Sayeed Hussain not solely bought plots from the Karnataka Government for nomadic households to construct homes, but in addition used his earnings to construct a temple within the locality
Sayeed Hussain not solely bought plots from the Karnataka Government for nomadic households to construct homes, but in addition used his earnings to construct a temple within the locality
Amidst controversies over locations of worship, the individuals of Hassan fondly bear in mind the late Sayeed Hussain, a road magician and musician, who constructed a Shiva temple at Gandhi Nagar in Hosakoplu.
A local of Kolar, Sayeed Hussain learnt the fundamentals of magic from P.C. Sorcar at a younger age. Like his father Sayeed Moulasab, a snake charmer, he went from place to put exhibiting his abilities. Wherever he went, he would put up a makeshift tent for his household. Whenever he took a break from touring, he discovered Hassan to be an excellent place to remain.
Tourist attraction
His touring would take him to venues of festivals ( jatre) and spiritual congregations the place he would carry out magic tips and play music. At different instances, he spent his days on the premises of Hotel Ashoka in Hassan, giving performances in entrance of vacationers. Hundreds of individuals from totally different nations would keep within the resort throughout their go to to the vacationer points of interest round Hassan, together with Belur, Halebid and Shravanabelagola. After watching his efficiency, just a few gave him letters of appreciation, together with Abraham T. Kovoor of Sri Lanka Rationalist Association, Field Marshal Ok.M. Cariappa and famend sitarist Pandit Ravi Shankar.
Hussain used a easy two-string bow instrument to play music and gained many hearts along with his performances. Karnataka Janapada and Yakshagana Academy honoured him with the State award in 1998, a 12 months earlier than he died on the age of 82.
For a few years, his household lived in makeshift tents on the outskirts of the town. Like him, many nomadic households had put up tents. Hussain took management of the neighborhood and staged protests in entrance of the Deputy Commissioner’s workplace in 1976 demanding plots to construct homes.
Dhirendra Singh, then Deputy Commissioner of Hassan, agreed to fulfil the demand and allotted land close to Hosakoplu. The locality was later named Gandhi Nagar. The nomadic households regularly constructed homes by making use of for government-sponsored housing schemes.
Nagamma, a resident of Gandhi Nagar, says, “Hussain’s was the first family to settle in our locality. He ensured that the locality got a borewell. Besides basic amenities for the locality, he put his own money to build a temple for us, with contributions from other people too. Earlier, it was a small structure, but now, it has been renovated.”
Senior residents of the locality affiliate the temple with Sayeed Hussain. Dr. M.S. Shekhar, Director of Gandhi Study Centre at Mysore University, has written a guide Janapada Jadugara in regards to the life and contribution of Sayeed Hussain.
“This is the time to spread the story of Sayeed Hussain when some people are trying to divide people on the basis of religion. He was a great artist and performer, and a noble human being. With his little earnings, he ensured his Hindu neighbours got a temple,” Mr. Shekhar informed The Hindu.
A task mannequin
Many activists and intellectuals bear in mind Hussain’s contributions to Hassan. Krishna Das, a frontrunner of Dalit Sangharsha Samiti in Hassan, stated, “Hussain’s life is a perfect example of harmonious living. A few groups with political interests are seeking a ban on participation of Muslim traders and craftsmen in Hindu festivals. They are trying to keep out people like Hussain who earned their livelihood by exhibiting their skills at such events. I hope that people in power do not accept such demands,” he stated.
Source: www.thehindu.com
