MY fiftieth birthday dawned on the beginning of Muharram, the 1st month of the Islamic New Year.  I looked back through half of a century and sadly see how the practice of Islam has gradually changed.  Over the past week I have listened to sermons in the mosque and Islamic programmes over the television and I have read articles written on the Islamic New Year and the significance of the 10th Day of Muharram.  Many incidents have been quoted regarding this day, but unfortunately nothing was mentioned of that tremendous incident which occurred in the history of Islam, which makes all other events look like trifles. This incident penned by many renowned scholars, historians and poets, from the Middle East,  the Indian Sub-continent and Orientalist from Great Britain as ‘The Tragedy of Kerbala’ is surprisingly unknown of by the younger generation of Muslims in Guyana, although, a strong culture had developed around the incident.  
As I look back through the years, I see my grandmother from the vibrant village of Albion, Corentyne and the rest of the Muslim community attending Mosque in the month of Muharram, carrying little books in which was the story of Kerbala and special songs relating to the incident.  She used to relate to us the sad story and sing songs.  She would cry while singing.  I was probably about 4 years old then.  This was the typical scene in every mosque in Guyana at that time (really British Guiana). I remember about 30 years ago, I was attending an Islamic Function at Annandale. A youth stood up to sing a Qaseeda – ‘Bollywood tune.’  An old lady, probably in her 80’s, stood up, backed by other women and exclaimed:  ‘Shame on you!  This is the month of Muharram! This is the month in which Hussain was killed and you are singing such song!”  She was angry enough to put a stopping to the Qaseeda.  This was the last memoir of a vibrant sentiment towards an Islamic tradition that has gradually died.
On the 10th of Muharram, popularly known as AASHOORAH, hugh processions accompanying Tadja drums, were held in many villages in British Guiana.  Though it was a Muslim Commemoration, it had the support and participation of Hindus, Creole Africans and Chinese and became the most important event of the ‘Indentured labourers.’  TADJA was a procession by the Muslim Indian Immigrants who were sentimentally attached to the Holy Prophet and his noble Family.  It was the commemoration of the Martyrdom of Hussayn the grandson of the Holy Prophet of Islam and 72 members of his close relations, who stood up against the despotic ruler of his time to protect the religion of Islam.  
Within decades of the demise of the Holy Prophet, Leadership fell in the hands of the Omayyads, a tribe which had venomously opposed the Holy Prophet.  The Omayyads ruled the Muslim World from their Capital at Damascus, Syria. Corruption was rampant and the Omayyads sought to distort the teachings of Islam to suit their wicked whims and fancies.  Imam Hussain with the will to protect the Islam of his grandfather, confronted the rulership of the Omayyads.  He moved towards Kufa, Iraq with his family and close supporters.  The small band of Faithful Muslims, most of whom were the close relations of the Holy Prophet, encamped at Kerbala at the bank of the Euphrates River.  They were intercepted by the soldiers of Yazeed, the Caliph.  The encampment, including women and children were denied water for 3 days.  A battle was waged against Imam Hussain and his supporters.  They fought bravely and were all martyred. 
Accounts of the battle are touching and heart rendering, inspiring the pens of many great poets, leaders and philosophers.  Mahatma Gandhi, Serojinee Naidu and Iqbal, from the Indian sub-continent wrote in touching words about the Tragedy of Kerbala.  The women and children were bound in ropes and marched through the desert from Kerbala, Iraq, to Kufa and then to Damascus, Syria.  Many children fell on the way and were left to die. The heads of Imam Hussain and his 72 Martyrs were carried on spears ahead of the march.  The eloquent speeches of the captives Zainab, the sister of Imam Hussain and Zainul Abideen, the son of Hussain made the Muslims aware of the atrocities committed by the Ommayad Rulership on the close relatives of the Holy Prophet.

Mrs. Sarojini Naidu
“I congratulate Muslims that from among them, Hussain (A.S.), a great human being was born, who is revered and honored totally by all communities.
“Though Imam Hussain gave his life years ago, but his indestructible soul rules the hearts of people even today.”  Dr. Radha Krishnan
Mahatma Gandhi
“My faith is that the progress of Islam does not depend on the use of sword by its believers, but the result of the supreme sacrifice of Hussain (A.S.), the great saint.”
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
“Imam Hussain’s (A.S.) sacrifice is for all groups and communities, an example of the path of rightousness.”
Edward G. Brown (Professor at the University of Cambridge) writes: “…a reminder of that blood-stained field of Karbala, where the grandson of the Apostle of God fell, at length, tortured by thirst, and surround by the bodies of his murdered kinsmen, has been at anytime since then, sufficient to evoke, even in the most lukewarm and the heedless, the deepest emotion, the most frantic grief, and an exaltation of spirit before which pain, danger, and death shrink to unconsidered trifles.” (A Literary History of Persia, London, 1919, p.227)
Edward Gibbon (1737-1794 Considered the greatest British historian of his time) wrote: “In a distant age and climate, the tragic scene of the death of Hosein will awaken the sympathy of the coldest reader.”  (The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, London, 1911, volume 5, p. 391-392)

This incident was much prophesied by the Holy Prophet of Islam and there are evidences in other religions and previous scriptures.  Jeremiah (Holy Bible) prophesied :

‘This is the day of vengeance of The Lord, for he has a GREAT SACRIFICE by the River Euphrates.’ (Book of Jeremiah, Holy Bible)

Lebanese writer Antoine Bara, writes : “No battle in the modern and past history of mankind has earned more sympathy and admiration as well as provided more lessons than the martyrdom of Husayn in the battle of Karbala.” (Husayn in Christian Ideology)

The entire incident was of such a tremendous nature that not only did it have immediate repercussions, but also long lasting effects on the Muslim World that reaches even down to today.

Sir William Muir (Scottish orientalist): “The tragedy of Karbala decided not only the fate of the Caliphate, but also of Mohammadan kingdoms long after the Caliphate had waned and disappeared.” (Annals of the Early Caliphate, London, 1883, p.441-442)

The uprising of Hussain sparked a revolution which toppled the Omayyad Regime.  All those who killed the family of Hussain met with humiliating death.  The name Yazeed is remembered only in the month of Muharram when malediction is hurled at him.  But the name Hussain, the ‘Chief of Martyrs’ is remembered and honoured.  Kerbala which was a desert, is today a thriving, bustling city, with the magnificent shrine of Imam Hussain at its centre.  Every year, millions of Muslims visit the shrine of Hussain and offer salutations and pray for blessings on him.
Iraq has ever since this day, been in turmoil.  On the very day of Aashoora, centuries later, the Mongols invaded Iraq, destroying and killing.  They razed the city of Baghdad.  Mongols invaded and conquered many Muslim Territories.  Muslim Lands were always in a state of war and conquered by foreign armies.  The ‘Crusaders’ led by Britain invaded and conquered most of the Muslim Empire, which remained under the control of Great Britain for centuries.  The Muslim World for most part still remains under the ‘puppet control’ of the West, which now includes USA as the main player.  And recently, a more deadly spate of attack befell the Muslim world at the hands of USA, Great Britain and their Allies – Iraq was devastated again and came under occupation along with Afghanistan – then Pakistan and the hostilities continue.
What has befallen the Muslim World throughout their bitter history seems to be a recompense for the atrocities committed by the Rulers of the Muslim World and their supporters against the Descendants of the Holy Prophet.  And what is amazing to the Muslim beholders who know their Islam and history – the outcome unfolding is that events have facilitated the emergence of the Descendants of the Holy Prophet and their associates (SHIA) to a position of power. There are now talks in the international media of ‘the emerging Shia Power’.
It has been the tradition of our foreparents in Guyana to treat the month of Moharram with special regard to the ‘Tragedy of Kerbala’.  No festive occasion was entertained, no wedding in particular was conducted and Muslims held gatherings in which the Story of Kerbala were retold.
TADJA was performed on the 10th of Muharram, the day in which Hussain was martyred.
TADJA came from India with the Muslim Indentured labourers.  Processions carrying flags, tadja drums and replica of the coffin and shrine of Hussayn (a.s.) and accompanying with sword fighting displays, acrobats, stick fighting, wrestling and special songs in Urdu Language known as MARSIYAS and NOHAS, were made through many villages.  At intervals, the procession would stop and the story of ‘The Tragedy of Kerbala’ would be related in touching tones, both in words and in songs.  As TADJA made its way through the villages, it gathered supporters in great numbers.  Every year TADJA became bigger until the British Plantation owners, fearing this would spark revolution, banned the procession in 1932.
“The Mohurram or “Tadja” Festival of 1866 was one of the biggest ever.  Larger numbers of Creoles took part and churchmen and Christian priests feared that their folks were being gradually converted to the Hindu and Muslim faiths.  Suggestions were freely made that “Creoles who took part should be jailed and whipped” and greater efforts were made by the churches, and even Government, to prevent “Creoles” from joining in Hindu and Muslim festivals.  …”  (Guyana in 1866: By P.P. Dial )  Chronicle 1966
It was also banned earlier in Trinidad. 

“ On October 30 1884 , 6000 Indian labourers residents of sugar estates around the town of San Fernando  took out their processions of Tazias (replica tombs of the grandsons of the prophet)  and marched towards the town to complete the process of immersion of these tabuts to end the festival of Moharram like they had done for thirty years. But that year the Government had banned the procession from entering the town and imposed heavy punishment for infringement of the ban- yet the processionists marched on to the town to fulfill what they said was their “religious obligation”. A short distance from the town troops and police mustered to stop the processionists opened fire at two entrances to the town – twenty two Indian labourers were shot dead and one hundred more injured. They had not attacked the police nor had they actually entered the town . When the dead were counted and the injuries toted up- a strange statistics emerged – 17 of the killed were Hindus and five Muslims, 76 of the injured were Hindus and nineteen Muslims and one Christian.”
Extract from The Politics of Representation in the Indian Labour Diaspora:  West Indies, 1880-1920 – Prabhu P. Mohapatra  ( Department of History, Delhi University)

TADJA was still practiced in some form in villages in the Corentyne even in the 1970’s.  It is still evident in some form in Trinidad, Suriname, Jamaica and Belize. Recent information confirms that some form of Tadja is practiced in Haiti.
Whilst we lament over the death of Hussain and the martyrs of Kerbala, the state of Muslim’s lack of knowledge of the Story of Kerbala and the losing of the Tadja commemoration is lamentable.
Is it that the Muslims in Guyana are now learning an ‘Ommayad’ Islam?  Listening to scholars, one wonders … is it really Islam that is being preached or Arabism?  Hussain stood up for the true Islam of his grandfather, the Holy Prophet of Islam.  Do you not claim to be the followers of Muhammad (Peace Be upon Him and his Noble Progeny)?  Then on whose side should you be? 
Imam Hussain stood up and ‘awakened’ a nation that was ‘sleeping’ while their Religion was being distorted.  The popular maxim, ‘Every day is Aashoora and every Land is Kerbala holds true.  Guyana’s Muslims need an awakening, a revival of the true teachings of Islam as practiced by the noble descendants of the Holy Prophet and which had firm rooting among the Indian Muslims that settled here as ‘Indentured Labourers’.