INDIA
Asian Voice - Saturday 30th June 2012
27
The Sheikh family keeps on playing music for Sultan Ahmad Shah By AV Correspondent For over six centuries, the Sheikh family has been playing music in the evening in honour of the Badshah Sultan Ahmad Shah of Ahmedabad. Ahmad Shah has been long dead and consigned to history, but the Sheikh family’s music lingers on around Badshah ka Hazira as a reminder of its glorious past. “Our family was asked to play music to indicate time by the Badshah,” says Amir Sheikh, the younger of the two brothers, who play the flute. “Music was also a signal for signifying time in those days,” Amir adds. The walled city of ancient Ahmedabad had 12 gates, and with the last session of salaami, which used to be played at 11pm used to mark the end of the day, signaling time for closing the gates. With the splendor and the glory of the monarchy gone, the Sheikh family today lives in a squalor house in Manekchowk area, near the Hazira (tomb) of Sultan Ahmad Shah. “It is a unique thing that is happening in Ahmedabad where a family has kept its loyalty for a ruler, who is no more for centuries,” said Debashish Nayek, heritage expert from Ahmedabad. The city of Ahmedabad was built in 1411 AD by Sultan Ahmed Shah. Subsequently, he built the Jama Masjid in 1423, which is one of the most aesthetically pleasing mosques in the Western India. Badshah ka Hazia houses the graves of three great rulers of Gujarat - Ahmed Shah I, his son, Mohammed Shah and his grandson, Qutub-Ud-Din Ahmed Shah II. Time has eaten away all the historical documents that could ascertain their claims. President of Ahmedabad Wakf Committee, Rizwan Kadri, admits that the historical documents of Ahmed Shah’s period are no longer available. “Wakf Committee has been paying this family for their salary since 1914 and we have those records, but the historical records are all destroyed,” Kadri admits. Back in Manekchowk, the commercial area adjoining Hazira, Amir walks into a jewellery shop along with his brother. The duo work there to make ends meet. “The Wakf committee pays us Rs 1,800 a month for playing the drum and the trumpet, but we need a little more to make ends meet,” he says with a smile. “The owners of the jewellery shop where we work allow us to go to the Hazira in the evening and do
Team Anna member deplaned from Kingfisher flight
our ritual. One can’t say no to Badshah,” he adds. On Thursdays and Fridays, they, however, have to attend to their royal duty more than twice. “On these two days we play five times a day - once at 9 am, then at noon and then once again at 3 pm apart from the routine 7 pm and 11 pm schedule,” Amir adds. “The tradition has been handed out to us by our father Bannu Sheikh, who is no more. Now I am teaching my son Afzal who will continue after I am gone,” he says. For 11-year- old Afzal it is a matter of pride that he will be taking forward the tradition of his forefathers. “I am aware that there are not many people who come to hear it now but at least there is a generation to tell the story,’’ says Afzal. He
said that by the time his generation comes forward there would be none to narrate the story and history. “At present I do take out time from my studies to learn from my father, I am aware that it is not a well paid job either, but my father has faith in me and the community too thinks that I can carry forward the tradition,’’ says Afzal. He said that once he grows he would take out time and see to it that the decades old tradition is maintained, and he would definitely look for an alternative job but that would not deter him to take the efforts of his forefathers forward. Ismail Shaikh, a shopkeeper near the dargah says, “I have been coming here regularly, first with my father as a child now with my grandson to listen so that
they can tell their children about the history.’’ The 69-year-old admits that it might be a difficult proposition for the next generation to maintain the tradition but says that he was glad to see young Afzal take keen interest in carrying the tradition forward. Another regular visitor, 58- year- old Manzoor Shaikh, too admits that he has been visiting for several decades and come what may the tradition would be maintained. “We are trying to represent through community leaders that the allowance should be increased so that the younger generation is drawn toward the century old tradition.’’ Shaikh says that the youngsters are keen and the elders would ensure that this tradition does not die a natural death.
Presents
12th Asian Achievers Awards 14th September 2012 NOMINATION FORM *' 24'56+)+175 5+#0 %*+'8'45 9#4&5 +5 *156'& '8'4; ;'#4 $; <5 .'#&+0) 0'95 9''-.+'5 5+#0 1+%' #0& 7,#4#6 #/#%*#4 61 *10174 4+6+5* 5+#05 2#4 ':%'..'0%' ( 6*'4' +5 51/'10' ;17 -019 9*1 *#5 $41-'0 $170&#4+'5 #0& &'5'48'5 4'%1)0+6+10 (14 6*'+4 70+37' %1064+$76+10 61 6*' %1//70+6; #0& 6*' 0#6+10 6*'0 2.'#5' 01/+0#6' 6*'/ (14 10' 1( 6*' #9#4&5 .+56'& $'.19 #-' 574' 6*#6 ;17 (+.. +0 6*+5 #22.+%#6+10 (14/ #0& 5'0& +6 10 14 4 '14)' '. #: /#+. ### #$2.)4172 %1/ #&&4'55 +5 4 '14)' 4172 #4/# "1)# 175' 1:610 #4-'6 10&10
$; 2156 (#: 14 '/#+. 61 ( ;17 #4' 5'0&+0) +6 $; 2156 6*' !
Please tick the appropriate category Sports Personality of the Year............................................
Woman of the Year ................................................................
Awarded for excellence in sports.
The award will recognise and honour a woman who has made a significant mark in any chosen field.
Business Person of the Year .............................................. Awarded to a business person who is a success in every sense of the word and can demonstrate a genuine passion for social issues.
Young Entrepreneur of the Year ......................................
Professional of the Year ......................................................
Uniformed and Civil Services ............................................
Professionals in the field of medicine, law, education, banking, finance and others, who have scaled the heights of their chosen profession.
For outstanding achievements in uniformed and civil services or contribution to the community through any of the above services.
Achievement in Community Service................................
Awarded to those who have acclaimed popularity internationally for his/her contribution in any particular sector and is recognised for their timeless philanthropic activities.
In recognition for an individuals service to community.
Achievement in Media, Arts and Culture .................... Someone who has made a mark in media including print and broadcast media; cinema, art and culture.
Award for Entertainment .................................................... For outstanding performance by Asians in the field of Dance and Music.
Awarded to an young entrepreneur (less than 35 years) with a proven track record of operating a successful business enterprise.
International Personality of the Year ............................
Lifetime Achievement Award ............................................ To honour those individuals, who during their lifetime, have made immense contributions in any given field. This remarkable individual can be marked as an example for the younger generation.
Application Form
Name of the Nominee: ___________________________________________________________________________________ Contact Details of the Nominee (Tel & email): _______________________________________________________________ Present Occupation of the Nominee: _______________________________________________________________________
Arvind Kejriwal
Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal was last week deplaned from a Kingfisher Airlines flight in New Delhi while he was on his way to Dharamsala. The anti-corruption crusader said he was singled out even when he was carrying a valid ticket, adding that no reason was given to him for same. "No reason was given by the aircraft before offloading me," said the key Team Anna member. Talking to mediapersons, Kejriwal said, "I believe some corrupt forces forced the airlines to offload me." The Team Anna member further said that he was in the queue to board the flight when officials of the Kingfisher Airlines asked him to step out. He was made to wait there even after the boarding gates shut. According to Kejriwal, he was told by the airlines officials that his ticket had been sold to someone else.
Please attach the Nominees's CV which includes the following information (Please do not exceed a limit of 1000 words) (1) Personal background (2) (3) (4) (5)
Most important career achievements till date. Nominee's contribution to the community and nation. Any notable obstacles in the Nominee's career that has helped him/her to reach where they are today. Future Plans, ambitions and visions.
Summary- (Please include a summary in not more than 150 words why the nominee is worthy of winning the particular award in a separate sheet) Nominators name and contact details: _____________________________________________________________________ Nominators current Occupation/Company: __________________________________________________________________ Tel/Mobile: _________________________________
Email: __________________________________________________
NOMINATION AND SELECTION PROCESS This is a unique event where readers nominate and an independent panel of judges comprising of eminent personalities selects the winner. Judges’ decision is final. ABPL Group will not entertain any dialogue with members of the public regarding the judging process. In order to ensure a high degree of transparency and fairness, the management and members of the staff of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar will play no role in the nomination or judging process. You may use an additional sheet if the space provided is insufficient. The winners will be announced at the AAA Awards ceremony in 14th September, 2012. Asian Voice, Gujarat Samachar will publish the names of the short listed candidates and winners after the event. The winners names will also appear in our e-edition www.abplgroup.com You can nominate yourself if you wish to. Nominations and entries must follow the prescribed format. All nomination forms must reach our offices on or before 12th July, 2012
210514
8'06
#0#)'& ;
((+%+#. #6'4'45
((+%+#.
((+%+#.
'&+# #460'4
((+%+#.
0.+0' #460'4
210514'& *#4+6;
+%-'65 #8#+.#$.' #6