Living without locks

Satish Bellakki

Twenty-four years ago, when newlywed Aadambi arrived at her in-laws’ house in Dawal Malik, a village in Karnataka’s Gadag district, she was taken aback. Her house did not have a door!

The question of safety and privacy haunted her for many weeks. “I spent weeks wondering how I would sleep without a door to protect myself from the outside world. However, in time, I started adapting to the new environment and came to appreciate the significance of a village without doors. Now, whenever I visit my relatives’ houses, which have doors, I feel claustrophobic. The concept of houses without doors has been deeply ingrained in my values now,” she adds.

Today, Aadambi lives in one of the largest houses in the village. Neither did her old house have a door, nor does the renovated one. Her experience is not unique. In fact, the majority of the 100 houses in Dawal Malik do not have doors, a tradition that defines the identity of this unusual hamlet.

Located some 23 km from the district headquarters of Gadag, Dawal Malik has, over the years, become a symbol of trust. What may sound like a fictional setting — a village without doors — is an everyday reality here.

Faith and legend

Most houses, whether old or newly constructed, remain open. Residents live without locks or latches and do not find it necessary to question the absence of doors. When asked why this is so, the elders of the village offer a belief that is as simple as it is profound. “We do not need doors to protect our homes. Our faith is our protection. This village has been blessed by Hazrat Dawal Malik, a Sufi saint, and we have trust in him,” explains Noor Ahmed Mujawar, a local resident.

The roots of this remarkable tradition stretch back 700 to 800 years. It is believed that the village’s ancestors were of tribal origin, who followed a variety of religious beliefs. Their lives changed when they encountered Hazrat Dawal Malik, a wandering Sufi who travelled south from northern India, riding a horse. According to legend, the saint meditated for 40 days on a nearby hillock.

Before departing, Dawal Malik is said to have blessed the land and its people, proclaiming that the village would always be protected from theft and that any visitor who came with sincere faith would have their wishes fulfilled. This blessing, passed down through oral tradition, has endured for generations. The villagers still believe that it is this divine promise that safeguards their homes, even when they travel far from the village.

Dawal Malik for Spectrum use only.

In reverence to Dawal Baba, the community built a dargah on the very hillock where he is said to have meditated. True to the spirit of the tradition, even this sacred structure has no door. The shrine holds significance not only for Muslims but also for Hindus and Christians who journey to the village to offer prayers. Pilgrims come from neighbouring districts and even from other states like Kerala and Maharashtra.

Without crime

Remarkably, despite the steady stream of visitors, the dargah has never been marred by theft or pickpocketing. The village itself remains untouched by crime, a fact that residents attribute entirely to the saint’s blessings.

“Miscreants, to test the powers of Dawal Malik, have committed theft and left the place, only to return and hand over the stolen property as they started facing hardships and miseries. The miscreants beg for our forgiveness after realising their mistake. We ask them to seek the blessings of Dawal Baba. Only he can forgive them and undo the curse,” says Abdul Razak Mujawar, a village elder.

A woman stands in front of her doorless home in Dawal Malik. 

With a population of around 1,000 people, including 65 families, mostly Muslim, belonging to Mujawar clan. The families have the right to perform rituals at the Dargah. Agriculture and trade form the economic backbone of the settlement. Nearly 48 acres of land surrounding the dargah are divided among the families, who share farming duties and produce collectively.

Beyond agriculture, villagers also follow a unique religious duty. Every week, one family takes charge of the dargah, performing rituals and overseeing the shrine. Donations received during that week are given to the family on duty, creating a rotation that blends spiritual service with communal support 

A community-constructed dargah dedicated to Hazrat Dawal Malik a Sufi saint.

As the number of devotees visiting the dargah has grown steadily, the community has taken steps to enhance the shrine’s infrastructure. In 2016, the Hazrat Dawal Malik Trust was established, which invested Rs 70 lakhs in improving the facilities. Prior to that, in 1997, the Nava Jawan Committee had led efforts to modernise the village, including the construction of a new Urdu school for local children.

“There are no written records of the history of Dawal Malik or the village. What we know has been passed down orally from generation to generation,” says Abdul Hamid Mujawar. “We hope to compile this history into a book one day,” he says. Today, villagers continue to live with a quiet hope that the legacy of faith, trust, and open-door living will not be forgotten.

(Translated from Kannada by Pavan Kumar H)