Muslim artisan upholds 3-generation legacy of crafting Ravana effigies

“Ram Ram ji,” greets the 60-year-old Mohammad Shakeel as he carefully works on preparing a bamboo skeleton for a Ravana effigy at Hanuman Mandir in Malerkotla.

He has been carrying forward the legacy of three generations, fostering communal harmony by preparing effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnada for Dasehra. These are commissioned by the Dera Atma Ram Ram Lila Committee, Samsung Colony and other local organisations.

“I have been making these effigies, besides repairing musical instruments brought by religious organisations, since childhood when my father, Ahmed Master, used to prepare these,” said Shakeel. He added that Ahmed had himself inherited the craft from his Ustad, Zaan Mohammad. Shakeel’s nephew, Arman, is now learning the art with the intention of carrying forward the tradition into a fourth generation.

Bashiran, the widow of Ahmed, contributes by undertaking threading and stitching work for the effigies’ skeletons.

Shakeel said he takes pride in being associated with Dasehra preparations as the craft has earned him respect and affection within the Hindu community. For the rest of the year, he works as a daily wage artisan and carpenter, supplementing his income by repairing musical instruments.

“Having observed my father working for Ramlila committees on a no-profit basis for over four decades, I decided to carry forward his legacy by offering my services in the same spirit,” he explained, adding that financial gain had never been a priority for him or his father.

According to Shakeel, the cost of the effigies depends on their size and the materials used, including crackers. “Like my father, I am content with normal daily wages, which all organisers pay me happily,” he said.

Arvind Bhardwaj, an office-bearer of a Ramlila committee, said that the family’s gesture had gone a long way in strengthening communal harmony in Malerkotla, a Muslim-majority city that is home to diverse communities.

“ Shakeel’s bond is not just limited to Ramlila and Dasehra, he happily joins shobha yatras and nagar kirtans with his musical tongs,” Bhardwaj said, recalling that the family had been engaged in the preparation of effigies for more than five decades.