Hyderabad: The Kohe Imam-e-Zamin, at Ammuguda, is a picturesque little hill, but one that is neglected by the Wakf Board. The dargah, which sits atop the hill, is more than 400-years-old and is surrounded by smaller boulders. One can enjoy climbing and exploring rocks here.
The rock was identified during the Quli Qutub Shah period as Maulali Hill. The Quli Qutb Shah kings were Shia Muslims and great patrons of the Shia Imams and had built many ashoorkhanas around the city.
Importance of the place
The Kohe Imam-e-Zamin is an Ashoorkhana named after Imam Musa Ar-Reza (Born on December 29, 765, in Medina; Martyred on August 23, 818), also known as Imam-e-Zamin, which means ‘surety or guarantee’.
He was the eighth Imam of the Shia Muslims and a descendant of Muhammad and is buried at a mausoleum in Mashed in Iran. Diyanat Ali, a regular visitor, said, that one day, when Imam Reza was on a historical journey from Medina to Marw (Khurasan, Iran), he came across a hunter who was about to kill a deer. The deer was trying to get away and when she saw the Imam, she asked him for help. The Imam asked the hunter to free the deer. He also guaranteed the hunter that once the deer had fed her young, she would come back. The hunter allowed the deer to go, but he did not think that it would come back. But the deer did return, and with her young ones. The hunter was amazed on witnessing this miraculous event and set the deer free as a mark of respect for Imam Reza. After this event, Imam Reza became famous as Imam Zamin.
During the lifetime of Imam ar-Reza, the practice of “Imam Zamin” started. It become customary for people at that time to take a coin inscribed with Imam ar-Reza’s name and wear it on their arms while traveling. It was believed that if a person traveled with the Imam’s name, he would be protected by the Imam’s blessings. When a person arrived safely at his destination, he would give the coin away as sadaqa, or charity, in the name of the Imam.
People visit the Kohe-e-Zamin to mark the birth anniversary of the Imam, for seeking surety and guarantee for many things in life, a safe journey etc. It is also visited by newly-weds for blessings.
Way to the hilltop
The hillock has two access points — Visitors can either climb up 167 steep steps, or can take the ramp that allows two- and four-wheelers. But most visitors prefer to climb.
The dargah is open to all and there are several empty small heritage structures adjacent to it where devotees can stay.
Experts speak
Ammuguda can be developed as a hiking area as the view from the top is beautiful. It has typical Deccan flora. The open grounds can be developed for trail running practice. Ranga Vutukuru, a rock-climbing expert, said, “Rock-climbing is practiced for recreation and as a sport. However, the place lacks climbing infrastructure. The government has not yet thought of setting up climbing walls similar to the ones in Delhi or Kolkata. Ammuguda has good scope for bouldering and rappelling. The government needs to preserve rocks, instead of destroying them, as has been done at the Venkateshwara Gutta temple in Shameerpet.”
Suresh Kochattil, facilitator of rock-climbing for a city-based club, said, “Ammuguda is is excellent for training budding rock climbers. Unfortunately, a massive rock opposite the dargah has been blasted illegally. The Army restricts people from holding events. The Wakf Board has lost 60 per cent of its land to encroachments. The entire portion till the railway overbridge belonged to the Board. The land behind the dargah, has been encroached. Blasting has destroyed the city’s rock cover.”
Problems faced
Begum Razvi, the hereditary mutawali — caretaker appointed by the Wakf Board — is the 11th generation caretaker at the dargah. She said, “Once it gets dark, we cannot step out of the dargah as there are no streetlights. Several men sit and drink near the kaman. Several complaints to the Wakf Board were made. The inspector visits the dargah only once in 6 months. We have a borewell and water is pumped to the dargah. We need drinking water infrastructure, the sewerage lines need to be repaired. We also need lights behind the dargah.”
Official talk
“Ammuguda is a notified Wakf property. However, it is located around defence properties. For Ranga Reddy and Cyberabad, the Wakf Board has one one inspector. The Board had earlier submitted a report on illegal blasting of rocks to the state revenue department and the Trimulgherry police and it stopped for a while. However, it again started and continued till the rock became a quarry. The Wakf Board alone cannot stop the illegal activities or develop the site,” said Hayyum Khan, inspector, Wakf Board.
Talking about the Ammuguda dargah, deputy CM Mohammad Mahmood Ali said, “If any land is under the occupation of the defence authorities, the state government will initiate steps to negotiate with them to restore the property back to the dargah.”
