Famed Ashoorkhana at Darulshifa in Hyderabad begs for attention

Hyderabad: The magnificent Ashoorkhana -E- Alawa-E- Sartouq Mubarak, one of the prominent ashoorkhanas (houses of mourning) at Darulshifa, which embodies the true reflection of the Osmanian style of architecture, needs urgent restoration because the walls are on the verge of collapse and the edifice is in a dilapidated state.

This ashoorkhana, built by Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah as a hospital, has a history that dates back more than 400 years as it was constructed at the same time as the Charminar and Macca Masjid. For many years, the elaborate and imposing building that originally overlooked the Musi River was used as a hospital. However, the Nizam later moved the building for expansion purposes, and this location became Alawa -E-Sartouq.

The name of the ashoorkhana refers to the tauq, or shackles, that were fastened around the neck of Imam Zain-al-Abideen when he was captured during the Battle of Karbala and transported from Iraq to Hyderabad under the reign of Quli Qutb Shah.

Quli Qutb Shah later ordered that the relic (tauq) be incorporated into an Alam and install it at the old Darulshifa Hospital, now Ashoorkhana-E-Alawa-E- Sartouq Mubarak. Hundreds of devout Muslims visit the ashoorkhana. "The faithful come here in the hope that the water they drink would be beneficial for their health. Thursdays are particularly busy,” according to Mir Yaver Ali, the ashoorkhana's caretaker.

Ashoorkhana committee member Mir Hyder Ali thinks the historically significant edifice has an underground passageway leading to Golconda Fort. The edifice is in a bad state and needs urgent attention for restoration, he said.

“Numerous complaints have been made to GHMC and HMDA, but no action has been taken. We thought that this historical site would be restored after the formation of the state, but nothing happened,” said Mustafa Mosvi, general secretary of the committee.