The woman who fires the Ramadan cannon

Just like numerous devout Muslims all over the world, Fauzia Khan eagerly awaits the arrival of Ramadan. Her anticipation for the month is for a special reason. Khan is perhaps the world’s first and only woman topchi (one who fires the cannon) on religious occasions.

“For me, it’s not just a profession that I have undertaken but continuation of a family tradition,” Khan tells the Weekend Review.

She fires the cannon during the month of Ramadan — a month when Muslims observe a dawn-to-dusk fast and special prayers. The cannon is fired to signal the start and end of the pre-dawn meal of suhour and later in the evening to mark iftar (the end of the fast) and during prayer timings.

A resident of Takiya Ghadar Shah, a busy locality in Rajasthan’s Ajmer district, Khan’s ancestral home is situated on a small hillock overlooking the Ajmer Sharif dargah (shrine) of the 12th century Sufi saint Moinuddin Chisti, popularly known as Garib Nawaz (messiah of the poor).

Popular in the neighbourhood as a topchi, Khan is part of a practice that was introduced in the 16th century by Mughal emperor Akbar who was known to have patronised the shrine. The emperor donated a cannon that was used for giving 21-gun salute on different occasions.

Khan’s family claims that their ancestors had a seat in Akbar’s court and identify themselves as a hereditary service clan. “Our family has been shooting cannons for eight generations. My grandfather used to get Rs2 a month and my father received Rs5 monthly. Times have changed and I am paid Rs1,500 a month by the Dargah Committee. Even though it’s not a big amount, I became a topchi out of devotion and love for the occupation,” says Khan.

She undertook the responsibility after her father Mohammed Haneef Khan’s death in 2009. Until then, only male members of the family were entrusted with the task of firing the cannon. Thus, Khan became the first woman to be assigned the job.

While in the olden days, a large cannon on wheels was used, later a smaller version, weighing about 52 kg, was introduced. To prevent any misuse, since India’s partition in 1947, a small hand-held cannon is used for performing the task.

Usually stored at the Dargah Police Station, the 35-kg cannon is brought in a simple ceremony to Khan’s house. She or her brothers usually carry it. “Before collecting the cannon, we have to sign at the police station. And since I always accompanied my father, I have known it all,” she says.

Once the cannon comes home, Khan cleans it with a cloth rolled around a stick and then pours gunpowder into it. The cannon is then stuffed with crushed cow dung, which is hammered into it. “Earlier, we used paper and sawdust in place of cow dung but the boom wasn’t as loud. Also, paper from the cannon at times resulted in burning objects outside homes in the vicinity,” she adds.

Khan fires the small cannon for the dargah’s big moments from a nondescript spot, next to a water pipeline near her house. The cannon is placed between two chopped girders on a cemented block and some more gunpowder is sprinkled on the vent near the base. The topchi then uses an incense stick with her left hand to light it. She blocks her right ear to lessen the impact of the sound.

Its boom is powerful enough to be heard and felt across Ajmer’s old town. “In all, I perform this feat 390 times in a year. This includes four times a day on every Friday namaz,” she says.

Previously, the gritty woman would fire the cannon on seeing the red flag that was waved from the dargah premises. But technological advancement led to her being informed over the mobile phone. However, Khan says, “I have the year round calendar and know the days and time I am supposed to fire the cannon.”

Having studied until Grade 7, Khan lives with her mother Asiya Bano and siblings in a joint family. She supports the family by selling tea and soft drinks from a makeshift kiosk and also deals in religious rituals to cure people of illnesses.

Much respected among the locals, a large crowd gathers every time she fires the cannon.

Aslam Karim, an elderly resident remarks, “Now-a-days, women are into all fields. From serving in the armed forces to excelling in sports, they have been making the nation proud. It’s an honour that Khan is offering her services to the Dargah Sharif, where people from around the world come to pay obeisance.”

“I saw her accompanying her father since she was a child. Many times, she would carry the cannon on her shoulder, traversing the lanes through markets and residential areas, when it was brought from the police station. While people like me wondered in awe, children would hail her as the ‘cannon girl.’ Even though it is a dangerous job, she is so committed and fearless,” he adds.

Khan admits that her job is quite risky. “I am very careful, especially having borne the brunt of it once. Few years ago, during the scorching summer months, while I was to fire the cannon, the powder blasted rather quickly. It affected my ear drum and I developed a hearing problem,” she relates.

Another resident, Safia Begum says, “in Islamic history, numerous women would participate in battles. Today, Khan is held in high esteem in Ajmer. Every time she fires the cannon, my grand daughter feels delighted and says, ‘Some day, I will also create history by doing something unique for my country.’ I hope her dreams come true.”

Khan says, “When I fired the cannon for the first time, it was a bit scary and I was shaky. But now, for years, even during heavy rain or thunderstorm, I never waver from my duty and until I live, the tradition will never be given the miss.”

Nilima Pathak is a journalist based in New Delhi.