Fathers' Day 2017 - Dawoodmama (Uncle Dawood) in the 1970s Nadiad, Gujarat, India

                                                                              Dawood mama!! (Uncle Dawood) 

I am glad that sometime back, someone posted this old picture of Dawood mama on Facebook. This gentleman, Dawood mama lived in Gujarat State of India where I was born and also where I lived during the early years of my life. He was not related to me, nor was he even married, nor did he have any children but I have few sweet memories of him and I am sure many others have similar memories of him too. So I want to talk about him on this Fathers' Day. He was a joyful man of prayer, was kind, compassionate and helpful. I am talking about the 1970s.

Yes, Dawood mama had a heart full of joy! He loved God, sang about Jesus, loved the children and was helpful to people in the community.  Many notorious youngsters used to tease him calling him names, his name was Dawood (David) but they teased him calling him Dawood "tapeli" (pot), but for me and few others he will always be Dawood mama!

Dawood mama and his elder brother Uncle Joseph were orphans, in Nadiad, Gujarat, India, and they were raised by missionaries in the 50s and 60s. Those missionaries eventually left. We saw uncle Joseph in wheelchair always and the story goes that when uncle Joseph was an able electrician, he had climbed an electric pole for some repair work and some naughty ones turned the switch on, which caused uncle Joseph have a shock, fall down and he got paralyzed. Dawood mama looked after him too. Dawood mama used to do menial work and especially quilting work for people and infact any other housework. He would go house to house and sew rajaai (Quilts) for families. He looked so full of joy even as he walked around he sang; he loved to sing hymns all the time; even as he did his work with his whole heart; even when he knew he was teased; he would stand up to the bullies, but not fight back, it used to hurt him. I felt bad for him. Some good elders would confront those bullies and tell them to stop bullying Dawood mama. I was glad someone would stand up to the bullies because Dawood mama was gentle and kind hearted and I liked seeing him happy and singing. See the photo up here? No matter who was getting married, he would dance with joy like this! 

One incident that I remember happened in the mid 70s when my brother and two of us sisters lived on our own, some time of the year as our parents were abroad. One week Dawood mama came and stayed at our house to do the quilting work. I was so happy to see him joyful, singing, telling us stories and working. He would read the Bible and pray for us and with us. One weekend on a Friday, my sister wanted to leave my brother and me at home and go to our village to stay for the weekend on the farm house with our granny and her friends. Dawood mama did not think it wise and necessary for her to travel alone and leave us young kids back by ourselves as well. He too had errands to run for others. Dawood mama was aware of the danger on both sides. So he requested her to not go but she was adamant. After so many requests, Dawood mama warned her that if she left he was going to go to the terrace and pray that the only and very transit bus going to the village that evening, will get spoilt so she would not be able to go. As a small kid I laughed to see as to who was serious in what was going on. Lo and behold, at about 5pm my sister went to the bus station and I smiled as I saw Dawood mama go to our terrace to pray on his knees; I peeped and saw him crying out to God. And in few minutes he came back wiping his eyes full of tears. In an hour or so, my sister came back home disappointed but laughing, because the transit bus had got spoilt and she and all the passengers were told to get off the bus; she could not go. We all laughed as Dawood mama firmly said, "See how God answered my prayers? Did I not tell you I was going to pray precisely for that and that you will not be able to go? There are some risks beta (child), not worth taking!" (what a kind man!)

This man must have died long time ago because I never heard of him after I left India in the late 70s. But his sweet memories are fresh in my mind every time I think of him. His smiling face, making people smile, always joyful, rejoicing, praying, and helping people with sewing work, quilting and any other work that was available. He sang well and did not care if people thought he was out of his mind. When so many people teased him with funny names, he would feel bad, stand up to them but also entrust his case in the hands of the One who judges justly, who cares for the orphans, widows and the foreigners.  What a remarkable character! on this Fathers' Day I want to thank God for this kind good man, Dawood mama, who took care for us even for those few days and exemplified what truly good godly men are like. Thanking God for Dawood mama's life, for his beautiful soul, and his joyful, helpful nature. May God raise many a Dawood mama in today's world!

Happy Father's Day to all godly men, caring fathers, and such characters who show us that the world is a safe place because of them. And there are women too who take on the role of both parents, we thank God for them too. 

In Christ,

Kalpana Christian Sharma (Mrs.) 

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