Interview with Ibrahim Kahn

(Q1) INTERVIEWER: What's the name of this place?

(A1) IBRAHIM KHAN: It is in the market place and its name is Telia Masjid.

(Q2) INTERVIEWER: Why is it called that?

(A2) IBRAHIM KHAN: Members of the teli caste live here predominately, that's why.

(Q3) INTERVIEWER: What do people do after going to the mosque?

(A3) IBRAHIM KHAN: First, they perform vazoo . Vazoo means that people wash their hands and feet. After that comes namaaz and people first read the sunnat. Namaaz takes place five times a day in our mosques. The fazir namaaz takes place in the morning, then there is the johar namaaz at midday . Next, at 5:00 pm is Asar namaaz. Next, there is the namaaz of magarib. Then the Isa namaaz .

(Q4) INTERVIEWER: How is namaaz performed?

(A4) IBRAHIM KHAN: It is a form of exercise (yoga). After that they go home.

(Q5) INTERVIEWER: Could you please tell us something about life here?

(A5) IBRAHIM KHAN: Well, what do you want to know about (in what respect do you want to know)--social service, religious serve or what?

(Q6) INTERVIEWER: Tell us simply about life here.

(A6) IBRAHIM KHAN: What about life here? (I see) you want to know about historical things. Our Arampur is a very ancient place. You can see the fort of our first king-- Vicitra . After him came Bakhtiyar Khilji , of the Khilji dynasty whose tomb you can see here. Next, if you consider the area of religion, then the placeof Hazarat Maqdum Surraimtallah is here. His mazar. Next if you head in the direction of ---then you can the mazaar of Hazrat Sabir Suramtullah. These saints came one after the other and people lead their lives according to their precepts. The lifestyle here is simple. People are simpleminded. There is not much education around here. It is a very backward area.