If every one agrees on this attitude we can have world peace.
Just play your part of drama and get out.
It’s business beyond religion
J.S. Ifthekhar
HYDERABAD: He takes care of the spiritual needs, whatever be the occasion. Visit him in happiness and grief. And you are seldom disappointed.
Be it gruha pravesam, bhoomi pooja, Satyanarayana vratham or a death in the family, he is the man to rely on.
His cloth store in Esamia Bazar is the one-stop shop for all pooja and funerary objects. That is Mohd. Azam Shariff for you.
At a time when people are divided on religious lines, Mr. Azam is catering to the Hindu faith. And over the years, he won over the confidence of devout Hindus.
Doesn’t he think it odd that a Muslim should be selling pooja material? “Not at all. It is a business like any other. After all, manava seva is madhava seva,” pat comes the reply.
The tale
In the congested bazar near the Santoshi Mata temple, Azam’s shop is well known. Babulal Sait is how he is popularly known here. And thereby hangs a tale. It was actually his father, Mohd. Shariff, who established the shop 100 years ago and sold caps.
Later, it was converted into a cloth store. Much later, Mr. Azam’s elder brother, Abdul Hakim, started selling pooja and funerary material and the tradition continued. “Some call me Babu Sait and some Babulal Sait. I don’t mind,” he says, nonchalantly.
Unique ceremonies
In keeping with his line of work, Mr. Azam is conversant with many different and unique funeral ceremonies. “There are variations according to sect, region, caste and family traditions. It is important that all these are remembered,” he says.
His customers come from all over the city. The unique thing about him is that he doesn’t need much explaining. Just tell him what the occasion is and he delivers the required goods. If it is a funeral order, he knows what to give for Hindus of different regions and castes. “Certain items like sandalwood, rose water, bamboo, grass and pots are common,” he reels out.
Other traditions
He also supplies kafan for Muslims and funerary items for Christians and Sikhs. But, it is pooja and arati material that he sells in large numbers. Who said religion can’t be a unifying force? Ask Azam.