Gholam ’Ali Rásikh
Khan Bahadur Saiyid Zamiruddin Ahmad
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7880496
Abstract:
Khan Bahadur Saiyid Zamiruddin Ahmad (1862-January 1922) was one of the members of ’Azimabad’s nobility. An aristocrat of noble distinction belonging to the class of educated Muslim elites of Biharsharif, and later ’Azimabad, he graduated from the Presidency College, Calcutta in 1885 with Persian, English, and Philosophy as principal subjects. He chose to reside in Patna after his marriage and lived there till his death. He served as the Honorary Magistrate of Patna. Well versed in Urdu, Persian, and English, he wrote a couple of important books and articles in Urdu and English.
Zamiruddin’s Urdu book on the life and teachings of the renowned Sufi of Biharsharif, Makhdúm Sharfuddin Ahmad Yahya Maneri, ‘Sirat-ulSharf’ (1901), is regarded as the first notable book on the philosophy of tasawwuf as well. The first edition of this book displays his name as Saiyid Zamiruddin Ahmad Bihari ’Azimabadi. Another book in Urdu, ‘Kaukabae-Mamlúki-o-Malúki’ narrates the life and deeds of the rulers of India from Qutbuddin Aibak to Khilji Sultans. Besides rendering ‘Tabqat-eAkbari’ into English, he had written historical accounts of Sher Shah, and, Daud Khan Quraishi, first Subedar of Bihar (February 1659 – December 1664). Zamiruddin Ahmad’s article on the ’Azimabadi Urdu poet Sheikh Ghulam ’Ali Rásikh appeared in the ‘Journal of the Bihar and Orissa Research Society’, (Vol. iv, Part 1, March 1918). This is the first-ever introduction to Rásikh’s life and poetry written in English. The article contains extensive references to Rásikh’s couplets which have been ardently translated into English by the author. Zamiruddin’s son Syed Badruddin Ahmad (1901-1983) was a poet, writer, and politician who authored a memoir of medieval Patna (Azimabad) ‘Haqeeqat bhi Kahani bhi: ’Azimabad Ki Tahzeebi Daastaan’ (2003). Arshad Masood Hashmi
