Thursday 5 January 2017

Gutter to Garib Nawaaz - Why you cant meet Garib Nawaaz at his dargah in Ajmer?

When I reached the dargah of Garib Nawaaz towards the end of December 2016, the streets were full of not only people but also sewage water, which was all over the place. Walking a little further ahead I found some people working having opened a drain hole and one of the persons clearing the muck which may have clogged the drain. The street was flooded because of this clogging.

I felt pity for the person, who had to clear the muck and mann hi mann...appreciated the work of one of the Indians who recently got a prize for his work with sewer workers.

I anyways walked in the lanes further towards the main gate of the dargah with the usual coaxing of people to buy the customary chaddars and the flowers. While I call myself a Sufi but I never put chaddars at the dargahs. It is a unneccessary ritual for me. I also dont offer money at the dargah. I however was in a good mood and decided to buy some flowers instead.

I was hoping to offer some flowers to the great saint Moinuddin Chishti and meet him. Dont read me wrong, you can actually meet Sufis, if the saint wishes, karam ho and if you want to. But when I finally entered the sanctum sanctorum, there was a man standing in front of a chaddar full of currency. He urged me to put some money there. When I said I dont want to. He made a face and directed me on one side. I soon realised that those who put money get to the side where you can get closer to the dargah, whereas those who dont need to go to the other side, where you cant get close to the dargah.

My wife put in some money and we were shoved to the brighter side. There also things were not moving because those people who had paid some khadims were allowed to get to the head of the dargah via a sort of VIP line, as many people like me, stood waiting for their turn.

I started lamenting at the fact that at the dargah of somebody who is called Garib Nawaaz, there is talk of money...there is priority for money. Tried to talk to Garib Nawaaz but phone nahi laga. ha ha. connection nahi hua.

Finally, after waiting for a while I got my chance to bow before the grave...and again the chap sitting there asked for money...very clearly...put some money...I said I wont...and came out.

I had come to meet Garib Nawaaz and I was feeling bothered with this issue of monetisation at the dargah. The trip was spoiled and I couldnt connect to the saint as well.

Sat outside the dargah for a while...lamented more and finally walked out of the dargah.

When I reached the place where I started the walk, the problem of the drain had been sorted out and people had vanished as the problem was resolved.

Suddenly, I realised that I had met Garib Nawaaz even before entering the dargah...at that place...where the gutter was open...where that poor man..Garib man was clearing muck. Garib Nawaaz was there. As my wife walked ahead I realised that it was this place that I need to bow to Garib Nawaaz. I bowed and was connected...and got to know where to find Garib Nawaaz.

Here is the place I found him





Ya Garib Nawaaz!