Sajjad Azhar
Munshi Premchand, one of the most celebrated novelists and short-story writers of Urdu literature, wrote a play titled Karbala in 1924, depicting the tragedy of Karbala. In the seventh scene of the play, a Brahmin family is portrayed as living in an Arab village. A temple is shown where Sahas Rai and his relatives are engaged in worship when a servant brings news that Yazid, son of Muawiya, has seized the Caliphate and that Imam Hussain has left Medina with his companions.
Sahas Rai immediately declares that they should support Imam Hussain. His companions, including Harjas Rai, Singh Dutt, and Ram Singh, agree that they must stand on the side of truth and justice by supporting the Imam.
The Tradition of Hussaini Brahmins
The renowned Urdu novelist Intizar Hussain once spoke of a centuries-old tradition during an event in Delhi. Accompanying him was the noted poet and novelist Ali Akbar Natiq, who later told London Post that Intizar Hussain was recounting a story about eight Hindu brothers who travelled to Karbala in support of Imam Hussain and sacrificed their lives fighting on his side.
As he narrated the story, a young woman in the audience stood up and said the tradition was true. Introducing herself as Nonica Dutt, a history professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, she proudly stated that she belonged to a Hussaini Brahmin family. According to her, Hussaini Brahmins traditionally carry a mark on their neck, symbolizing the sacrifice made by their ancestors in Karbala.
She explained that Rahib Dutt travelled to Karbala with his seven sons. All seven were martyred, while Rahib survived. After the battle, he met members of Imam Hussain’s family and informed them that he was a Hindu Brahmin whose sons had died fighting alongside the Imam. According to the tradition, he was told: “From today, you are a Hussaini Brahmin. We will always remember you.”
The story continues that Rahib later travelled through Afghanistan to the Indian subcontinent, staying briefly near Nankana Sahib before settling in Sialkot, from where the Hussaini Brahmin tradition spread in India. Some versions of the narrative also claim that he carried a sacred hair of Imam Hussain, which is believed by some to have eventually reached the shrine of Hazratbal in Kashmir.
Indian Traders in Kufa
Traditional Hindu belief holds that Brahmins emerged from the mouth of the cosmic being Purusha, while Kshatriyas came from his arms, Vaishyas from his thighs, and Shudras from his feet. Historians, however, generally trace the emergence of Brahmins to the priestly class that developed during the Vedic period around 1500 BCE.
But who exactly were the Hussaini Brahmins, and how did they reach Arabia?
Trade between India and the Arabian Peninsula predates Islam by centuries. Merchant caravans regularly travelled between the two regions, carrying spices, perfumes, textiles, and other goods. Among these traders were members of the Dutt clan. According to one tradition, a caravan from India happened to be in Kufa around the time of the events of Karbala.
Some accounts maintain that Rahib Dutt and his sons fought alongside Imam Hussain, with seven of his sons attaining martyrdom. Other versions suggest that the Indian traders learned of Imam Hussain’s martyrdom only afterward and visited his family to offer condolences. It was then, according to these narratives, that they were given the title of “Hussaini Brahmins.”
Were Brahmins Already Settled in Arabia?
Writer and publisher Farukh Sohail Goindi told London Post that relations between India and the Arab world stretch back thousands of years.
The late journalist and author Nand Kishore Vikram, himself a Hussaini Brahmin and originally from Rawalpindi before Partition, once explained that Hussaini Brahmins belonged to the Mohyal Brahmin community. The Mohyals are divided into several branches, including Dutt, Bali, Chhibber, Mohan, Vaid, Bhimwal, and Lau.
According to Mohyal traditions, the Dutt clan traces its ancestry to Dronacharya, the legendary military teacher of the Mahabharata. Some accounts claim that members of the Dutt clan served as commanders in the army of King Porus. Following Alexander the Great’s campaign in the region, it is said that some of these soldiers remained in the western territories after Alexander’s death in Babylon, eventually settling in areas of the Arab world.
When the Battle of Karbala took place, these traditions claim, some of their descendants supported Imam Hussain. A popular saying associated with the Dutts describes them as “half Hindu and half Muslim,” reflecting their unique cultural identity. Unlike many Brahmin groups, Mohyal Brahmins historically did not rely on priestly donations and often maintained martial traditions.
The Dutt Legacy in Modern Times
One of the most famous families associated with the Hussaini Brahmin tradition is that of Indian film star Sunil Dutt, who appeared in more than 80 films, and his son Sanjay Dutt, who has acted in over 135 productions. Sunil Dutt was born in Jhelum before Partition and maintained strong emotional ties with the Punjab region.
He was also known for supporting charitable causes, including fundraising efforts for Lahore’s cancer hospital. Speaking at one such event, Sunil Dutt reportedly remarked:
«“I would give my last drop of blood for Lahore and for my ancestors, just as my forefathers gave their blood for Imam Hussain.”»
History, Tradition, and Memory
Whether the story of the Hussaini Brahmins is entirely historical or partly legendary remains a matter of debate. Much of the narrative survives through oral traditions passed down from generation to generation, making definitive historical verification difficult.
Yet the very existence of a community of high-caste Hindus who proudly associate themselves with Imam Hussain and the tragedy of Karbala is a remarkable cultural phenomenon. It reflects the deep and complex interweaving of faith, memory, and shared heritage across South Asia and the broader Islamic world.
