[Reader-list] Letters from Nangla 03

[CM@Nangla]

Loudspeaker

by 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.


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 Raja Hafiz 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
Hafiz makes his inquiries from the /pradhan /(the local head of the
/basti/) 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.


CM Lab, Nangla Maanchi
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It quenches the thirst of the thirsty, 
Such is Nangla,
It shelters those who come to the city of Delhi, 
Such is Nangla. 
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