By Haroon Rashid
Those who offer their services are better, nobler and far more virtuous than those who don’t. The people of our locality never forget the service of late Sona-Ullah Ganie, nicknamed as Sonu-Kak, a humble person with a lot of good qualities. Beside the caretaker of the village mosque, he was a well known Ramadan drummer (Sayhar-Khan).
During the month of Ramdhan, when most of the people remained in deep slumber at night, he started his walk through the lanes and bylanes of our village awaken the believers of Islam for pre-dawn meals, chanting loudly Waktay-Sahar, Waktay- Sahar, playing music and singing verses of poetry mainly the couplets of renowned mystic saint Sheikh Noor Din Noorani RA in order to awaken people and encouraging them to eat and keep fast. Earlier, his wife accompanied him with a lantern in one hand because there were no street lights in those times and by another hand, she kept a long wooden rod as a weapon against the dangers of street or wild animals . Later, his growing son replaced the role of his mother as he became bold enough to hold a lantern and a long wooden rod. He always kept his instruments well prepared; did some renovation to his drum if needed before he actually attended that noble job which he considered as a great service towards his own community. One can understand his relevance as the drummer when compared the situation in the context of the past time when there were no loudspeakers, digital clocks, mobile phones which we are using nowadays as the awakening gadgets. Neither the harsh nights of winter nor the shortest nights of summer reduced his passion towards his job which he inherited from his forefathers. Even we often saw him during the daytime, but our curiosity grew more and more to see his face at the pre-dawn time. Sometime, we peeped through the window to see him, watching his actions. During early 1990’s when the political situation of Kashmir was fragile, there was a frequent battle between a life and death, most of the drummers quit this job owing to the security reasons but he remained steadfast with his work. His role was not limited only up to pre-dawn but at the time of Iftiyar, he used to stand in the middle of the village with the drum near the shop of Haji Gh.Ahmad Sahab – one of the few person in the village who had a pocket- watch fastened on his half sleeve coats (Sadire). We, as the kids watching his movements keenly, staring his drum sticks and as soon as Haji Sahab intimated Qadir Kak about the Iftiyar timing, he beat the drum with full power producing melodic tunes, many people particularly children look forward to watch his performance. In the meantime, Haji Sahab offered each one of us a special drink (Babribeoul Treish). Then started our excitement time, we as kids roaming around the village, chanting the word Iftiyar, Iftiyar…….
After taking the meals, female folk, old or young, married or unmarried assembled at any particular place chanting Kashmiri chorus songs ( Rouf) till the male members of each family returned from the local mosques after offering the special prayer- Nimaz- Tarayee. The most common chorus song that they chanted during the holy month of Ramadan was Rathawa Manz, Rathkusyee Jan, Shubiyun Mahramzan – meaning which month is the holiest month in a year? It is the holy month of Ramadan, the holy month of Ramadan…….
At the end of the month, the residents of the neighbourhood offered him brown or white rice with a smiling mood against his month long wake up service he provided. Few People showed more generosity and gave him Edi (Cash Amount) on the Eid day. That collected grain and some cash amount gave him the timely help to fulfill his economic needs for the rest of the year.
Though, the Muslim community increasingly relies on modern gadgets like loud speakers, alarm clocks, cell phones but, this old aged traditions is still prominent in many countries or states including ours. Let’s us hope that our next generations also retain this centuries old, rich tradition alive in this part of the world- Kashmir.
The author writes on Social and current Issues and can be reached at minamharoon123@gmail.com
