Sunday, December 13, 2009

The Fall of a Warrior Race The Siddis of Junagadh

104,567 items / 678,488 views

This is the ignominy, this is a shame , which hurts me the most, kids love to see the acrobatic side of the Siddis, when they fish for money from the ground thrown by rich patrons..

But than this is the flip side of our culture , we are a very critical hypocritical race, we dont like others abusing us, our norms but the Siddis who are an integral part of our nationalism are treated worse than street dogs - a photographer shoots pictures a photo blogger shoots pain provided you are literate enough to read the wordless chimera of pain as a poem..

I have never stalked for pictures , they come as Gods gift in my beggars bowl..this time I thought of documenting the Siddi ethos..it was poetic spur of the moment decision.

Perhaps you may not believe it I have had no time to talk to them, they have Muslim names and come from the genealogy of Hazrat Bilal the Azan giver during the time of the Holy Prophet of Islam..

They are a very inclusive race, dont mix but respond to people in monosyllables, they speak Gujrati with an African dialect.

I did meet Zeenath the Siddi eunuch at Ajmer Sharif a few years back.. she thought I was a fashion photographer , so posed like a ramp model.. raw sensuality and bodily aggressiveness.

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Preparing the Sandal Paste

This is a very auspicious moment of preparing the sandal paste , this will be covered in white muslin, the bowls all duly packed in silver foil.
All this will finally be placed in the flower bedecked palki to be offered on the Tomb of the Holy Saint Baba Makhdoom Shah al Mahimi..

It is while placing it in the palki that Sakibs brother went into a trance weeping..these are very private moments I shot to share the world of Sufi ritualism as practiced in India.
Along side this the dhamal players went about praising Hazrat Ali ...


Ali Imam Manasto Manam Ghulam E Ali
Hazaar Jaan E Girami Fida E Naam E Ali

Haiderium Qalndaram Mastam
Banda-E-Murtaza Ali Haastam
Paishwa-E-Tamaam Rinda Nam
Ke Sagay Koo E Shair E Yazdanam

Kabhi Deewar Hilti Hai, Kabhi Dar Kaanp Jata Hai
Ali Ka Naam Sun Ker Ub Bhi Khaiber Kaanp Jata Hai

Shah E Mardaan E Ali
Ali Ali, Ali Ali, Ali Ali, Aliii Aliii
Ali Ali Ali Ali, Ali Ali, Ali Ali Ali Ali Ali Ali...
Ali Ali Ali Ali Ali Ali Ali Ali Ali Ali Ali Ali Ali Ali Ali Ali Ali Ali Ali Alii

Ali Maula Ali, Ali Maula Ali
Ali Maula Ali, Ali Maula Ali
Aaa Ali Maula Ali, Ali Maula Ali
Ali Maula Ali, Ali Maula Ali

Jab Jaan Tan Say Nikle Lab Per Mere Yeh He Hoga
Alii Ali Maula Ali, Ali Maula Ali
Aaa Ali Maula Ali, Ali Maula Ali
Ali Maula Ali, Ali Maula Ali

Japle Japle Re Manwa
Yehi Naam Sacha Hai Pyaare
Yehi Naam Tere Sub Dukh Taale
Isi Naam Ki Barkat Ne Diyeh Raaz-E-Haqiqat Khol

Tu Bhi Kar Ali, Ali Maula Ali
Aaa Alii Ali Maula Ali, Ali Maula Ali
Aaa Ali Maula Ali, Ali Maula Ali
Ali Maula Ali, Ali Maula Ali

Kab Kisi Benawa Say Kehta Hoon
Sub Ke Haajat Rawa Say Kehta Hoon
Baat Shair-E-Khuda Say Kehta Hoon
Door Ho Ja Nazar Say Ey Mushkil
Warna Mushkil Kusha Say Kehta Hoon

Q K Woh Hein Mere Ali Ali
Ali Maula Ali, Ali Maula Ali
Aaa Ali Ali Maula Ali
Aaa Ali Ali Maula Ali, Ali Ali Ali Ali Ali

Shah-E-Mardaan-E-Ali La Fata Illah Ali
Shair-E-Yazdaan Ali Ali

Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Maula Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali

Haq Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Aaa
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali

Tan Per Ali Ali Ho Zubaan Per Ali Ali
Mar Jaoon To Kafan Pe Bhi Likhna Ali Ali

Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Aaa Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali

Maula Ali Maula Ey Maula
Maula Ali Maula Ali Maula Ali Maula Maula...
Ey Moula Ali Moula, Moula Ali Moula
Moula Ali Moula Ali Moula Ali Moula Ali...

Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Aaa Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali

Baghair Hubb-E-Ali Mud'daa-A Nahi Milta
Ibadaton Ka Bhi Hargiz Sila Nahi Milta
Khuda Ke Bando Suno Ghour Say Khuda Ki Qasam
Jisay Ali Nahi Miltay Usay Khuda Nahi Milta

Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Aaa Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali

Basak Talash Na Ab Kuch Wus'at-E-Nazar Se Milaa
Nishaan E Manzil E Maqsood Raahbar Se Milaa
Ali Mile To Mile Khaana-E-Khuda Sa Hamein
Khuda Ko Dhonda To Wo Bhi Ali Ke Ghar Se Milaa

Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Aaa Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali

Khuloos E Dil Say Ali Ka Jo Naam Laita Hai
Wohi To Lazzat Umr-E-Tamaam Laita Hai
Khuda Ke Bando Suno Ghour Say Khuda Ki Qasam
Ali Ka Naam To Girton Ka Thaam Laita Hai

Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Aaa Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali

Paighambari Ke Chaand Ka Hala Ali Ali
Baatil Ki Teergi Ka Ujala Ali Ali
Paigham-E-Kirtigar Ka Jouhar Ali Ali
Imaan Ke Sadakh Ka Hai Kauhar Ali Ali

Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Aaa Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali

Maula Ali Maula...
Maula Maula Maula
Maula Ali Maula Maula Ali Maula
Maula Ali Maula Maula Ali Maula...

Haq! Haq! Haq! Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Aaa Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali

Ustaad-E-Jibrael-E-Mukaraam Ali Ali
Maula-E-Kainaat Moazzam Ali Ali
Sirdaar-E-Ambiya Ka Tabassum Ali Ali
Chashm-E-Junoon-E-Afzal-O-Akram Ali Ali

Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Aaa Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali

Ibadatoon Ka Jo Unwaan Hai To Zikr-E-Ali
Kamaal-E-Markaz E Eeman Hai To Zikar-E-Ali
Sukoon-E-Qalb Ka Saaman Dhoondne Walo
Sukoon-E-Qalb Ka Saaman Hai To Zikar-E-Ali

Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Aaa Ali Maula Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali

Mojod-E-Kaaba Deen Mukammal Ali Ali
Paighambari Ka Shahid-E-Awwal Ali Ali
Vird-E-Zubaan Ehl-E-Zamana Ali Ali
Yakta-E-Roozgaar Yagana Ali Ali
Altaf-E-Bebadal Ka Khazana Ali Ali
Insaan Ki Azmatoon Ka Tarana Ali Ali

Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Aaa Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali

Qawwali Vocables...
Haq Haq Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali

Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Aaa Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali

Nazar Haqeeqat Shaanas Paayi To Kia Kahoon Kis Ada Ko Daikha
Her Aik Zarray Mein Jalwa Farmaa Mohammad-O-Murtaza Ko Daikha
Qasam Khuda Ki Ali Nabi Say, Nabi Ali Say Juda Nahi Hai
Ali Ko Daikha, Nabi Ko Daikha, Nabi Ko Daikha, Khuda Ko Daikha

Haq Haq Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Aaa Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali

Sahar Hoi Shab E Mairaaj Ki To Logo Ne
Jamaal-E-Pak Rukh-E-Sayyad-Ul-Bashar Daikha
Kaha Ghulamo Ne Hum Se Bhi Kijiyeh Irshaad
Jo Kuch Huzoor Ne Yasha-A Arsh Per Daikha

To Harfashaa Hue Lale Labe Rasool E Kareem
Ajeeb Martaba Haider Ka Arsh Per Daikha
Wali Wali Ki Sada Thi Jahan Jahan Pohche
Ali Ali Nazar Aye Jidhar Jidhar Daikha

Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali

Deed Haider Ki Ibadat Hai Ye Farmaan E Nabi
Deed Haider Ki Sub Ker Lo
Deed Haider Ki Sub Ker Lo
Deed Haider Ki Sub Ker Lo

Jin Ki Mehfil Hai Woh Mehfil Mein Zaroor Aate Hein
Aao Sub Ker Lo Deed Haider Ki
Sub Ker Lo Deed Haider Ki
Aaa Sub Ker Lo Deed Haider Ki

Nigaah E Raah Mein Bicha Do K Aap Aye Hein
Diloon Ko Farsh Bana Do K Aap Aaye Hein
Sub Ker Lo Deed Haider Ki
Sub Ker Lo Deed Haider Ki

Deed Haider Ki Ibadat Hai Yeh Farmaan E Nabi
Hai Ali Rooh E Nabi Jism E Nabi Jaan E Nabi
Gul-E-Tatheer Ali, Haq Ki Shamsheer Ali
Peeron Ke Peer Ali Ali

Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Aaa Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali

dono aalam ke hein waliyon pe waliat un ki
sari dunya ke imamon pe immamat unki
husn e taqdeer ali nabi ke wazeer wali
haq ki tasverr ali alii

Haq Ali Ali Ali Maola Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maola Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maola Ali Ali
Aaa Haq Ali Ali Ali Maola Ali Ali

ghareebon da zamane vich sahara hai ali maula
mohammad jiss da maula us da maula hai ali maula

Haq Ali Ali Ali Maola Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maola Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maola Ali Ali
Aaa Haq Ali Ali Ali Maola Ali Ali

un ki Saem hai walidat ki jagah harm-e-kaaba
aankh kholi to chehra e mohammad dekha
noor e tanveer ali, badr e muneer ali
malik e taqdeer alii alii

Haq Ali Ali Ali Maola Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maola Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maola Ali Ali
Aaa Haq Ali Ali Ali Maola Ali Ali

dast e ilaah kiyoon na ho sher e khuda ali
maqsood her ataa hai shah e la fata ali
jiss tarah hai aik zaat e mohammad hai bemisaal
paida howa na hoga koi dosra ali ali

Haq Ali Ali Ali Maola Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maola Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maola Ali Ali
Aaa Haq Ali Ali Ali Maola Ali Ali

Her Ik Wali K Dil Ki Sada Hai Ali Ali
Khuld E Bari Ki Aab-O-Hawa Hai Ali Ali
Jo Aaye Haq Ka Raahnuma Hai Ali Ali
Mahboob-E-Mustafa Khuda Hai Ali Ali

Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali

Shah E Mardaan E Ali
La Fata Illa Ali
Shair E Yazdaan Ali Ali
Haq Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali... Aaa

courtesy haq ali.. nusrat fateh ali khan

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Sakibs Sandal Mahim 2009

Sakib is a very dear friend, he has a number of florists shops in Mumbai and at Haji Malang.I began shooting the sandals , dargahs rafaees through Sakib and Firoze Rafaee , but it was Fahad Khalil Pathan the son of the late Peshimam of the Makhdoom Shah Baba mosque who introduced me to them.

Incidentally I met Fahad Khalil Pathan during my weekly trips to Chor Bazar and the Kamatipura flea market.We both wear Kerba or amber, and Fahad has a very old and impressive necklace, so we became friends .

Fahad was the person who took me behind the Makhdoom Shah Baba dargah and introduced me to the Chancawalli Rafaees ..and thus began my tryst with the fakirs mendicants body piercers.

I thought this introduction was necessary especially for my friends at Facebook where I post most of my stuff too, I have posted 50001 links at Facebook..and samplers of my Flickr sets..

It was at Sakibs sandal I met Nazim Bhai brother of Peersaab Fakhru Miya Hujra no6..and thus began my Ajmer connection and trips.
Ajmer threw me into the laps of Nizamuddin Dargah.. that I shot during Chehlum in Delhi a long time back.

Haji Malang I try not to miss..there are a lot od Dargahs I have not seen , Meena Datar Unjha, Kariar Sharif, and Tajuddin Baba in Nagpur I would like to visit if I get an opportunity and divine encouragement.

Shooting the Urus circuit is a rare specialty ,its not mere photography but requires the mijaaz, you need to shoot this as a deewana or there is no meaning to the images you capture, I firmly believe I shoot emotions sparkling with life and spirituality..it has taken me a lot of time , a lot of struggle shooting the bawas I became a bawa myself..

And all this I owe to Sakib, and his best friend Abhijeet the Hindu Khadim of Haji Malang.I can live with my hijra friends but Abhijit gives me lodging boarding free..takes care of my comforts.. and climbing the Malangad mountains barefeet is a tough trek mind you, I am a diabetic.

Sakib is a rafaee a fact very few people know.

These pictures of his Urus shot in bad light are a must see, he removed his shirt lay down on a bed of nails, with a nail neck strap on his neck, and a huge boulder was placed on his chest..Sakib is amazing at overcoming pain.

All this was shot on 5 December the Siddi performers were here , and the most unique is the making of the sandal paste..that Sakibs brother and Nazim Bhai jointly prepared , all this was placed in a Palki..


The procession took of from Sakibs brothers house and I shot this till the Food lane , but the most unusual was a boy bleeding has he began cutting his tongue with a sword.

I know if Dr Glenn Losack MD was to see all this he would go berserk...and to shoot Hassan Ganda lifting a 50 kg boulder with his penis well Glenn would even sell his soul to the devil...

Hassan Ganda could make a lot of money but he has renounced to world..women would give him anything to have his progeny but this crazy proud bawa highly opinionated is not interested.

The thing that he has envied and wanted me to present to him is a rare stick curved like a snake with a silver birds head that I have ..but I never could think of giving it to him.. somethings cannot be bought or sold.

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Two Sadhus in Search of Peace

104,432 items / 678,088 views

one walks the path
of hope and hindutva
the other hussainiyat seeks
two sadhus in search of peace
two sides of a single coin
such as these
ayodhya in the heart of one
karbala in the other freeze
mazhab many doors
but a single dahleez
one says jai shri krishna
the other says allah hafeez

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Badnasib Aurat Chasmudin Gawah

zindagi main
marad bankar sab
jee lete hain
zindagi
ko shabab aur sharab
ki tarah
pee lete hain
lekin ek aurat
ek badnasib ma
banke
raste pe jeena
bhi kya jeena hai
khoon ki siskiyan
ansu aur pasina hai
badalta waqt bhi
kamina hai
chera to wohi hai
kambakht toota
hua aieena hai

the board at the back says thank you sarcastically ,for not parking in front of the gate...

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Destiny Fucked To Sleep

life a commodity
very cheap
a path cobbled
but steep
what you sow
another man reaps
suicidal hope
from your life's
balcony leaps
as you snore
your destiny
fucked to sleep
man born in a cradle
of a dust heap
when the end comes
buried six feet deep

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Sardard Ka Full Stop

outside a closed shop
a pregnant pause of a drop
sardard ka full stop
pain of living non stop
his woman ran away
with the guy who
worked at the sweet meat shop
a bitter pill he had to pop
fiddling away life's
sorrow
from the roof top
his family jewels
hawked at the pawnshop
his misery
now infecting
the screen
of your lap top

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