Hussian Saeb Kutlari,A Lesser Known Mystic : Khursheed Dar (POHRUPETH) Langate

Peer Hussisn Shah popularly known as Hussian Saeb Kutlari was a prominent Sufi figure blessed with keen insight and eloquence.He is counted among the renouned sufi saints of Kashmir.His shrine at a village called Kutlari is thronged by the devotees round the year.
    Kutlari is at distance of 12 km from Handwara town and falls within the juresdiction of  Qalamabad tehsil of Kupwara district in Jammu & Kashmir.This village is not only famous for scenic beauty and  trout fish but also for  the sufi saint Hassian Saeb.
From available oral sources this author came to know that Hussian saeb Kutlari was a great sufi saint of his times who worked tirelessly for the welfare his society.
    Billions of thanks to Peer Mehraj ud din, grand son , Sajdah Bagam, niece  of this mystic and Nisar Azam sahib , a leading poet & translator for providing  me vital and useful leads for this column.
Born in 1929 at a small village called  Kutlari,   Hussian saeb was admired in the whole area for his generosity and piety.
His father namely Peer Yahiya Shah and mother namely Aziz ded were known for their simplicty and generosity.
Hassian Saeb had lineage with the eminent sufi saint  of Baba family of Dangiwacha ,Baramulla namely Hazrat Afzal Baba RA.
   Peer Hassian Shah Kutlari recieved his education upto 8th standard.His spiritual endowments provoked him to seek a guide who could quench his spiritual hunger. For this purpose, he went to Hazrat Qadir seab Hiri RA  of Kupwara and became his cherished disciple. He also followed Hazrat Moulana Mohammad Amin Owaisi RA of Kasheera Kupwara. Nisar Azam sahib , a leading poet & translator narrated an intresting event of this mystic  to the author of this column.”One day Hussian Saeb  went on an excursion at  Satbaran caves Kupwara with his school..Suddenly  a famous saint of Kupwara namely Qadir Saeb Hiri RA appeared there and gave him a half chewed date. It is said that when he ate that date,he was lost in spiritual wonderments and his heart was filled with heavenly bless”.The teacher  recognised his pupil and the pupil recognised his teacher.Thus began his mystic journey.
    From the family sources this author came to know that Hassian saeb  did not ever marry but passed his life in the love of Allah,the merciful , through meditation and mystic experience.  Hassian saeb is also reported to have performed 40 days ‘chilla’ in the underground cave Khankah of Shahnagri Mawar Handwara,a village inhabited and named by a towering sufi saint Hazrat Shiek syed Abdul wahab RA 700 years ago.
As per family sources,one day  Hassian saeb left his home and went Ajmeer sharief  and Hazrat Nizam ud Din ,Delhi and stayed there for decades.
   The institution of” Langar”  influenced him much and he felt the need to start it at his native village Kutlari.In 1995 Hassian opened a Langur at Kutlari to feed the hungry people irrespective of religion ,caste and creed.
As we know the institution of “Langar” emerged from towering sufi saint Fariduddin Ganjshakar,a sufi saint who lived in the Punjab region during the 13th century.
   The concept of “langar” is  nice symbol of  charity and equality.Unfortunately the “langar of Peer Hussian saeb of Kutlari stopped to function after his demise.
It is believed that he was the fallower of Suhrawardi sisila of sufism.Spend days and nights in prayers and meditations.As per Sajdah Bagam;his niece,who served him till his last breath.Hassian saeb never left his prayer.He advised his fallowers to pray five times a day.
   As per family sources in first 20 years Hassan saeb  was a wondering “Darvash” “jilali Qalandar “but in last 20 years he strictly fallowed islamic “shariyah .Never missed any prayer and would go for months with out eating or drinking any thing.
The personality of this mystic  can not be put into the words.
     A number of Karamaats,maricles to say are attributed with this mystic which are beyond the explaination.His grandson Peer Mahraj ud Din Shah narrated  one to the author of this column.One day
Hassian Saeb  said someone to call late   Abdul Ahad Kar, the earstwhile member assembly ,when Abdul Ahad Kar  reached there this mystic  garlanded him and told him that he was  going to represent that area ,surprisingly there was no such sign of elections at that time ,just after the few months Abdul Ahad Kar  won the elections in 1996 and did great work for the construction of Langer and Masjid Sharief at Kutlari.
One of his Karamat,miracle to say is narrated by Dr.Rafeeq Masoodi saeb,former ADG Doordarshan, I know Hussian saeb personally ,His sister was married at Dangiwacha .Hassian saeb often visited her.When there were no rains people of Dangiwacha used to clean  ” Nagraad “a group of few natural water springs and this highly spiritual personality, Hassian  saeb would suddenly appear there and it rained.I still remember when he would not appear there, there was no rain.Hassian saeb  used to bathe in the ice water with  bare feet in the harsh winters
There are many interesting and strange incidents about him which are beyond explaination.
   Hassian Saeb Kutlari had no worldly yearning,lived a simple  life and did not recieve money from his visitors. What so ever was coming was spent in the Langar,free community Kitchen.As per family sources Hassan saeb would go for weeks with out eating or drinking any thing.
Hassian Saeb Kutlari had a galaxy of followers through out the length and bredth of Kashmir.People from all walks of life used to visit him and get his blessings.
Hassain saeb travelled all over India.He was great lover of books.From oral sources this author came to know that this mystic preached love and brotherhood and to him simple living and love to mankind is the best way to come closer to Allah,the Almighty and his prophet,(peace be upon him)

Hussian saeb Kutlari   left for heavenly abode on 03  March  2003  and his funeral prayer was led by Molvi Saif ud Din of Trathpora Kupwara.As per his wishes  he  was burried at Kutlari.He is counted among the renouned sufi saints of Kashmir.His legacy needs to be shared and preserved.

Khursheed Dar is a vetron Columnist of Kashmir and can be reached at
khursheed.dar33@gmail.com