Loudspeaker, Jaanu
A sound emerges from the loudspeaker of the mosque, and spreading through the lanes, envelopes the settlement, giving it something unique to be recognised by.
Every place has mosques, but there is something special about the experience of the mosque here. Each evening, a new sound emanates from here and makes home in people's minds. Sometimes the sound startles, sometimes it brings joy. Whatever the feeling, the sound makes everyone halt for a while. People otherwise immersed in their work pause for a moment. Feet stop on the way to their destinations, morsels of food remain uneaten in hands and mouths.
Every place has mosques, but there is something special about the experience of the mosque here. Each evening, a new sound emanates from here and makes home in people's minds. Sometimes the sound startles, sometimes it brings joy. Whatever the feeling, the sound makes everyone halt for a while. People otherwise immersed in their work pause for a moment. Feet stop on the way to their destinations, morsels of food remain uneaten in hands and mouths.
Some sounds have become very common, and do not cause anyone concern. But there are a few which snatch away people's hunger, thirst and moments of leisure despite having become common. And there are those which mean trouble for one person alone, but everyone's ears perk up on hearing them. This last is a familiar sound - the announcement about a missing child.
"Pay attention! This announcement is about a little boy,
wearing a cream coloured suit, with short hair,
blue Roopali slippers in his feet, aged
about 3 to 5. His name is Danish,
his father's name is Nassruddin. Please
come to the mosque and take your child."
The mosque's main hafiz of the mosque continues to call out till the child's family comes to take the child. Sometimes, the microphone is placed in front of the crying child so her or his parents or neighbours recognise the voice. The
child wails "ammi" or "ma", "abbu" or "papa" depending on how she addresses her parents. Or the child simply cries.
These are quiet sounds, which drift with the wind and then fade away. But some sounds lash on everyone like thunder, bringing disquiet with them. Like announcements to get ration cards and identity cards made. People line up outside the mosque to find out where the documents will be made. Then
the hafiz makes his inquiries from the pradhan (the local head of the area) and announces all the details from the microphone of the mosque,
bringing some comfort to everyone. Now people forgo their work and leisure,
and get down to filling and submitting the requisite forms.
Some sounds are strangers.
For instance, "Mr. Such and Such has been looking for Mr. So and So since
morning. Wherever you are, please come to the mosque and meet him." Hafiz
sahab calls out like this many times.
Some sounds are "event sounds", or "incident sounds". Once a young
boy met with an accident, and this was announced from the mosque:
"A fifteen year old boy
has met with an accident near
the traffic light on the ring road.
Everyone, please reach there
and identify him."
On hearing such sounds, people begin to make their way to the spot.
There are sounds of things getting lost or having been stolen, and then
being found:
"Some gentleman has dropped his bag.
The name is Giyasuddin. There are
around four hundred rupees in the bag.
Bhai sahab, kindly come to the
mosque and take your bag."
There is also a prominent sound of the settlement - that of contestants
in elections. When important politicians like Tajdar Babbar, VP Singh etc
arrive, it is announced from the mosque:
"The entire settlement is requested
to reach the ring road and get onto
the bus that is waiting there.
There is a rally against the demolition
of jhuggis at Jantar Mantar today."
People get all the latest news in this way, via the microphone. Sometimes the news is so harsh that it makes everyone's hearts ache:
"The settlement is going to be broken today.
Everyone should stay at home."
But today even this has become a common sound. Not much thought it given to
it any more. But some people's breathing becomes quicker and frailer on
hearing it.
Oh, but I almost forgot one pleasant sound:
"Today so-and-so is getting married.
Everyone who has been invited,
please come to the school for the feast.
One more thing!
Hindu brothers are
also requested to come.
Special arrangements have been made
for your food."
These sounds can be heard on some evenings.
There is also a sound which can be heard every morning. It announces that
it is time for children to reach the mosque for their daily tutoring. The
sound of the azaan and the namaaz can be heard at the scheduled time. And
during some festivals like Eid, Bakr-eid, Muharram, and on Fridays, it is
as if small crowds of voices rise and spread from the mosque.
"Pay attention! This announcement is about a little boy,
wearing a cream coloured suit, with short hair,
blue Roopali slippers in his feet, aged
about 3 to 5. His name is Danish,
his father's name is Nassruddin. Please
come to the mosque and take your child."
The mosque's main hafiz of the mosque continues to call out till the child's family comes to take the child. Sometimes, the microphone is placed in front of the crying child so her or his parents or neighbours recognise the voice. The
child wails "ammi" or "ma", "abbu" or "papa" depending on how she addresses her parents. Or the child simply cries.
These are quiet sounds, which drift with the wind and then fade away. But some sounds lash on everyone like thunder, bringing disquiet with them. Like announcements to get ration cards and identity cards made. People line up outside the mosque to find out where the documents will be made. Then
the hafiz makes his inquiries from the pradhan (the local head of the area) and announces all the details from the microphone of the mosque,
bringing some comfort to everyone. Now people forgo their work and leisure,
and get down to filling and submitting the requisite forms.
Some sounds are strangers.
For instance, "Mr. Such and Such has been looking for Mr. So and So since
morning. Wherever you are, please come to the mosque and meet him." Hafiz
sahab calls out like this many times.
Some sounds are "event sounds", or "incident sounds". Once a young
boy met with an accident, and this was announced from the mosque:
"A fifteen year old boy
has met with an accident near
the traffic light on the ring road.
Everyone, please reach there
and identify him."
On hearing such sounds, people begin to make their way to the spot.
There are sounds of things getting lost or having been stolen, and then
being found:
"Some gentleman has dropped his bag.
The name is Giyasuddin. There are
around four hundred rupees in the bag.
Bhai sahab, kindly come to the
mosque and take your bag."
There is also a prominent sound of the settlement - that of contestants
in elections. When important politicians like Tajdar Babbar, VP Singh etc
arrive, it is announced from the mosque:
"The entire settlement is requested
to reach the ring road and get onto
the bus that is waiting there.
There is a rally against the demolition
of jhuggis at Jantar Mantar today."
People get all the latest news in this way, via the microphone. Sometimes the news is so harsh that it makes everyone's hearts ache:
"The settlement is going to be broken today.
Everyone should stay at home."
But today even this has become a common sound. Not much thought it given to
it any more. But some people's breathing becomes quicker and frailer on
hearing it.
Oh, but I almost forgot one pleasant sound:
"Today so-and-so is getting married.
Everyone who has been invited,
please come to the school for the feast.
One more thing!
Hindu brothers are
also requested to come.
Special arrangements have been made
for your food."
These sounds can be heard on some evenings.
There is also a sound which can be heard every morning. It announces that
it is time for children to reach the mosque for their daily tutoring. The
sound of the azaan and the namaaz can be heard at the scheduled time. And
during some festivals like Eid, Bakr-eid, Muharram, and on Fridays, it is
as if small crowds of voices rise and spread from the mosque.
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