The Sweepers: Fighting Centuries Old Isolation [Archives:2000/38/Culture]

Part 3 of 3
Prepared by:-
Mohammad Noaman Al-Hakimi, Taiz
Iskandar Dawood, Sanaa
Education
Their childrens joining schools was also detested and that is why sweepers mostly remained illiterate. It is the high illiteracy rate within sweepers which bred a state of lawlessness in their life. They become criminals.
If at schools they never go beyond primary classes. It is not their parents financial problems alone which hinders continuation of their education; but it is their earnest desire to see their siblings at work at early age.
In the past, at schools, sweeper students were first excluded temporarily, then permanently, then they would go on long authorized absence at their parents behest. Finally they used to be cleansed. But today some sweeper male and female students could be seen at secondary classes, institutes and faculties particularly in the southern sector. In rare cases they could be seen holding the post of clerks or secretaries. Their joining computer class should not be a surprise.
However, it is felt that had the primary-preparatory-secondary system of education been compulsory, sweepers sons and daughters would never be found scattered, begging in streets.
Marriage
In the past, and even today, they are used to marry within their own society. Because during those days the dowry used to be cheap, they became polygamous. Cases of divorce were rampant. Children population was high. Today the situation is different. Although centuries old discrimination prevented sweepers from marrying in societies other than their own
The only difference in sweepers society is between their educated and illiterate spouses. Dowry has now shot up resulting in monogamy. Price hikes have encouraged adoption of family planning; subsequently children population rate has dropped.
Within their own society they used to get involved in sodomy, prostitution, adultery and orgy. In the face of deprived life, and perhaps their rootlessness they felt themselves open more than any other societies. Today things are changed. They detest prostitution and the like within their society.
Pet Owners
They liked to own pets like cats and dogs but they never cared to keep them clean. They used to sleep with them. In remote areas they liked to keep donkeys and camels also. Today, this hobby seems to have vanished mainly because going through preventive measures to void animal diseases costs.
Hunger & Poverty
What ails you?, I asked an illiterate adolescent who was too frank to answer expressing her anguish by saying We cant continue our education.. We cant find decent jobs whereas our problem is hunger and hunger and hunger. Pointing to her stomach she yelled: For the sake of this, we do anything, everything
The Mulattos
Look into her face carefully. Safiya does not look to be a sweeper. Her father should have come from the higher society while her mother is a sweeper. Had Safiya been a legal daughter she would have been living with her father; but now she could be seen begging near any traffic signal light. With her charm and pranks she fetches more money than her friends. Of course, if married, her dowry would be higher. Such, rare cases could still be found within sweepers society today.
Sweepers Servants
At public coffee shops and restaurants and qat-lodgings, sweepers are served like ordinary citizens. There is no discrimination at all.
Modern Names
Sweepers these days prefer to use modern names than the old Islamic ones. Females bear names like Leena, Liza, Elwin, Deena, Luna, etc. while males carry names such as Fares, Sameer, etc. Old female names like Fatima, Haleema, Joomaa, Karamah or male names like Muhammed, Ahmed, Saleh, Ali are no longer in use. Is it a sign of change? Will change in names, change their life too?
Sweepers Are Not Alone
If sweepers are low-cast, the curse hunts butchers and barbers also. We do not know what would happen if barbers close down and butchers shift to another job. However people detest marrying their daughters or sons to barbers or butchers families. History proves that the sweepers, barbers, butchers, and shoe-makers were always present everywhere and anywhere. That butchers and barbers think themselves higher than sweepers is quite a separate issue.
Who Is The Lord?
In their own localities sweepers could be seen disputing each other for a simple but deep-rooted problem. Imagine a sweeper throwing his litter near the house of his sweeper neighbor. Why you love lording it over me? is a serious question. It is it an admittance they within themselves sweepers need the services of their brethren sweepers?
Love Market
See her seducing her prey.
She is well-dressed, smelling good with her high quality perfume; but she is wrapped in her Balto the black veil . Her face is covered with a scarf (called Khimar). Through it, from a slit you can see her naughty eyes inviting you. Her hands are enveloped in gloves. Her black stockings cover her feet and leg. Is she white? Is she black?
She is playing the role of a call girl. The theater is a dark corner of a selected street where love market is practiced.
Give her a lift and the deal is 100 percent perfect. Pay her in cash in the first instance. Then get shocked to see a black face seated in your luxurious cars back seat. Under the dim light of your car you can now see your dream girl . Her simple make-up. Her rouge lip-stick and face-powder only.
You are at choice now…either accept her or throw her out of your car. You both are in a dark area, far away from the eyes of security men.
This is a source of earning which usually ends up with a skirmish; but the girl is too brave to fight a psychologically weak man who does not like to go to the police station.
Butterflies
You can find young or divorced sweeper girls at Aden night clubs. They master western dances with music. You are at liberty to choose them amongst the many local and other areas attractive butterflies.
Made In Yemen
Sweeper settlements are famous for preparing a special local-made brewery called Baladi. Hygienically, it is harmful but liquor-addict citizens with low income, like it. The brewers claim that it is prepared from fruits; but that is not true. This business fetches a very good income to sweepers who now possess stone-made houses and cars to transport their product from one place to another. They have special links with policemen to avoid raids. In Aden one .75-litre-Shamlan-bottle costs YR.200.
Baladi prepared in Aden and neighboring provinces is quite different from that brewed in Mukalla. It is said to be strong and hygienic. Soviet experts used to exchange two bottles of vodka against one bottle of made-of-dates Mukalla baladi.
Face To Face With Islah
Skirmishes between sweepers who deal in baladi and Reform (Islah) members sometimes develops into armed clashes. On one occasion hand grenades and guns were used; but the outcome is always in favor of baladi manufacturers who master the art of sopping security men in their particular areas.
Beggars Under Our Very Nose
For reasons known to everyone of us, we give alms to poor and the needy persons. As long as these reasons exist, sweepers will continue to be beggars.
Sweepers Under British Rule In Former Aden Colony, then Aden State
In different parts of the 75-square-mile former Aden Colony sweepers used to live in Bunder Gadeed area in Steamer Point (Tawahi), Hafat al-Akhdam (Sweepers Locality) in Maalla Kutcha area (where, then licensed brothels were operative) and also another locality near Maalla Stadium. In Crater area, they were settled in Khusaf Valley. There was not any gathering-place for them in Khormaksar area. In Sheikh Othman they lived in one or two main settlements. Then Al-Mimdara became their headquarters. Little Aden (Bureika) also had a settlement at (Bureika al-Farsi) area. The neighboring Dar Sad a part of the then Abdali Sultanate was overcrowded with sweepers.
A visitor to Aden can still see the British-time-made Sweepers Quarters in Khusaf Valley.
Sweepers were allowed to join State-run schools. Their girls had to put scarves on their head in the light of the increasing complaints received from citizens on lice which used to creep or fly from female sweeper students to their daughters heads.
Male and female sweepers were officially employed at all government departments and the British Middle East Commands various branches such as the MPBW, the Navy etc.in the post of cleaners in different grades and salary scales. Some were accepted as messengers (peons) or watchmen (chawkidars). Their uniform used to give them a special look but they would use them as a life-long attire.
Sweepers Under The Red Flag
They took part in the struggle against colonization not because they wanted to do so; but they were seduced with funds. Their presence in the various branches of the British Middle East Command eased planting time-bombs. They were promised with positions in the to-be liberated South. Indeed they became partners in the ruling National Liberation Fronts first Peoples Republic of South Yemen (PRSY) which then changed into the People Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY). Of course they did not occupy key posts but headed many of the different committees of the former NLF then UNFPO (Unified National Front Political Organization) and finally the YSP ( todays Yemeni Socialist Party).
The second president of the former PDRY, Salem Robaya Ali, was akhdams liberator. He made sweepers dream come true through lifting their status as his rule was claimed to have been for the have-nots. It is during his rule that sweepers found themselves in a strong position to chant: On on you go Salmeen; we are no more sweepers.
On death, some hero sweepers coffin were lowered down into their last resting place wrapped in the State flag!
Here also male and female sweepers were officially employed at all government departments in the post of cleaners, watchmen and messengers in different grades and salary scales. Defense, Health and Education ministries used to absorb lots of them.
Sweepers were also posted in the Army and the Peoples Militia and joined the compulsory conscription as well the General Reserve Training. Some held key posts at the Ministry of Defense and also the Ministry of Interior. Truly, their standard of living did change.
Not much known Mimdara, in Sheikh Othman, became their main settlement where family quarters were constructed for them with water and electricity, schools and markets.
During August, 1972 when the former PDRY witnessed nationalization of houses, sweepers became owners of some of the nationalized houses which were more than what they expected.
It is not wonder to learn that Aden then witnessed a modern class of sweepers. A Nasser who was a dresser at a State-run clinic was promoted to Ward in-charge. Aasma became a trained and licensed mid-wife. Haleema became an assistant at the physiotherapy section of the former Queen Elizabeth Hospital (now Republican Educational Hospital). Her sister Suad became a nurse. Nagat was appointed a teacher at a State-run preparatory school. In other parts of the former southern Yemen sweepers became teachers and informants beside their being at the Defense and Interior.
In the former PDRY southern sector, foreign cleaners from Bangla Desh, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan were signed on contracts to replace the local sweeper labor force for two reasons. The first was to improve the status of sweepers by moving them to other jobs. The other reason was to get rid of their excessive demands and repeated threats to go on strike demanding better salaries and allowances. In the northern part also foreign sweepers services were hired but local sweepers were rendered jobless.
In Aden we heard of a new category of sweepers who were then known as jackals. Their job was to inspect all open sewers at night and with purpose to fill them with stones or bottles. Families would then complain of blockage. None but sweepers could clear the blockage; thus a source of lucrative living was found; but this did not last longer.
Providing the sweepers with quarters, education, water and electricity brought an automatic change in their life.

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