
Full of anticipation, I and my photographer friend followed Jamal through the
labyrinthine lanes of old Delhi. This was the first time I was going to enter a home in Old Delhi and the prospects were exciting me to no end. My imagination had run wild and I had painted various pictures of the supposed abode of the great man but I was in for a surprise. One unique thing about the buildings in Delhi 6 is that often when you are standing in the street, you can't look up and guess how many stories the building houses. Soon we stood in the dark staircase leading up to the residential quarters of Bhai Mian and his family. Gradually our eyes adjusted themselves and we were politely escorted by Jamal to a room where daris had been laid out to make for a comfortable seating arrangement. And to our delights, soon the God Father of Kite-Flying, Bhai Mian himself entered the room. We couldn't have asked for more. Misty-eyed, he fondly recalled his active years and, humbly pushed aside all requests to talk about the National Award he's received or the Record for which his name is registered in the Limca Book of World records with a simple "Awards to milte hain bachche, magar apne haathon se patang bana kar, us par kanne kas kar, udhaane ka jo mazaa hai, uska koi muqabala hai?"

Passion and creativity has driven this man, whose family business is Jewellery making, ever since he was a child and he has made kites in all shapes and sizes. His smallest kite 2mm long and the biggest being 400 feet in length. He takes pride in his collection of carefully crafted kites shaped to look like a peacock, a snake, various birds, and animals. His endeavour to better his previous acheivement stems from an insatiable desire to do something that has never been done before. "Koi cheez aisee udayen jo sab dekhen to kahein ki yeh to pehli baar udte hue dekhi hai."

Not only have Bhai Mian and his sons been making and flying kites, they've also been conducting kite making and flying workshops for school-children and even for the adults. Despite our fear that the popularity of kites might be on a decline in India, Bhai Mian is ever an optimist. He argues that till children are enthusiatic about kite-flying, we have nothing to fear. Kite flying is an art and, like one does in other sports, one has to take time and learn the art. On one 15th August, when Bhai Mian was still a child, his father advised him not to tie kanne of all the kites he was planning to fly at once. But being an impatient child, he still went ahead and did that and started flying the kites. Soon all his kites were lost in kite-cutting battles and he was left without any more kites to fly. His father generously bought him another batch and sat him down and talked to him. "Ek baar mein ek hi patang ke kanne baandho. Phir jab woh kat jaye to doosri patang ke kanne baandhte hue socho ki tumhari patang kyon kati. Aur phir doosri udaao." Isn't this the technique that we should be employing in everything that we do? So much of wisdom is all around us and we never ever tap it simply because we do not care to talk to each other.

Bhai Mian is now retired and usually leaves all kiting to his sons, Jamal and his brothers. At night, he can sleep peacefully because he knows that his tenaciously built legacy is safe in his sons' expert hands.

It was a pleasure once again to Meet the Street. Soon we will meet a security guard who considers the security of each member of the residential society he's stationed at as his personal responsibility. The purpose of this project is to bring to light the people you are likely to run into on the streets of Delhi and the project does not discriminate based on gender, age, social status, financial status, and anything else for that matter.
I enjoyed reading it very much.
ReplyDeleteThe kite flying,other sports and things around us teach us lot of things.We just need to imbibe those things and use it in our daily lives.
It was really a wonderful moment to meet Bhai Mian.
ReplyDeleteAt times, I am not able to digest that we really met him and got to know about eye-opening facts of Kite-flying in India.
Thoroughly enjoyed d post..
ReplyDeleteBo...kaataa.....
ReplyDeleteIf you ever plan to organize a kite flying day, count me in. I have spent thousands of hours doing this :-)
Very nice. I think I missed a post on 'Explaining the 'Meet the street' project'.
Thanks Everyone for going through and appreciating the post. This is a very special post and is very close to my heart. You do not meet such people every day. :)
ReplyDelete@Saurabh - Very true Saurabh. We can learn something from everyone. The only issue is that we never take time to talk to each other.
@VJ - It was an overwhelming experience indeed. One does not meet such people every day.
@Ankur - Thanks
@Nandan - Sure Nandan, It'll be a privilege to invite you. I didn't know you had this talent as well (Kite Flying). The post to explain Meet the Street project will follow soon.
Dear Vibha,
ReplyDeleteThis section of your blog is marvellous and your interview with Bhai Miyan (it's strange, but there is no name here)and his son is great.
Vibha Ji,
ReplyDeleteThoroughly enjoyed your blog, and specially this post.
Thanks.
Thanks Dr. Taher, Mukesh.
ReplyDeleteThere are too many marvellous people out there. We just don't know them...everyone has a story to tell...
Hi Vibha m doing a project on kite craft of delhi...can u give me contact number or address of Asif Mian or his son..their inputs wud surely b a value addition for my project
ReplyDeleteSure, Megha. Send me your contact details. I'll send you the phone number.
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of Kite Flying and m crazy about this Artistic sport. But, somehow this is being overlooked by children these days coz of video gaming.
ReplyDeleteI truly want Kite flying culture should be saved and maintained.
I winters got chance to be at New Delhi Kites Festival. Have a look at few pics shot at event
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150379163497233.363978.549842232&type=3&l=9e4cb2a11c
Hey didi,
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this post I recall every moment spent at pahargang,delhi @ every 15th august with bunty bhai, lucky bhayia, shakshi and manu. We used to fly kites since 5:30 and till evening.
Lovely to recall all that moments again.
Nice post keep going on.
Really love to read thz blog,,,,,,,,, n spl thng abt d godfather of kiteflying in india,,,,,,n his thinking abt his passion,,,,,,,,,, grt work, vibha ji,,,,
ReplyDeleteReally love to read thz blog,,,,,,,,, n spl thng abt d godfather of kiteflying in india,,,,,,n his thinking abt his passion,,,,,,,,,, grt work, vibha ji,,,,
ReplyDeletehey vibha,
ReplyDeleteThis post is amazing and the main thing is how did you represent the post and your dedication behind it. For your kind information this person has a name "Syed Mohiuddin".
Well, keep up..stay blessed...