Zooni’s Alarm Clock is a fictional picture book about upholding the age-old tradition of human alarm clocks during the Islamic holy month of Ramzan, by giving it a modern twist. Also known as ‘Seher Khans’, these drummers walk the streets of their town beating a drum to sound an alarm for the pre-dawn meal consumed by fasting Muslims during Ramzan. Bud Bab, Zooni and Iqbal’s grandfather, lovingly known as Altaf Miyan, has worked as a human alarm for forty years. One unfortunate morning, immediately preceding the first day of Ramzan, Altaf Miyan’s commitment towards his community is threatened when he discovers a tear on the drumhead while retrieving it from the attic. Mol, Altaf Miyan’s son, immediately takes the drum to a repair shop, despite his dismissal of his father’s vocation because battery operated alarm clocks are so common. Sadly, the drum won’t be fixed for a week. Fortunately for Bud Bab, Zooni has a pulse on her grandfather’s sense of responsibility and the accompanying worry about letting down the community on the first day of Ramzan. So, she comes up with the ingenious idea of substituting the drum with Iqbal, her beatboxer brother. Not only does her plan succeed, but it also kills two birds with one stone. The tradition of human alarms is not compromised until Bud Bab is in possession of a drum again, and Zooni’s family finds some respite from Iqbal’s incessant beatboxing. Set in Kashmir, this delightful story ends on a happy and hopeful note. The townsfolk give Altaf Miyan a brand-new drum before Mol brings back the repaired old drum. Having accepted the gift from the community, Altaf lets his son keep his old drum. It is then that we see a glimpse of Mol, finally, warming up to the idea of drumming. Perhaps, the gift of a drum from the community restores Mol’s faith in the tradition his father had been carrying forward so ardently.
The book is a welcome addition to the rapidly growing array of books for children in India; it stays clear of the trap of tokenism. The plot and characters come together to convey an endearing tale. Pankaj’s vibrant illustrations paint an appealing picture of the entire narrative. Suitable for readers between 5 and 10 years, the book introduces children to a fascinating tradition which has survived in Kashmir valley even today. At the same time, the plot nudges young readers to consider the impact of technological advancement on certain individuals’ and communities’ way of life. A short exercise included in the end pages provides an introduction to different categories of musical instruments and asks readers to classify a few of them.
Here, one wishes the exercise was focused on deepening children’s awareness of similar traditions from their own and many other communities in India, instead of focusing on musical instruments.
Radhika Chhaparia has obtained an MA in Education from Azim Premji University, Bengaluru. During the academic years 2020-2023, she worked at Center for Learning (CFL) school, near Bengaluru.