Freeing caged birds seen as task that pleases God

Abdul Ghani, in his sixties with his small goatee making him look rather like Ho Chi Minh, has a mission in life.

Even though he retired from work in the government service nearly seven years ago, each morning, soon after 8am, he begins preparing for work.

He polishes his sturdy bicycle till the worn metal gleams; he irons his faded linen trousers and shirt himself his wife died two decades ago and he fills a small hip flask with water.

Around 10am, he is ready to set out heading from his home in an older part of the city towards Liberty Market and areas close by.

Here, Ghani sits in one of the parks, or near a fountain, and waits patiently. As soon as the first bird wallahs arrive, he is in action seeking to free the caged sparrows, parrots and mynah birds.

The keeping of the birds in cages, and then seeking anything ranging from a few coins to over 100 rupees (Dh6.62) to free them, is a growing occupation in the city.

Though described as cruel by many bird-lovers, the traders in freedom, who cart the birds around on their bicycles awaiting customers who pay to free them, claim they have no other way to earn money.

For many people, the freeing of the birds is seen as a task that will please God, and as such almost a religious duty. The trade is well entrenched in the city, and the caged birds, packed by the dozens into small round cages, can be seen in many spots.

Each day Ghani is able to persuade some of the vendors to free a bird or two voluntarily.

On other days, he pays out 10 rupees or so to buy freedom for a mynah bird, or a pair of sparrows and sometimes he persuades shoppers to pay 100 rupees or so to free a pair of parrots the hardest birds for the vendors to obtain, and therefore the most expensive to free.

Ghani also keeps a watch out for ailing or dying birds, stricken by the heat and humidity of the summer.

He offers them a sip of water from his flask. He is often able to persuade the vendors to let them go, and when the birds falter as they fly off, dazed by their hours in a cooped cage, he stands by to keep guard until they recover sufficiently to flutter away.

When they do not, he takes them home to nurse them back to health.

Ghani is not alone in his love for the birds. Each day, regulars stop by to free a parrot or mynah or sometimes even give a 1,000 rupees (Dh60.62) or so to allow a whole cage full of sparrows to flutter away.

Despite various efforts to stop the trade, the selling of freedom continues. The bird vendors argue they allow people to put their souls at ease by doing a good deed for the birds, and argue that in hard times they have no other choice.

The keeping of the birds in cages, and then seeking anything ranging from a few coins to over 100 rupees to free them, is a growing occupation in the city.