The Mystical World Of Dam Madar Malangs Of India

I first met the black robed long haired ,, dread headed monks Malangs in 2005 the first visit of my life to Ajmer Sharif.. I got fascinated into the world of Sufism as a photographer I wanted to shoot this unusual tapestry of a different world I began by documenting the Rifai Silsila in Mumbai and than met Peersab Fakhru Miya Hujra no 6 in Mumbai 2004 ,he invited me to Ajmer and was my host I am indebted to him and his sons who have continued the tradition of giving me shelter under their the comfort of their roof I may have come as a guest but subsequent visits I am now part of this extended family ,,,

When I came to Ajmer I hardly knew anything about Malangs .. I thought they were same little different from body piercing Rifais ,, I shot the Rifais , I shot the transgender or hijras and I shot the beggars as my documentary ,

In 2011 a friend wanted to become a Malang and he walked with Malangs every year from Delhi to Ajmer Sharif ,, he knew more Malangs than me , but he insisted I help him and so I introduced him to Syed Masoomi Baba .and perhaps I thought he was joking with me when he said you make him a Malang..I looked at him amazed ,,but than I understood the underlying metaphor I accepted his offer became a Malang and after that my friend became a Malang and we both become Peer Bhais .. one white man and the other a dusky urban brown skinned man.. I went to Makanpur because of him,.

And I still go to Ajmer I still shoot the Rifais Malangs , the transgender hijras and I still shoot the beggars ,, but than I also go to Pushkar my cosmic connection with Lord Brahma and to buy daggers to cut my head for Moharam from this Hindu town from my friend Raj Telik .

I dont meet the Malangs in Mumbai,, so I only see them once a year , but I speak to Syed Rafiq Baba in the picture .. we keep in touch he keeps enticing me of the different places calls me but I am spiritually enchained to Mumbai.. with badly broken wings.

And there is a German connection too Dorothea Reicker who has saved many a Malang life by giving them medical aid , mostly of the Malangs suffer from chest ailment TB and she helped them and Peersab Syed Masoomi as he could not pronounce her name baptized her as Miriam .. the Healer of both the Worlds ,,

There are now many foreigners who walk with Malangs sadly I could never make the trip.. from Delhi To Ajmer on foot ,,

I miss my Malang brother he has shut himself up from me ,,

What I like about Masoomi Baba he did not impose his faith on me all he said you are a Maulaiee ,,, from the beginning to the end ,, you got the gift of Ali from your Mothers womb others have to search for it or earn it ..

Shah-E-Mardaan, Shair-E-Yazdaan,
Qoowwat-E-Parwardigaar,
La Fata illa Ali,
La Saif illa Zulfiqaar

Ali imaam-e-manasto manam Ghulaam-e-Ali
hazaar jaan-e-giraamii fidaa-e-naam-e-Ali

Her Qalb Ali, Jism Ali, Jaan Ali Hai
Mujh BeSar-O-Samaan Ka Samaan Ali Hai
Imaan Ka Matlaash E Ye Imaan Keh Doon
Iman To Yeh Hai Mera Imaan Ali Hai
Ali Maula, Maula Ali Maula
Maula Ali Maula, Maula Ali Maula

man kunto maulaa
fa haaza Aliun maulaa

To whom I am the master
Ali is the master.