By Justice Markandey Katju
Tomorrow, 11h April, is Eid in India (except in Kashmir and Kerala where it was celebrated today).
In this connection, I may narrate a story, which I had also posted last year :
The Shahr Qazi of Allahabad
Syed Maqbool Hasan was the Shahr Qazi of Allahabad for over half a century..
Although he was also the Imam ( head priest) of Jama Masjid in Allahabad, he never took any money from the funds of Jama Masjid. He earned his livelihood as an ordinary stamp vendor in Allahabad High Court.
When I was a lawyer in the High Court ( 1970-1991) I used to see him sitting at the bottom of the stairs below the Bar Association Library, selling stamps. He wore a simple kurta pyjama, and on looking at him one could never make out that he is the Shahr Qazi.
Until he agreed, Eid could not be declared in Allahabad. Since for declaring Eid 2 respectable Muslims must state that they have sighted the moon, he rigorously cross examined the persons claiming that they had seen the moon, and he also strictly applied the parameters required before declaring Eid.
His integrity was of such a high order that everyone in Allahabad accepted his verdicts, not only about declaring Eid, but also about disputes between Muslims of Allahabad.
Because of old age ( if alive, he must be now in his 90s ) he retired, but before that he was coming to the High Court on a bicycle every working day from his home many miles away.
In the 1986 communal riots in Allahabad he refused to take any police security, although it was offered to him.
He lived a simple life, and put all the money he earned in educating his children.Today one of his sons is in U.S.A. and the other children are also well settled, some in business, and others in other vocations.
Can anyone in Allahabad please tell me whether he is alive, and if so give my salaam to him? My email id is justicekatju (at)gmail.com
(Justice Katju is a former Judge, of the Supreme Court of India, and former Chairman, the Press Council of India. The views expressed are his own)
