HYDERABAD: The demise of elephant ‘Rani’ left many Shia Muslims distressed, with many taking to social media platforms such as WhatsApp to express their dismay and grief at the passing of the elephant, which was closely associated for many years with carrying the Alam, a symbol of Imam Hussain, in procession in the city on the tenth day of Muharram.
The processions used to begin from Bibi ka Alawa at Matha ke Khidki, and ended at Chaderghat in a mosque, passing through Yakutpura, Charminar and Gulzar Houz.
One of those mourning the passing of the elephant, Samreen Fatima, said, “It is very sad that Rani is no more. The news has broken our hearts, all members in my family are saddened by this news.”
According to Hyder Hussain, who said he saw the elephant carrying the Alam for ages, described Rani’s passing “as a sad news for all members of Shia Muslim community.”
He said the zoo authorities should have taken extra care of her, knowing how special she was for the Shia community. “Shia Muslims hold a special place for this particular elephant in their hearts as it carried the Alam and the Nizam’s Trust should have taken up the responsibility of maintaining this elephant, as the Alam procession is considered the sole responsibility of the trust.”
Social media groups, according to Saba Fathima, who too was aghast at the news of Rani’s death, were buzzing with ‘messages of grief’. “There was a flood of messages in the social media networks of our community, about Rani’s demise,” she said.
