Though he played a hero in other films, I was very impressed by Ashraf Khan when I saw him sing and act in Roti – so impressed, in fact, that I would have to call him one of my favorite villains of all time.
In Roti, the overtly anti-capitalist movie made by that communist director of blockbusters named Mehboob Khan, Ashraf Khan was the ultimate proponent of social Darwinism, the dog-eat-dog ethos, the philosophy of capitalist individualism often attributed to Ayn Rand. (We all know people he might resemble in “real world” politics… He could certainly be a kind of fascist, and an Indian friend of mine would instantly compare him to people in the BJP. In the U.S., he would surely find his niche as a Republican.) Therefore, I could not help but find it particularly ironic that in real life, the actor Ashraf Khan was so revered for his spiritual devotion and generosity, that he became a Sufi saint.
And as I discovered from a fascinating post in the blog
Music & Arts in erstwhile Hyderabad – Deccan, Ashraf Khan essentially began that road to sainthood when he met a Peer O Murshid (spiritual guide) named Ghulam Sarvar during the filming of Roti…
It was during the filming of Roti he came in contact with Peer-0-Murshid (Spiritual Guide) Ghulam Sarvar. Ghulam Sarvar belonged to Lahore and was employed in railways as a guard. He had many followers in Bombay. Ashraf Khan’s devotion towards his spiritual guide was so great that when ever he visited Bombay he used to carry his luggage on his head and escort him home.
Large crowds used to gather to meet Peer-o-Murshid Ghulam Sarvar in the 1940’s and among the film personalities the notable were AR Karda, Mehboob Khan, Yaqub, Prithviraj Kapoor, Trilok Kapoor, Sardar Akhtar, Akhtari Faizabadi, Jaddan Bai, etc etc to name a few. Akhtari Faizabadi and Jaddan Bai used to sing devotional songs during the assembly.
And then Ashraf performed very humble services to show his devotion to this Peer – such as tending to visitors’ footwear – which eventually allowed him to follow in the Peer’s footsteps, a duty that he fulfilled right up to his death and, apparently, somewhat afterwards as well:
Taking care of the visitors foot ware was the first duty assigned to him by his Peer and Ashraf Khan never thought it was a menial job. He knew that the peer is shedding his ego by assigning such tasks. Peer-o-Murshid Ghulam Sarvar was so pleased with his devotion that he handed over his Gaddi ( seat ) to Ashraf Khan. Ashraf Khan became a Peer.
His association with the Gujrati stage lasted till his end. In 1962 after his last stage show at Dharoji in Gujrat he returned to the Durgah where he was stationed with his family. It was the ninth day of the Gyarhvi Sharief ( the eleventh month of Islamic calender ). He lied down on his bed and spoke few words to his wife and fell unconscious , but his lips started moving as if he is narrating verses from [?]. This situation continued the whole of that night and the next day. His wife, family members and devotees remained at his bed side reading verses from Ayat Sherief. He opened his eyes in the evening. His devotees asked him how he was and he replied that where ever he is, he is doing well.
He was brought to the hospital at Rajkot in this condition. Ashraf Khan passed away at eleven PM on the eleventh day of the Gyarhvi Sherief, the eleventh month of Islamic calender. His mortal remains were brought to the residence of Dr Malik who was a friend and a devotee for funeral. His devotees were chanting holy verses from Ayat Sherief and Darood Sherief. Around 4 O’clock in the morning he opened his eyes once again, looked all around him with a smile and closed his eyes. This was a surprising moment for all those who were present around him. A dead man opening his eyes and smiling was some thing strange. The crowd shouted Hazrat is alive, Hazrat is alive, call the doctor. There are several people alive today who witnessed this strange incidence. Dr Malik examined him and pronouned him dead. He was buried at Gunj Shahda which is located on the Ahmedabad – Delhi highway. The Urs is celeberated every year and lakhs of devotees all across the globe visit his Mazaar (Tomb).
Here’s a nice tribute by IMIRZA 777. The song is from Baghban (1938):
And this is interesting – though there are no words of description or further notes; the video just refers to “Master Asharaf Khan A Great Sufi Saint”
A fascinating story this. Will have to search more about Ashraf Khan.
I remember watching Roti many many years back on late night TV.
hi Richard. as always, thank you so very much. beautiful tribute song. wonderful story. should have a bollywood for the 99% film fest. wishful thinking.
Interesting piece of information.
I’ve wanted to see the film now for a long time especially after reading the review at memsahab’s. After reading this I have to hurry :)
Soothing tribute. Isn’t that Nazir Hussain in the picture at the beginning?
Pacifist and Harvey, yes, this is very interesting, and you should watch the film right now! :) Pacifist, regarding Nazir Hussain, that’s not one of the actors I can spot so easily on sight, so, I’m not really sure, but you’re probably right. :)
Ann, you are welcome, and it would be great to have a “Bollywood for the 99%” fest. Maybe I should do a “best of” post like that sometime soon – and forward the links to a couple of the “Occupy” groups: “Best of [Classic] Bollywood for the 99%”!
And, yes, that song in the tribute does make for very nice listening… The Roti songs are the ones that impressed me (and I’ve found out I’m not alone in that regard), but now I would like to listen to more of the other songs that were sung by Ashraf Khan.
who is hazrat ashraf khan…..A sufi or a singer/actor………..well he was the only acor those ancient dayz where it was only theatres live stage showz where there……he was a singer to he holds up the record to playin 2700 night for one single theater name malav pati munj sounds weird but yes he did played one single lead character for the live show for 2700 night……….mehboob khan once asked Mr Dilip kumar in his initial stage of his career…he said u want to know/learn acting then come with me, he got him to one of ashraf khan’s live show n asked him to watch him carefully coz he is one university to learn from….this is short success story of hazrat ashraf khan….more to say is he was never n actor nor singer all he was doin was ibbadat once he heard some one playin shehnai. was legend bismillah khan sahab recently expired was doin riyaz…he went to him n asked him to change his riyaz into ibbadat by playin tune la ilaha ill lallah…since then he never looked back n he started followin ashraf khan sahab…..now guyz u decide was he ever doin n actin or was he is singin or he was alwayz remembering Allmighty………..reach 917395419 his grandson in ahmedabad for more allah hafiz
sorry the no is 9173956419
Aap Hazrat Ashraf Khan Sarkar………kai log aapko bambai sarkar, babuji sarkar aur bhaiya sahab bhi keh ke pukar te he……….aap behad khidmat guzar the maa ki be inteha dua-e hasil ki….aur fana fil shaykh ke mukam pe bhi pohoche……..AAP KE PIR-O-MURSHID HAZRAT GHULAM SARWAR SARKAR HAI………AAP FARMATE HAI..EK ROZ AAPNE KHWAB MAIN SARKAR-E-KAINAT DEEDAR KIYE AUR AAP SARKAR NE FARMAYA KI JANAB ASHRAF KHAN SARKAR KI (KHAKSAARI, AAJEEZI, KHIDMAT, AKEEDAT KO) AAP SARKAR-E-KAINAT NE KABOOL FARMAYA (SUBHAN ALLAH)…BAAT KEHTE WAQT AAPKE PEER FARMATE HAI KE AAB MERE BHAIYA SAHAB SE FAIZ KA CHASHMA JAARI HOGA AUR TAMAM MAKHLUQ FAIZYAB HOGI……………….JISKA SABOOT AAJ BHI JAARI HAI……………………………….BAAT BANTI HAI MERI TERE BIGAD TA KYA, KAAM HO JAEGA MERA, NAAM HO JAEGA TERA
Master Ashraf Khan, who had made his mark as one
of the most renowned actors of the Urdu and Gujarati stage and in the
film world as well. He was also a leading Sufi saint, and this spiritual
aspect of Ashraf Khan’s personality made a lasting impact on young, & old’s. Every adored with high respect to Ashraf Khan, Thousand’s take him as their spiritual guru till the end.
here is the proper link developed by his grandson to get all information about affair of it: http://www.facebook.com/sufi.ashrafkhan.baba
Imran Khan, I am looking into some of this a little more now. Thank you for all the comments from last month (and sorry I did not answer sooner). This is all quite fascinating! And apart from all of it, yes, from the little I’ve seen, I would say that Ashraf Khan’s performances were outstanding.
There are 2 Temples of Baba Ashraf Khan-
1.In Mumbai and
2.In Miami,New Jersey,USA.
I am very glad that this story has been brought up in limelight by you,after first exposure by Shri.Kamalakar pasupuleti ji in his blog kamalp.blogspot.com.
In the Mumbai temple the frequent visitors are many wellknown names of the Bollywood,like Dilip Kumar,Mahesh Bhat etc.
A.R.Kardar was also a devotee of Baba Ashraf Khan.Similarly Naushad was a regular too.
-Arunkumar Deshmukh
AHEMDABAD SARKAR (BABA ASHRAF KHAN)AAP SAB KI DUA SUNTE HAI, OR AAP KE CAHNEVALO KO HAMESH APNE KARIB RAKHATE HAI.I REALY FEEL VERY VERY VERY LUCKY BECUSE I CONECTED AHEMDABAD SARKAR.
IMRAN KHAN AAP KA BAHOT BAHOT SUKRIYA KI AAP NE HAME AHEMDABAD SARKAR KE BARE MAI ITNI SARI JANKARI DI.SARKAR AAP KO HAMESH KUSH RAKHE OR AAP KI HIFAJAT KARE.ALLAH HAFIZ.
LIKE …….
Can any1 here say where do we have that mandir of ashrafkhan sarkar in mumbai n who is the responsible person to meet there I m in search of it since long. I ill be thankfull to the person who cn guide me to him n also any phone number of that person who handles the affair of the mandir
Thank’s
plz some one tall about ahemdabad sarkar..
We are followers of Baba Ashraf Khan and his mureed and gaddi nashin Baba Hiral Shah.
Actually, there are several temples of Baba across the world, not just Mumbai and Miami/New Jersey. You’ll be able to find several across Spain, as well as Indonesia etc.
The address of the Mumbai temple is Khar (West) 18th Road. It is formally known as Sai Hira Niwas or Laxmi Narayan Temple or Sai Hira Allah Malik Asthaan. Here, several other sufi saints including Baba Ashraf’s murshid Baba Sarwar Badshah are honored as well.
Each year, a Mela of Baba Ashraf Khan is held in the Mumbai temple. It is a beautiful week of celebration and prayer in honor of the great Sufi master.
Chandru if u cn share picz or videos abt the temple n lil more info abt it ill be glad to have it
Who take care of his gadi now who is the rite person to meet up where is his dargah little more light needed from u mr chandru if u cn help
Ashraf Khan Baba was a Sufi saint, For him all religion was one. If Hindhu, Muslim, Sikh, Parsi. He got the enlightment and even visited Hindhu temples as well as mosque, churches. He reach to such a state he knew other religion prayers as well as the meaning. A real Sufi will never discriminate any religion.