Kashmir as well. He wrote several works on spirituality and Sufism and an advisory for Kashmiri kings.
Mir Syed Ali bin Shahab-ud-Din Hamadani (1314-1384) was a Persian Sufi of the Kubrawi order, a poet and a prominent Muslim scholar. He was born in 1314 in Hamadan and died in 1384 in Kunar and was buried in Khatlan (present Kulob in Tajikistan), where people to this day gather in large numbers to pay homage.
He was very influential in spreading Islam in Kashmir and had a major hand in shaping the culture of the Kashmir valley. He was also known as “Shah Hamadan” (“King of Hamadan”, Iran) and as Amir-I Kabir (“the Great Commander”). He wrote several short works on spirituality and Sufism. He was immortalized by poets like Allama Iqbal.
Syed Ali Hamadani was a prolific traveler in his times and travelled far and wide throughout the Muslim World. Consequently, he undertook the Haj thrice and traveled for twenty or twenty-one years. During these journeys he saw the Islamic and other countries and met the holy men there.
During her stay in Kulob, President Patil will also visit the Park named after Ismoili Somoni as well as an exhibition of economic achievements, traditions and custom of the Kulob population that has been organized at the central street of the city.
Tajik Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov is accompanying Indian President on her visit to Kulob, the source at the Kulob mayor’s office said.
