Ramlila visited by PM is part of Nawabs' sacred triangle

LUCKNOW: The present-day Ramlila maidan in Aishbagh, which was visited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a short while ago, is actually one of the vertices of a triangle of communal harmony, conceptualised in the era of nawabs of Avadh.
Social anthropologist Prof Nadeem Hasnain, who has prepared an ethnographic portrait of the city, has noted that this Ramlila Maidan is one of three pillars of a sacred complex visualised by the nawabs.Aishbagh Eidgah (where Sunni Muslims offer namaz in larg est number) and Karbala Malka Jahan (religious place of Shia Muslims) are the other two.
“The place offers a constructive mantra to successfully rule a diverse population something which all present day politicians can learn and which the country desperately needs as of now,“ said Hasnain, adding, “The nawabs created a relationship of dependence which paved way for participation of one community in the events of others'. They also made Hindu-Muslims live like neighbours--Hus sainabad is right beside Ramnagar. Hindus mourning, making tazias or observing maatam in Muharram and Muslims contributing their skills to conduct of Ramlila in Aish bagh are all proof of that mantra's success.“
He added that the nawabs personally contributed towards cementing ties between the two communities. “Their gestures won over peoples' hearts and thus they reign on everyone's mind even after 160 years of the end of their rule,“said Yogesh Praveen who has authored several books on Lucknow, adding that the nawabs' formula may give an insight to PM Modi who is preparing to add the jewel of UP to his crown.“
Nawabs gave equal land for Ramlila maidan and Eidgah making us neighbours who stand by each other in good times and bad. The tradition is a part of life and we put up drinking water stalls on Eid and they (Eidgah management) contribute to our events,“ said Pandit Aditya Dwivedi, general secretary of Aishbagh Ramlila Samiti. The opening prayer in the Ramlila is choreographed by Kathak teacher Shams-ur-Rehman Naved. The craftsman making effigy of Ravana is a Muslim too. Talking to TOI, effigy maker Saqib Khan said, “No one, except for the one who plays Rama can feel my happiness to see Ravana turning into ashes.“
Ramlila troupe director Bhaskar Basu said he comes to Aishbagh because of its secular character.