Langar System

Dear Harshji , This is a good example for many of us to reach out to the most marginalized section of our society in Delhi. There have been a lot of change to address problems of homeless and it is still improving with active and innovative ideas of Aman. It gives immense pleasure to read the brief but detail report on homeless initiatives. I would like to add some points to Aman Langar initiative. Ark is working on it (langar) in Mehrauli but with no positive development. I would like to share it with you so that you can guide Ark. We believe in happy and dignified life and that is why we are trying to influence people in Dargah Sharif (Dargah of Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki RA, Mehrauli) to distribute the langar properly. The Dargah distributes two meals (one before Zuhar Namaz for lunch and other before Maghrib Namaz for dinner). Some of the visitors at Dargah also distribute meals etc. The problem here is not with the quality of food but the system of distribution- it compromises with dignity of people receiving the langar. It is painful to see them (both male & female) standing in a Q with plates in their hands. Some of them even don’t have plate so they carry polythene bags (may be picked up from the street) to collect the langar. In the Q,, most of them push each other to reach at the distributing counter before others. Historically speaking, the langar was started in the Khankah of Baba Farid with the aim to provide food and shelter to those coming to his khankah. The dignity of the people coming for langar was very important. Its important can be seen at Khankah of N. Auliya. One of the sons of Sultan Aluddin Khalji served in Langar Khana of the Khankah of Hz. Nizamuddin Auliya. Most of the Dargahs still distribute langar but the aim has been changed- earlier it aimed to please visitors but now it has been changed to please the saint or Allah. And in the process the very purpose of langar is diluted/ or lost. It will be really good if we can come out with a system which people at Dargah can implement. The major problem with them is that they don’t want any interference. They think, they know the best and they are following the best practice & system. We need to break this notion- that they are following the best system. Thanks and regards, Shaheen