History of Sisha / Hookah Smoking
The Hookah is a water pipe that is used for smoking,
typically it has a glass bottom in which water is used to filter out the smoke.
Hookah has gained popularity in the Middle East, USA, Canada,
South Africa and in most parts of the world.
In India in the court of the Mughal emperor Akbar (1542 – 1605 CE) Following the
European introduction of tobacco to India, Hakim Abul Fateh Gilani a descendant
of Abdul Qadir Al-Gilani came from Baghdad to India who was later a physician
in the court of Mughal raised concerns after smoking tobacco became popular
among Indian noblemen, and subsequently envisaged a system which allowed
smoke to be passed through water. in order to be 'purified'.
Gilani introduced the Hookah after Asad Beg, then ambassador of Bijapur,
encouraged Akbar to take up smoking. Following popularity among noblemen,
this new device from Arabia for smoking soon became a status symbol for the
Indian aristocracy and gentry. The Indian Hookah was designed differently
from the Arabian Hookah or Shisha which was invented during the Abbasid
Empire in Baghdad. They were different in shape and design.
