2017
MATHUR ASSOCIATION BOMBAY
July 10, 2017
C/o Mahesh C. Mathur & Co.
First Floor, Kakad House,
Barrack Road,
Near Liberty Cinema
Mumbai 400 020
NEWSLETTER
Managing Committee:
1. .Mahesh C. Mathur, (President & Hon. Treasurer) 7. Smt. Prabha Mathur, (Member)
2. Ajit K, Mathur, (Sr. Vice President) 8. Shri Anil Mathur (Member)
3. .Shamsher B. Barellia (Gen. Secy.) 9. Shri Diwakar Mathur (Member)
4. .Krishna Murari, (IPP, Editor & Member (PR) 10. Shri Mathuresh Sherry (Member)
5. Vishwa Nath Mathur (Jt. Treasurer)
6.Yogesh Mathur (Jt. Secy.)
Highlights: 1. Our Functions
2. Our Directory & Website
3. MAB on WhatsApp
4. ‘Mathurs Maulawale’ (a contributed article, author’s version).
Dear Member,
1. Our Functions:
We are happy to inform that so far this year we already have had two functions organized by our East and South -Central Zones as per reports given below:
a) MAB Function organized by our East Zone (Zone-3, Chembur, New Mumbai, Panvel) held on Sunday, 22nd January, 2017.
It was a day event held from 12 noon onward at Hotel Yogi Executive at Vashi, with an overwhelming response and attended by 87 guests not only from the Zone but from other Zones too. After the customary Ganesh Vandana, new members introduced themselves and Senior citizens among the attendees were honored and felicitated. This was followed by a cultural program with melodious songs rendered by our young, budding artists and adults which stole everyone's heart. Even some of our Senior guests displayed their talent through self composed poems, songs and also by playing the Tabla and Harmonium. These traditional musical instruments hold a high position in every Mathur household and heart.
Smt. Deepali Mathur (mother of Shri Jayant Mathur of NRI Complex, Nerul) and wife of Shri Yogesh Mathur of Lucknow who happened to be in the city and joined us gave an enlightening talk on Mathur culture, specially touching upon our younger generation to make them aware of our rich cultural heritage.
The grand finale was a group dance by a few enthusiastic members. The event, thoroughly enjoyed and praised by all, ended after a sumptuous lunch and ‘phir milenge’ good bye from and to each other. The organizing Committee has special thanks for Mrs Deepa Sherry (supported by Miss Kritika Sherry & Miss Arunika Sherry), Mrs Deepali -Mr Anuj Mathur, Mrs Megha - Mr Ashish Mathur, Mr Surendra Mathur, Mr Jayant Mathur, and Mrs Amita Dhanu of the Zone and for all others who worked hard in making the program a grand success.
Incidentally, it may be mentioned that it was perhaps for the first time in the history of Mathur functions in Mumbai that the money collection from all the attendees was fully done in advance, before the event date, thus not needing the usual ‘Collection’ counter at the venue and also, an automatic elimination of the ‘No-show’ type of guests.
b) Our HOLI function organized by our Zones 1 & 2 (South and Central Mumbai) on Saturday, 8th April, 2017
MAB Holi Milan function (an evening event) was organized by its South & Central Zonal Committees (Zones 1 & 2) on Saturday, 8th April, 2017 at Sagar Matha Army Officers Institute near Afghan Church, Colaba, Mumbai, in the comfortable ambiance of its Air-conditioned Hall. It was attended by 93 members from MAB’s various Zones, with the largest participation from its East (Chembur, New Mumbai) Zone. Scotch served on the occasion set the happy and relaxed mood for the event. Besides greeting and meeting each other in the traditional HOLI way, many members participated in singing and dancing. A sumptuous candle light Dinner was served in the lawns and everybody had a good time in the serene, green and cool breeze atmosphere, heartily enjoyed by all. Many photos were taken during the event and circulated to members on WhatsAp groups.
Three senior and distinguished members, viz., Mr. J S Saharia, Maharashtra State Election Commissioner, Maj. Gen. Anuj Mathur, Chief of Staff, (Mha. & Guj. Area) & Mr. Rajeev Mathur, Managing Director Mahanagar Gas Co. Ltd. were felicitated and presented with flower bouquets and MAB mementos.
MAB is highly grateful to Gen. Anuj Saheb for sponsoring the venue and to and his wife, Mrs. Madhu for her suggestions in planning the dinner menu (Rajasthani touch, for a welcome change this time) which was very much appreciated by all.
c) Our next functions: Our NE Zone (Zone-5) is planning to organize their ‘Diwali get together’ sometime in coming October / November. Details will be announced when finalized. A Central function may also be held sometime thereafter.
2. MAB Welfare Trust:
a) As members are aware, MAB had established a charitable Trust in May, 2005 named as “MAB Welfare Trust|”. Members will kindly refer to our last Newsletter dated 28th October, 2016 wherein the history and compelling reasons leading to formation of the Trust were explained in detail. The Trust was formed with the primary aim of providing financial assistance for medical emergencies to biradri members in distress, as also for educational assistance to a needy and deserving student and for other charitable activities to others.
With contributions from our generous members and other well wishers we have so far been able to collect a total amount of Rs. 2, 80, 359 only which needs to be substantially augmented to make the Trust a viable one to befittingly and purposefully meet its intended objectives.
It is pointed out that under provisions of the Charitable Public Trusts Act it is mandatory for us to donate for public charity every year. It therefore means that unless more contributions of adequate value come in regularly, this amount collected so far gets progressively depleted with every instance of financial assistance or charity provided.
“ A giver has first to be given to enable him to give “ as loosely translated from an Urdu couplet.
The Trust is funded by contributions from the general public, our members and other well wishers. Being registered under the Charitable Public Trusts Act, its donors are entitled to Tax exemption under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act., for which the Trust is authorized to issue necessary certificate.
(b). An appeal to our own members: Charity begins at home !
It will be appreciated that members of the MAB Managing Committee only and alone can not run about to spread the message and organize fund collection drives We therefore earnestly appeal to all MAB members to not only generously contribute to this noble cause but also to try getting contributions from other well wishers in general public, Corporate houses, etc. Those of our MAB members who have their own or shared business are specially requested to come forward with their generous contribution and avail of Tax Exemption under Sec. 80G of Income Tax Act.
For processing contributions for the Trust, kindly contact our Jt. Treasurer, Shri Vishwa Nath Mathur (Tel: 2415 6680 / M: 9821163526 / em: vishwanath.mathur@gmail.com) or any other member of the MAB Managing / Zonal Committee.
c) Charities processed:
Following charities for public on behalf of the Trust were processed during the year:
i) A sum of Rs. 20,000 was donated to Tejgyan Global Foundation, Mumbai for welfare and treatment of poor Cancer patients.
ii) Another sum of Rs. 6000 donated to YMCA, Mumbai for purchase of Sewing Machines on which poor women could learn sewing as profession for their living.
3. Senior Citizens, ‘Purane Shehree’ and External Life Members:
a) Senior Citizens:
MAB has always been keen for participation of its Senior Citizens in its activities and functions. Their mere presence in a function adds a grace and unique charm to the function’s ambiance while the organizers feel happy and blessed to have them around. It is recalled that in year 2000 we had compiled a list of 19 Seniors (then aged 75 and over) and invited them to be our honored guests in our next function. We are happy and fortunate that by grace of God a few of them are still with us today.
It is now due that a list of our Seniors (ladies and gents, this time of age 80 and above) be compiled afresh. Members who themselves are of 80 and above (as on 1st January, 2017) or members having such elders (parents etc.) of that age normally living with them may please inform us their names and actual age for compilation of the list to be followed by further felicitation action. Though proof of age is not required, birth year may please be mentioned to determine and declare the senior most and to register others age wise in serial order.
The above information be kindly emailed at our em id (bombaymathurs@gmail.com) latest by 30th September, 2017 so as to be compiled and made available for us to extend to them an invitation to be our guests in our next function.
b) Purane Shehree:
Nobody is sure, but it is believed that Mathurs started coming to Mumbai (then Bombay) in the early 1930’s, mostly in connection with film industry, followed thereafter by further, though slow arrivals in next two decades or so. It was actually from year 1955 onwards that more Mathurs started coming in, mostly in service and some in business. It was from 1960 onward that the metropolitan city with its fast development and booming economy saw a rapidly increasing influx of Mathurs from all over India to avail of the opportunities available.
In the same year 2000 mentioned in sub para (a) above, we also compiled a list of 12 of our members (out of less than 200 listed then) who were staying in Mumbai continually for more than 40 years, i.e., having arrived here in 1960 or earlier. Much time has elapsed since then and in the meantime many of the old ones have left and many new have joined, with about 500 as listed members now.
It is now proposed to compile afresh a list of our ‘Purane Shehree’ members who have stayed and maintained their household in Mumbai for 50 years (i.e., having arrived and settled here since 1966 or earlier) or more as on 1st January, 2017.
Members eligible for this listing may kindly inform us by email (id mentioned above) of their details mentioning the date/year since their continued stay in the city, latest by 30th September, 2017. We may plan some special felicitation for them in our next function.
b) External Life Members:
Our External Life Members (i.e., Life Members who have permanently left Mumbai) continue to remain our members and we welcome their keeping touch with us. We post our Newsletters to those who have furnished to us their confirmed postal address and keep informing of any change in their address. To those who have furnished their email id to us, we regularly e-mail copies of our Newsletters. We are happy that many of our other Ext. Life Members view our website and read our Newsletters thereon.
4. Distinctions & Achievements:
(a) Shri Satish Mathur, a 1981 batch IPS Officer, took charge of the top ranking post of Director General of Maharashtra State Police on 31st July, 2016. Prior to this, he was posted at many other prestigious postings not only in the State but also on deputation outside, including as Director, Air India for about five years.
MAB offers its heartiest congratulations to Satish Mathur Sahib for this distinctive achievement and wishes him all the best in his career.
(b) Shri J.S. Saharia, an IAS Officer of 1978 batch and a former Chief Secretary to Govt. of Maharashtra took charge of the post of Maharashtra State Election Commissioner on 5th September, 2014.
(c) Shri Rajeev Mathur has been posted as Managing Director, Mahanagar Gas Nigam Ltd., at Mumbai since Sept. 2014, his past posting being as Executive Director of Gas Authority of India, Delhi.
(d) Gen. Anuj Mathur posted about a year back as Chief of Staff (Mah., Guj., and Goa area) with headquarters at Mumbai. However, as we go to press, we understand that he has just been transferred to Jaipur and is leaving Mumbai. Both he and his wife, Smt. Mdhu will be remembered for their help and active participation in MAB activities even in their rather short stay in Mumbai.
Note: We regret for the inordinate delay in publishing the news about items (a), (b) and (c) above. due to some communication gap at our end.
5. General :
In case it may have escaped member’s attention, we take opportunity to remind them once again about the following items already announced in our last Newsletter:
a) MAB on WhatsApp:
. MAB on WhatsApp has been introduced to encourage fellowship amongst members in Mumbai which is becoming very popular, with many active members participating daily. It is being tested for including Matrimonial proposals therein as an added item of activity.
Smart phone nos. for the MAB Mg. Comm. members are follows:
(i) Mahesh C. Mathur (Churchgate) (9870096638 and 00-19172570759
(ii) Ajit K. Mathur, (Khar-W): 9820132341
(iii) Mathuresh Sherry (Kharghar): 9820169467
iv) Yogesh Mathur (Thane) : 9819233256
b) MAB Website: Our website: http://sites.google.com/site/bombaymathurs contains an Alphabetical List of members and Zone wise member’s Directory of all its seven Zones which is regularly updated. Currently it is updated till end of June, 2017. Members who do not have a printed copy of our Directory can view it on this website. Besides, it contains contributed articles on Mathur’s origin, culture, etc., which are widely viewed in India and even abroad.
c) Address & other changes: It is seen again and again that a number of our Newsletters and other communications sent by post come back undelivered as the addressee may have shifted from the address listed with us. Apart from the loss of printing and postage expenses on such returned letters, we feel sorry for missing these members. Similarly, many emails to members also get bounced as the concerned member may have changed his/her em id. There are changes even in member’s Landline / Mob. Phone nos. which are not informed to us with the result that we can not contact them to confirm their address etc.
We therefore request once again that as and when a change occurs in your address phone nos., em id etc., it may kindly be advised promptly by email at our id: bombaymathurs@gmail.com or to our Gen. Secretary, Shri S.B. Barellia ( Add: Blk: 10-B, Flat:3, Navjivan Socy., Mori Road, Mahim (W), Mumbai – 400 016. Ph: 2446 7212 / M: 9820427290 ( em: barellia@yahoo.com) by a letter, phone or email to enable us to update our record and mailing list.
d) .Our new Directory: As our present Directory (2013 Edn,) has undergone substantial changes by now, we plan to publish a new Directory some time in this year or early next year. You will certainly like that our next Directory contains your address, phone nos., and email id etc., updated correctly, without errors. We solicit your cooperation in implementation of our efforts and request each one of you to please check your address and other particulars in the printed copy of our Directory or on our Directory on the website (please see sub para (b) above) and advise us on our em id: bombaymathurs@gmail.com of any corrections or updating needed. We will note and acknowledge it by a reply.
In case of difficulty in locating your name in the Directory on website, kindly let us know on our above em id. and we will help you locate it.
Apart from the above, we will be highly obliged if Members in know of any change in an existing member’s address as also of arrival of a new member / final departure of an existing member may please inform us about it by email at our id mentioned in sub para above. above with “Address verification’ marked as Subject. This will be a highly appreciated and immensely useful voluntary service by the member to the Association.
We would like to carry out all the needed address corrections / additions / deletions, etc., as much as possible and as early as possible so as to avoid wrong entries appearing in the new Directory.
We earnestly request our members to kindly conduct the above exercise (item (i) or (ii) above and e-mail the information to us latest by 15th October, 2017 so that corrections, if any are included in the draft of the new Directory proposed to be taken up soon thereafter.
Note: It will help if in all above cases Member’s Zonal Ref. No. is quoted along with.
e) Weddings & deaths information: For publishing the weddings and deaths in our Newsletters we generally depend upon information received from stray sources or by word of mouth and rarely from the families concerned. It is likely that many such happenings may not come to our knowledge in time and hence regretfully missed in our Newsletters.
It is therefore requested that members of the concerned families may kindly inform us promptly about all such happenings in the family so that the information is duly included in our next Newsletter.
f) Life Membership: Those of our members who have still not taken the Association’s Life membership (validity 15 years, thereafter renewable) are requested to kindly do so by paying a fee of Rs. 1500.
Note: For sub items (e) and (f) above, kindly contact Shri Barellia at address given in sub para (c) above)
5. Contributed article:
A contributed article (author’s version) “ Mathurs Maulawale” is attached herewith for member’s reading pleasure.
6 Academic Awards:Following Academic awards sponsored through MAB are available as encouragement to Mumbai based Mathur boys/girls:
(a) GUNNO DEVI AWARD - Rs. 1000 for the highest marks obtained in SSC Exam
(b) GANPAT SAHAI AWARD - Rs. 1000 for the highest marks obtained in HSC Exam
(c) MADHO LAL AWARD - Rs. 1500 for a boy and / or girl securing admission in MBBS course in a recognized Medical College anywhere in India.
NOTES:
1) For item under (a & b) above, minimum qualifying total marks are 80% or equivalent grading.
2) Applicant’s parents (other than Life members) should have paid their annual Membership for the concerned Academic Year as well as for the year of application.
3) Applications for awards pertaining to the last Academic Session 2016-17 along with attested copy of Marks sheet be sent to Shri Barellia (add: in para 5(c) above) latest by 30th September, 2017.
Applications received later may not be considered.
7. Wedding bells: (since issue of our last Newsletter dated October 28, 2016)
Happy marriages begin when we marry the one we love
And they blossom when we love the one we married
Our heartiest congrats and best wishes to the newlyweds and their families on the following weddings:
1. Kum. Ankita, d/o Smt. Poonam & Shri Gyanesh Mathur, (E-36 / Vashi - Hyderabad) with Yuvak, s/o Smt. Nidhi and Shri Lokesh Mehta at Mumbai on 17-1-2017.
2. Kum. Kriti, d/o Smt. Shweta and Shri Girish B. Mathur, (E-135 / CBD Belapur) with Rahul, s/o Smt. Jayshree & Shri Rakesh Narain Mathur at Delhi on 11-2-2017.
3. Kum. Shivani, d/o Smt. Archana & Shri Rajeev Shankar, (E-72 / Kharghar) with Anmol, s/o Smt. Ranjana & Shri Yuvraj Behari Mathur at Delhi on 12-2-2017.
4. Kum. Kamakshi, d/o Smt. Varsha & Shri Bhupendra Mathur and granddaughter of Smt. Pushpa & Shri Kuldip Narain (E-51 / NRI Comp. Nerul) with Aditya, s/o Smt. Anita & Ajay Mathur at Delhi on 15-4-2017.
5. Kum. Pallavi, d/o Smt. Sarita & Shri Sarvesh Mathur (Ex- Customs) E-131 / Kharghar with Kartik, s/o Smt. Meera & Rajan Mathur of Delhi at Indore on 22-06-2017.
8.Obituaries: (since issue of our last Newsletter dated October 28, 2016)
Kahee(n ) door jab din dhal jaye
Our heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved families and prayers for peace for the departed soul of the following who have left for their heavenly abode:
1. Shri Gopal B. Lal, (W-19 / Santa Cruz-E), beloved husband of Smt. Kashmiran and respected father of Shri Kailash B. Lal at Mumbai on 1-11-2016.
2. Shri S.P Mathur, NE-52 / Thane-W), beloved husband of Smt. Ranjana and respected father of Amit Mathur at Thane on 19-2-2017.
3. Shri Shiv Sarup, respected father of Smt. Soma Rajeev, (W-75/ Khar-W) at Lucknow on 24-2-2017
4. Shri S.P. Nag (E-87 / Vashi) beloved husband of Smt. Sarla Nag at Vashi on 5-3-2017.
5. Smt. Asha, beloved wife of Dr. Girish Prasad Mathur, (W-18 /Juhu) at Mumbai on 23-5-2017.
6. Shri Ganesh Narain Mathur, (C-9 /Prabhadevi) at Jaipur on 5-7-2017
7. Capt. D.S. Mathur (Retd. MD, Air India), (W-13 / Vile Parle-E) at Mumbai on 9-7-2017
For and on behalf of MAB Managing Committee
Mahesh C. Mathur Krishna Murari
(President) (IPP, Editor & Member (PR)
Attcah: Article: (2 pages), P.T.O. ,
Annexure
MATHURS MAULAWALE
(For private circulation only through Mathur Association Bombay Newsletter).
Not to be reproduced wholly or partly without author’s prior permission.
By Krishna Murari, IPP, Editor & Member (PR), MAB
Some 10 years ago a certain Mr. P.N. Mathur from USA emailed to know through the medium of Mathur Association Bombay whether there was anything like “Maulawale Mathurs” and if yes, were they some different type of Mathurs or it was their one among the 84 Mathur Al’s. Recently another Mathur from Delhi asked us the same question, saying that his daughter was being proposed for
marriage in a Jaipur Mathur family whose origin was traced to an old U.P. Maulawale Mathur clan and therefore he wanted to ascertain whether the family were ‘pure’ Mathurs or of some mixed descent. I was surprised that this long forgotten, historical and ancient, albeit very much real word, buried under layers and layer of obscurity, not only still existed in remote memory of present
generation but was also being sought to be rekindled. So, based on information I had on the subject since long ago from my ancestors, what I replied to them both is now penned in this article for the information of others of the present generation who may find it rather
queer but interesting and informative.
Introduction: The later, fast declining period of the 1526-1857 Mughal era in India (specially after Emperor Aurangzeb’s death in year 1707 and Iranian Emperor Nadir Shah’s brutal attack and ransacking of Delhi in year 1739) is considered by many as a Muslim Renaissance period in India. The Muslim rulers had then started realizing the importance of good relations with Hindus for stability of the empire and society. They gradually started turning their attention from fighting with small Hindu States and empire expansion to public welfare, literally pursuits and development of arts. Classical Music, poetry, Mushairas, sufi qawwalees, literature, philosophy and other fine arts like portrait painting, sculpturing, etc., strictly banned earlier by Aurangzeb, once again started coming out of their
cocoon. Talking of renaissance, our biradri buzurgs of yester years used to say that one Bishan Chand, a Chelpuri Delhi Mathur (vaguely understood to be an ancestor way up the clan line of the Late Dr. Tara Chand, acclaimed historian and a Secretary, Education Deptt., Govt. of India in the 1950’s) a disciple of the well known poet Mirza Ghalib and himself a Urdu – Persian poet and writer in
his own right was a favorite court poet in the durbar of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal Emperor. A Munshi Har Gopal was another noted Urdu Poet of the era under reference.
Attitude and intolerance by Muslims towards Hindus gradually started softening and association between the two communities in Northern India, particularly in and around Delhi and Western U.P., started growing more cordial, sometimes even turning into friendship. Both communities, though still adherents to their respective religious faiths, developed appreciative understanding of each other’s religion. Many Delhi Hindus would attend the annual Urs at the Darghas of Muslim Saints Hazrat Nizamuddin and Bakhtiar Kaki and some would often offer ‘Sadqa’ "Niaz" (some sweets, flowers, chadder, oil lamp etc.) at a nearby Dargah. Offering sherbat during Tazyas procession in Muharram month of the Muslim calendar was a routine with many Hindu households not only in Delhi but also in other cities, particularly in U.P. Delhi Muslims in large number along with two royal princes representing the Mughal Emperor would regularly join the annual ‘Phool walon ki Sair’ procession to Jog Maya temple at Mehrauli. Inevitably, in course of time minute particles of Muslim culture and life style started creeping in the Hindu mind, more so in that of Kayasthas who were already culturally and socially closer to Muslims as compared to other Hindu sects.
Background: Now talking specifically of Mathurs in the above context as also in the light of the topic of this write up, they were no exception to this latest cultural metamorphosis. To come closer to the Muslim rulers and elites, many Mathurs started adopting Muslim life style in their day to day life, dress code, food habits etc., including growing Muslim style beards and moustaches, even same style caps. Muslim Maulvis to teach Urdu and Persian to children (Maktab) were a common sight in most Mathur houses. Chaste Urdu (perhaps due also to its perceived sweetness and flowery latafat in speech) was their spoken and written language even at home.
For example, if a contempt was to be expressed, they would invariably say,Lahaul wala quwwat or ‘Tobah tobah’ and would say ‘Insha Allah’ for ‘God willing’. Words like Adabarz, ji-janab, tasleem, tashreef rakhye, ‘hukum farmaiye’ etc., were taught to children from childhood. Elders would often address their boys as ‘Barkhurdaar’ or ‘Mian Sahabzade’. Young girls in Mathur houses would be addressed as ‘Banno’ like ‘Baano’ and married ones as ‘Bibi” like Muslims.
In some houses the children would address their parents as ‘Abboo’ and ‘Amma’. Mathur boys at birth started being named with Urdu words in Muslim style like Shamsher Bahadur, Taj Bahadur, Iqbal Narain, Bhairon Baksh, Gulshan Behari, Shehzad Bahadur, Sartaj Bahadur, Umrao Bahadur, Gulzari Lal, ‘Zoraawar Singh’, Mehtab Chand etc.
To cite other noteworthy examples, a certain “Bakhtawar Singh Mathur’ a land lord of Amroha (Moradabad, U.P.) had, in the 1800’s, a Mohalla in the town named after himself as ‘Kucha Bakhtawar Singh’, which is existing with the same name even today. Hyderabad had one Raja Mehboob Karan, a respected noble from the city’s royal, Asafjahi titled and highly acclaimed lMathur clan of the yester years.
It will be noted that though these names or surnames were not Islamic per se, they were definitely hard cored Urdu ones, many of them being in use even today.
Maulawale Mathurs: Then some Mathurs went further ahead and,in a voluntarily developed show of closer social and cultural integration with their Muslim friends they would say, “Ya Maula’ as a Hindu would utter ‘Hey Bhagwan’. They started having beads Mala (rosary, called "Tasbeeh" in Arabic), in their hands and quietly chanting " Maula, Maula ", as a Hindu would say, "Ram Ram’ or
‘Hari Om’ during ‘mala japping’. The salient difference was that the fingers and beads in a Tasbeeh would move opposite to the Hindu way of ‘mala japping’. So, such Mathur families, (which included mostly well off ones) started being named as Maula wale.
In other words, short of uttering the Quranic Kalma and offering Namaz or Roza or Zakat, or taking beef, they appeared to be generally like Muslims in day to day life and behavior. It must be emphatically mentioned here that despite their chosen way of life as above, the ‘Maulawales’ and their families still continued to be normal Hindus, following all their Hindu rituals and pujas. The so called ‘labelling’ of ‘Maulawale‘ was not at all looked down upon by other Mathurs with any sort of disrespect, degeneration, or a symbol of separation from the Mathur main stream for social and matrimonial purposes and for any interaction with the Mathur community at large in the country.
This type of socio-religious copycatting perhaps continued till the near end of Muslim rule in India (1857) after which there were no further adaptation of such Muslim values and practices by others. However, till as late as the early 1900’s, members and descendants of these clans, though no more chanting “Ya Maula” or using the Tasbeeh, still continued to be identified as Maulawale, something like a trade mark label of a recently past history, albeit no more of any significant value, stuck to them.
By the late 1920’s or so, except for some rarely found biradri elders who still happened to remember the Maulawale historical background, all Mathurs, including members of the later generations of the Maulawales themselves, had forgotten if and why at all were they called Maulawale.
Incidentally and in passing, it may be mentioned that till as late as 1940 the author had personally known descendants of two old Maulawale families from UP’s Agra and Moradabad cities respectively.
Conclusion: It must be reiterated that present and future generation descendants of the age old, historical Maulawales , are normal Mathurs in all respects, and no more labelled as such.
Today’s Mathurs may perhaps, at best, know of this word, ‘Maula’ only as “Maula–o-Maula” from a Qawwali in a 2009 Bollywood film, ‘Delhi-6’.
Krishna Murari (murarikm@hotmail.com)
24-5- 2017