A lock of faith for chastening politicians

RK Malhotra

A side railing stand at Bu Ali Shah Qalander's 'mazar' at Panipat is virtually over-packed with locks-as many in fact, and of as many shapes, sizes, colours and varieties as one rarely finds in a posh store. “What do these locks after all meant for?” I naturally wondered, but came to learn all about them, soon after.

For one thing, they symbolise people’s wishes-the wishes all types of people have in their heart of hearts. Second, they stand for the faith in Sufi Qalander resting there for centuries and, of course, for the sacredness of Dargah for one and all, irrespective of their religion, caste, colour or creed.

“Why, why did you put up the lock there?” I asked a young girl who was opening her lock that morning. “Why, I was the only daughter of my parents. I had no brother. And I wished for one. Hence, I put up the lock there…two years ago when I was in B.A. II year,” she replied.

“"And you are opening it today?” I asked. “Yes, what I wished for I have got. A brother has arrived in my arms-with the blessings of Qalander Peer. I have brought with me a golden ‘chaddar’ to ornament Baba’s mazar”.

“So, you have got a brother?” “Yes”, she said, “He is so very handsome and cute, and healthy”. But she hurriedly added, “He is there in my mammy's lap,” proudly pointing to a baby boy, all smiles.

I inched forward through the jostling crowd in the hall and blessed the baby with a flying kiss. Just then I caught sight of a middle aged man rushing forward with a lock in his hand. “What are you putting up the lock here for?” I asked the man taking out the key from the lock. “Why, I have a son,” he said. “He is first class M.A. English with B.A. Honors from Kurukshetra University but he is without a suitable job. I have come to Qalander Baba with a prayer, which he will grant,” he added.

“Are you sure of it?” I asked. “Why not? My son’s friend has already got a permanent lecturer’s job with Baba's blessings…He is now drawing a handsome salary with the blessings of Qalander Peer”.

“Is it your first lock?” I asked. “No, it’s second,” he replied. “Over a decade ago, I was suffering from an incurable disease. Doctors, even the best of them at the PGI, Rohtak, had said it won't go....It’ll go with your last breath,” he said.

“But you don’t look sick and ailing,” I said.  “Yes, but I did when I put up that lock…It’s Baba’s ‘mehr’, his blessings. He is kind to all… he helps the helpless, provided you put your faith in him… and put up a lock”. 

“How long will you keep the lock there?” I asked. And he proudly came out: “Till my son gets a job”.

The words touched my heart so very deeply that I silently placed my forehead on Baba’s feet…When I raised my head many more people were standing around with locks in their hands. In small groups of two or three each, they were discussing the  significance of the ‘mazar’ where they had come to put up the locks. 

“Why,” I heard one of them saying, “the mazar is a miracle of rare device. It draws crowds of devotees from all over the world…They come here with tears in their eyes and go back with a smile on their lips”.

“Yes, the mazar is a wonderful source of light and life for the people of Haryana, a gift of God to one and all… irrespective of their caste, colour, faith or creed”.

“See the streams of people flowing in from all over the country…”

“Why, Baba showers his blessings on one and all… with peace before and blessings after…”

“Why, he wipes every tear from every eye…” I was so much impressed, and so very deeply, that I blindly rushed out to a market nearby to buy a lock of my own, of course to put up there!

When I was taking the key out of my lock, a gentleman standing nearby was utterly surprised to see my wrinkled face and toothless jaws. He happened to ask me: “Sir, what are you putting up the lock here for?” And pat slipped the words from my lips: “For 

the purification and chastisement of our political leaders who are never possessed of the people’s woes”.

“And when will you open the lock?” he asked. “Not in this life, perhaps!” I replied, and placed my forehead over Baba’s feet again and began to repeat my wishful prayer all over again.          

(The writer is an Urdu poet, better known as Dr ‘Kumar’ Panipati)