Mission Nizamuddin

Introduction

These notes are based my travel across the four Indian states of Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan during the early months of year 2010. I had posted them live on the micro-blogging network, Twitter, for the sake of convenience. This book is a liberal compilation from such notes which were earlier composed within the limits of the 140 characters.

Right from the inception of the idea of its publication, many well-wishers have sincerely criticized this micro travelogue concept due to their admiration for the length and depth of my earlier travel experience, The Cool Breeze From Hind (2006). But keeping in mind the velocity of the travel and the numerous places and personalities associated with it, I hope my friends would embrace it with open arms.
Delhi and the neighboring states have played a key role in the development of the religio-political fabric of the Indian subcontinent. It has produced political strategists, military conquerors, Sufi saints and artists of world class brilliance. My curiosity to visit them, after having read them since school days, was only natural.

I dedicate this meager work to Hazrat Nizamuddin Awliya whose greatness is evident till date.
My sincere gratitude to all those who helped bring this to light. My parents and wife, the silent players in my life who have lent me their love, prayers and patience for my creative endeavors.

Foreword

A small travelogue by my dear respected friend Jaihoon. It is refreshingly original and pours out his thoughts on some of the mundane issues wherein he has read more than meets the eyes.

Traveling is one of the very enriching experiences and the Divine words, in fact, encourage it. It is a great source of learning and one does not regret ever for undertaking a journey. He certainly comes back with some worthwhile memories and ideas.

Jaihoon is true in his devotion to the earlier luminaries which was the driving force behind his undertaking this journey. His visiting of the mausoleums bears a testimony to the fact that there is a lot in the legacies of those universalist enlightened people which could guide us in the current perplexities and divisions.

His occasional remarks about the cleanliness and hard-coming smiles from the strangers says a lot without saying much, for instance, “Agra greeted us with awful dirt”. Another example, “All done at the airport. Less by 1kg of the limit. The counter lady dealt with us in a smile which made me describe to her the experience of meeting very few who smiled in Delhi.” It will be enriching if Jaihoon goes back down the memory lane once again. Recalls his entire travel duration once more and pens down his feelings which could be “neither right nor wrong”, something which makes one think for a while.

Dr Wasim Ahmad
Head of Islamic Department
Preston University – Ajman, UAE

Publisher: Adam Publishers & Distributors, Delhi
Year : 2010