Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

Muhammad Jaffer cycles through the streets of Santoshnagar beating his drum announcing the beginning of Ramzan fast

He is a town crier with a difference. Under the halogen streetlight glow at 3.30 a.m., Muhammad Jaffer’s voice booms over the hailer in Santoshnagar, Mehdipatnam followed by banging of drum announcing the beginning of Ramzan fast for the day. The whirring fan, the noisy AC and closed doors are no impediment, as folks scramble to prepare lunch before the 16-hour fast. Some have the food ready and just have to brush and eat sehri.

“This is a tradition from the beginning of Islam. Now people have alarm clocks, but I like to hear his sing-song voice asking people to wake up for food and prayer,” says Aziz Ahmed, a businessman. “Earlier, there were sehri-walahs doing this, but now the numbers have declined,” says Mr. Aziz, recalling the time when the family used to live in Hussainialam in the old city, 40 years ago.

It is difficult to catch Mr. Jaffer in the morning as he briskly cycles through the streets of Santoshnagar to Rethibowli in Mehdipatnam between 2 a.m. and 3.30 a.m. banging the drum mounted on the handlebar of the cycle and singing the words that are difficult to grasp. “I have been doing this for the past 31 years. I began in 1983 or 1984 when I was 14 and my father Muhammad Qureshi passed away. I am continuing his legacy. Then I used a tin drum which I used to bang, shout and walk through these same streets,” says Mr. Jaffer, on a day when he has come to collect money from grateful people whom he has rendered this service to.

“Earlier, people used to give foodgrains. Now they give clothes, grains as well as money,” informs Mr. Aziz.

“There was a time when we used to meet at 1 a.m. to drink tea and have pan before heading out to make these calls. We were more than a few dozen. But now, there are about 10 in this part of the city and I think the whole of Hyderabad may have about 50,” he guesses.

“No. My children will not follow this profession. They are all young and they want to study and work,” says Mr. Jaffer, who supplies lime to restaurants and function halls during the rest of the year.

In these days of niche apps that show the direction of qibla, exact time of prayer, and cell phone alarms, Muhammad Jaffer is a happy anachronism which Hyderabad can be proud of.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Serish Nanisetti / Hyderabad – July 06th, 2016