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'File 32/10 (4/18) Muharram Processions' [‎23r] (45/90)

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The record is made up of 1 file (45 folios). It was created in 6 Mar 1939-14 Dec 1944. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

Transcription

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n -
i
Confidential*
D.O. Mo. C/1693-9^..
>
O
Dear alban,
Ref. your D.O. C/932 dated 1st December 1940
Thank you for sending me Hallows's note on
Muharram processions. “'1'
The Shias taking part in it and most of the
spectators look upon it as a religious demonstra
tion, many of them are intensely affected by the
sight. I quite agree that to our eyes it is an
unpleasant and senseless exhibition*
I suppose I have seen it about 14 times and
I always go down at night as well, and I have never
seen any serious incident take place.
The procession is controlled by the police and
the route is decided by them* $hat actually happens
is that each of the Matems is visited in turn by the
bands of men who belong to the Matems.
Most Sunnis and some of the leading Shias pro
fess to disapprove of the procession but His Highness
has always shown his religious toleration by allow
ing the procession and by lending his own horses and
camels to the performers* Many of his relations
attend as spectators.
I personally would be loath openly to advocate
restricting the procession because it is regarded
by the Bahrain Shias, among them men of reasonable
intelligence and education, as a sort of religious
duty which earns them credit in the future. lor a
Ll.

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Content

This file contains correspondence related to Muharram processions performed by the Shia community in Bahrain. Much of the correspondence relates to the logistics of the processions including details of their routes.

In particular, the correspondence discusses the desire of foreigners resident in Bahrain to observe the processions and the complications that this caused. In this context, the file contains a copy of 'Instructions to be observed by those who wish to be present at future Muharram processions' written by Charles Belgrave, Adviser to the Government of Bahrain (ff 17-18). Also enclosed is a map of central Manama marking the area where Muharram processions occurred (folio 2).

The file also contains an account written by Belgrave of disturbances that occurred during the Muharram processions of 1942 (ff 28-34).

Extent and format
1 file (45 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the back cover with 45; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 3-39; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'File 32/10 (4/18) Muharram Processions' [‎23r] (45/90), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/819, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025860868.0x00002e> [accessed 4 June 2024]

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