In Kodia Lohia, Gulab Singh wakes Muslims for Sehri

Story by  ATV | Posted by  Aasha Khosa • 2 Years ago
Gulab Yadav
Gulab Yadav

 

In Kodia Lohia, Gulab Singh wakes Muslims for Sehri

Ghaus Siwani, New Delhi

Under Mubarakpur police station in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, is a small village called Kodia Lohia Goan where Gulab Yadav’s voice wakes up all the Muslims for sehri, the dawn-time meal taken during the month of Ramazan, as they fast.

People like Gulab Yadav, who is a Hindu by faith, are the reason why Indians are the most diverse and respectful towards all religions and cultures.

Gulab Yadav, 42, has this sinecure as a legacy; his ancestors have been doing this job of knocking at the doors of each Muslim family in time for them to wake up for morning prayers and meals during the month of Ramzan for the last 47 years.

There is no compulsion for them to do this job, especially in a time when ubiquitous mobiles have an inbuilt alarm. However Gulab Singh continues to carry on the family tradition that has earned him much respect and love from the Muslim villagers.

In the village people have started  talking about the need to recognize the Yadav family’s contribution to the unity of the villagers and honouring Ghulab Singh.

The village Kodia Lohia has about 3,000 Muslims. Among a few Hindu homes is that of Gulab Yadav. His ancestors have been living in the village for a long time. The family is not so well to do and Yadav does odd jobs to earn his livelihood.

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However, the family considers waking up the Muslim during Ramazan as its duty and also show respect to Muslims. During the holy month of Ramazan, Gulab Yadav works hard all day and rises quite early for his pre-dawn duty.

Every night, at one o'clock, a leaves his house with a large alarm clock hung around his neck. He goes door to door waking up Muslims at three o'clock in the morning to prepare for sehri. Yadan says he repeatedly checks about the signs of people waking up like switching on the lights and sound of kitchen work from each house before returning home.

Earlier, Charkit Yadav, father of Gulab Yadav, did this job. On retirement, he passed it on to his elder son Vikram Yadav. For the past ten years, it has fallen on Gulab Yadav who never forgets to take his 18-year-old son Abhishek Yadav, a Class 10 student, along with as part of his apprenticeship.

Gulab Singh is clear that this tradition must continue.

Though it’s easier to follow the alarm of a mobile these days, in this village, people wake up only hearing the known at their door from Gulab Yadav.

Gulab's wife Radhika Devi says she is happy and proud of him. Gulab says he lives in a multi-religious area. In Mubarakpur town, people of all castes and religions respect each other. “There is collaboration in business, grief and happiness. This is humanity and I am simply doing my job.” He says no religion teaches hatred.

“I believe God is one, some call him Ishwar and some call him Allah. Everyone is his child.  Keeping this in the mind it’s wrong to divide people on the basis of religion,” he says.

Social activist Lal Bihari Murtak says Gulab Yadav’s conduct is worth emulating. “ At the same time, the government has a responsibility to honour him and more people must know about people like him."