There were demonstrations in Uttar Pradesh after the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the US-Israel attack. People of Shia community demonstrated. Women and men of this community mourned in Lucknow. Slogans of Khamenei Zindabad and America-Israel Murdabad were raised. Now high alert has been issued in the entire state. The small and big Imambara of Lucknow have been closed till Tuesday.
Shia dominated areas of the state are being monitored and instructions were given to deploy forces. Now the question is, why were there demonstrations in Uttar Pradesh including Lucknow after the death of the Supreme Leader of Iran and why was there mourning in Lucknow?
Iran’s Supreme Leader’s connection with Uttar Pradesh
There have been two Supreme Leaders in the history of Iran so far. The first supreme leader was Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and after him Ayatollah Ali Khamenei became the second supreme leader of Iran. Supreme leaders of Iran have deep connections with Uttar Pradesh. Khomeini, who led Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, followed in the spiritual footsteps of his grandfather Ahmed Hindi.
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
Born in 1800, Ahmed was brought up near Barabanki, 30 kilometers away from Lucknow, but there was no dearth of acquaintances in Lucknow. This was the period when the Mughal Empire was losing its luster and the scope of British rule was increasing. Ahmed He was one of those scholars who believed that Islam should be taken to new heights. Along with this, Muslims need to make their place back in the society.
After the death of Khomeini, people of Shia community in Lucknow looked inconsolable.
Why reached Iran from Barabanki?
Ahmed’s father Din Ali Shah came to India from central Iran in the 1700s. Ahmed Hindi wanted to live a life where the scope of faith would expand and he could help others do the same. Later Ahmed decided to go to Iran from India and reached there via Iraq.
Ahmed’s decision to go from India to Iran had a deep impact on Iranian politics and religion. He added the word Hindi to his name to show his connection to India. According to BBC journalist Baqer Moin in a First Post report, Ahmed had adopted the name ‘Hindi’ to reflect his Indian roots.
He left Barabanki in the early 1800s and reached Iran via Iraq. In 1834 he settled in Khomein city of Iran. Bought a house here. Set up a family. Had five children. One of those five children was Mustafa, the father of Ruhollah Khomeini, who was born in 1902.
Ahmed Hindi died long before Khomeini was born. The values he taught his family played an important role in shaping the future of Iran through his grandson Khomeini.
Picture of demonstration of Shia community in Lucknow. Photo: PTI
Khamenei’s death and mourning
Khomeini was the main leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution. Khomeini was considered his close supporter and follower. Khomeini was a supporter of Khomeini’s ideology of Wilayat-e-Faqih. Khamenei played an active role during the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and after the revolution, Khomeini became the first supreme leader of Iran. After Khomeini’s death in 1989, Khamenei was elected the second supreme leader of Iran.
Former Supreme Leader of Iran Khamenei
In this way Khamenei took over the political-religious legacy of Khomeini. This is the reason why Khamenei is also viewed with great respect by the Shia community in Uttar Pradesh. There was mourning in Shia dominated areas on his death. There were demonstrations against Israel and America. The situation was such that the Uttar Pradesh government announced the deployment of the army.
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