Ajmer Sharif Dargah: The woman who keeps Ramzan time with a cannon | India News

In the heart of Ajmer, the constant clamor and hum of devotees at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah is occasionally broken by an unusual sound. This may surprise visitors, but shrine regulars and townspeople know about the faint boom of Fauzia Khan’s cannon, which he fires at the start of important ceremonies. As Ramadan rolls on, he’ll be at it again, diligently fulfilling a labor of love that earns him the title ‘Topchi’.Every year during Khawaja Garib Nawaz’s Urs, every Friday before Friday prayers and through Ramadan, 37-year-old Fauzia fires the ceremonial cannon from the Dargah complex. The blast announces the time of Sehri and Iftar and signals the time for prayer, continuing a tradition that predates modern clocks and loudspeakers. “Yeh ibadat ka kaam hai, zimmedari vi hai aur samman vi (It is a worship, a duty and also an honour),” says Fauzia.Clad in a long kurta, her face covered with a dupatta to protect herself from smoke and sparks, Fauzia prepares the cannon with precision. The tradition dates back to the Mughal era. It is believed to have been introduced by Emperor Akbar to conduct prayers during major religious events, especially Urs and Ramadan. Fauzia learned the job quickly. He was eight when he started assisting his father Mohammad Hafiz Khan. “Dad believed in me. He taught me science, respect, devotion,” she says.When her father died in 2008, many assumed the role would fall to a male relative. Instead Fauzia went ahead. Dargah officials accepted her demand, and Ajmer saw its first female artillery guard. “There were people who said it wasn’t a woman’s job,” she recalls. “But I grew up doing it.”During Ramadan, his day starts around 2 p.m. He cleans the cannon, prepares the gunpowder, and positions himself on the roof. The first blast signals Sehri and is followed by a second to mark the end of mealtime. At sunset the cannons are fired again for Iftar.The cannon that Fauzia uses today weighs about 35 kg and is hand-held – a safer version of the old, 53 kg wheeled cannon used before independence. Fauzia’s family follows a rotational system. He served for two consecutive years, followed by a year when it was held by his cousin. He earns Rs 1,500 during Ramadan – an amount he says barely covers the cost of gunpowder. Often, he pays the expenses from his own pocket. To earn a living, he runs a small tea-snack stall. “People think I probably get a lot of respect and money. I get respect, but not money,” he laughs.He received no formal recognition from the government or religious institutions. His only desire, he says, is to perform Umrah (visit Mecca) and to be recognized for his service.He faces the strongest opposition from his extended family. Still, she never moved—not even the day her father died. “His body was in the house,” she says. “But the cannon must be fired. Duty comes first. I knew he would want it.”He also says that he doesn’t believe in roles or symbols. “The roles are not for men or women. They are for those who do them sincerely. I’m not doing this for feminism. I’m fighting for tradition. And tradition is stronger when it includes everyone.”