The woman who keeps Ramzan time with a cannon

In the heart of Ajmer, the constant bustle and buzz of devotees at Ajmer Sharif Dargah is periodically broken by an unusual sound. It may catch visitors by surprise, but regulars at the shrine and people in the city at large know the unmistakable boom of Fauzia Khan’s cannon, which she has been firing off to mark the beginning of important occasions. With Ramzan under way, she’ll be at it again, diligently fulfilling a labour of love that has earned her the moniker, ‘Topchi’.

Every year during the Urs of Khawaja Garib Nawaz, every Friday before Jumma prayers, and through Ramzan, 37-year-old Fauzia fires the ceremonial cannon from the Dargah complex. The blast announces Sehri and Iftar timings and signals prayer hours, continuing a tradition that predates modern clocks and loudspeakers. “ Ye ibadat ka kaam hai, zimmedaari bhi hai aur samman bhi (This is an act of worship, a responsibility and also an honour),” Fauzia says.

Dressed in a long kurta, her face covered with a dupatta to shield herself from smoke and sparks, Fauzia prepares the cannon with precision. The tradition dates back to the Mughal era. Emperor Akbar is believed to have introduced it to manage prayer timings during large religious events, especially the Urs and Ramzan. Fauzia learned the work early. She was eight when she began assisting her father, Mohammad Hafeez Khan. “Abba trusted me. He taught me the science, the respect, the devotion behind it,” she says.

When her father died in 2008, many assumed the responsibility would pass to a male relative. Instead, Fauzia stepped forward. Dargah officials accepted her claim, and Ajmer saw its first woman artillery keeper. “There were people who said this was not a woman’s job,” she recalls. “But I had grown up doing it.”

During Ramzan, her day begins around 2am. She cleans the cannon, prepares the gunpowder, and positions herself on the terrace. The first blast signals Sehri and is followed up by a second to mark the end of eating time. At sunset, the cannon fires again for Iftar.

The cannon Fauzia uses today weighs about 35kg and is handheld — a safer version of the older, 53kg wheeled cannon used before Independence. Fauzia’s family follows a rotation system. She performs the duty for two consecutive years, followed by a year when it’s handled by her cousin. She receives Rs 1,500 during Ramzan — an amount she says barely covers the cost of gunpowder. Often, she meets the expenses out of her own pocket. To earn a living, she runs a small tea-and-snack stall. “People think I probably get a lot of respect and money. I do get respect, but not money,” she smiles.

She has received no formal recognition from govt or religious institutions. Her only wish, she says, is to perform Umrah (visit Mecca) and receive acknowledgement for her service.

The strongest opposition she has faced came from within her extended family. Yet, she has never stepped away — not even on the day her father died. “His body was at home,” she says. “But the cannon had to be fired. Duty comes first. I knew he would want that.”

She also says that she doesn’t believe in roles, or symbols. “Roles do not belong to men or women. They belong to those who do them with sincerity. I am not doing this for feminism. I am fighting for tradition. And tradition is stronger when it includes everyone.”
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