The Hindu : On Haj at 125

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 28, 2003

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On Haj at 125

Jaipur Dec. 27. Clad in salwar-kameez and donning a white cap, toothless Habib Miyan at 125 is all set to create a record of sorts for being the world's oldest person to proceed on Haj pilgrimage this year.

Mr. Habib appeared jubilant as his enthusiastic neighbours, wishing him a safe journey, followed him up to the bus terminal at Ramgarh Mod on the city outskirts, from where he will be taken to Delhi by road to fly to Saudi Arabia.

Accompanied by his 90-year-old daughter-in-law, Munni Begum, and two grandsons — Mahmood (50) and Chhuttan (40) — the centenarian said: "I will pray for peace."

His long-pending wish came true after a British businessman of Indian origin, Aizaz Ahmed, financed his pilgrimage.

Habib had retired from the royal band of the erstwhile Jaipur State in 1938. According to his great grandsons, after independence, he also worked briefly as "`waterman" in the Education Department and has been receiving a small amount of money as pension from the erstwhile state as well as the State Government.

Though an official document records his date of birth as May 20, 1878, Habib, a clarinet player, claims he was 10 years old when Nawab Faiyyaz Ali of Aligarh died while on a state visit to Jaipur. The Nawab had died 124 years ago. His wife and three sons died long ago. — UNI

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