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Association for Communal Harmony in Asia (ACHA) Peace & Harmony Stories from South Asia
*New Delhi: Members of the Khwaja Gharib Nawaz Council, a local Muslim group, rally to protest recent bomb blasta in Uttar Pradesh. (AFP Photo-India West, December 7, 2007)
*Muslim girl scripts 'Hanuman Chalisa' in Urdu, New Karala, September 23, 2007 http://www.newkerala.com/oct.php?action=fullnews&id=2397 Varanasi, Sep 19: Even as the Ram Setu controversy refuses to die down, a Muslim girl in this temple city, as part of her vow to streamline the secular fabric of India, has scripted the 'Hanuman Chalisa', the most sacred possession of Hanuman Bhakts, in Urdu. A bespectacled graduate in 'Medieval History' from the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith University (MGKV) here, Naznin terms her work ''not an Urdu translation of the poetic creation of Goswami Tulsidas, originally in Devanagiri script, but the first of its kind scripting of the Hanuman Bhakts handbook in Urdu.'' The Urdu 'Hanuman Chalisa', written with coloured sketch-pens, bears a picture of Lord Hanuman at the beginning and the effort is likely to be followed by the History graduate embarking on another ambitious project of scripting Tulsidas' greatest epic 'Ramcharitmanas'. The devotion to Lord Hanuman and the proximity to 'Hanuman Chalisa' for these Muslim girls owe their origins to the killer blast that rocked the Sankatmochan Temple of Lord Hanuman in the city on March 7, 2006. ''We considered it our fervent duty to join our Hindu brethren in praying for peace and communal amity in the city, which has long served as a unique model of peaceful co-existence between Hindus and Muslims. Hence, all four of us joined other members of the VBS in reciting the 'Hanuman Chalisa' at the temple on March 8, 2006, following which we felt some kind of spiritual energy in our body and soul,'' said the four Muslims girls. The girls, who have the whole hearted support of their Hindu colleagues at the VBS, including the NGO CEO Pooja, are hopeful that Naznin's effort will not be derided by the their community but accepted as an important effort to bolster the pluralistic fabric of the nation. The History scholars of the city are also praising of Naznin's exemplary effort. Dr Rajiv Dwivedi, a senior faculty of Medieval History at the MGKV told UNI, ''She has done nothing new but carried forward the work of Muslim scholars like Abdul Qadir Badayuni, who translated sacred Hindu scriptures in Persian and Arabic during the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar. The entire society, cutting across communal lines, should come forward to help this truly secular Muslim girl in actualising her dream of scripting the 'Ramcharitmanas' in Urdu.'' * A Muslim priest in Kashmir's Hindu temple, Vivek Suri, Kashnet News kashmir_news@yahoo.com , 27 June 2007 The age-old harmony between Hindus and Muslims in Kashmir is still alive and demonstrated by people like Ghulam Mohammad Shiekh, who has been performing the duties of a priest in a famous Shiva temple for the last 17 years. IN THIS MILITANCY stricken valley, where some “outsiders” are leaving no stone unturned to widen the divide between Muslims and Hindus, a Muslim has been looking after a Shiva temple for the last 17 years. By uttering verses from the Quran and shlokas from the Gita with same fluency and devotion everyday, he presents a unique example of secularism and communal harmony in Kashmir. Ghulam Mohammad Shiekh is the priest of the 92-year old Shiva temple at Gulmarg. The temple houses a Shiv Lingam and idol of Goddess Parvati. Everyday Shiekh performs all the rituals of a pujari including performing aarti and distributing prasad among devotees, who throng this ancient temple in big numbers, especially in summers when the place comes alive. For him there is no difference between “Allah” and “Bhagwan”. Being a Muslim he never forgets to perform namaz daily. How a Muslim became the “pujari” of a temple? Shiekh’s father Gulam Rasool Shiekh was the Chowkidar of the temple and he rendered his services for about 40 years. Due to militancy when Kashmiri Pandits fled Kashmir, the temple was left abandoned; Shiekh started performing the duties of a pujari. From that point of time he has been looking after all the affairs related to the famous temple. Shiekh had to pay the price for becoming the priest of temple. It was not an easy task for him. He was targeted by terrorists many a times in past, who threatened him to leave the job of priest. He was once kidnapped by the ultras, but it was his sheer good luck that he was released later on by them. About the temple This Shiva temple was actually the royal temple of Dogra kings of Jammu and Kashmir. Also known as " Rani Temple" or " Maharani Temple", this is situated on a small hillock in the centre of Gulmarg. The unique thing about this royal temple is the fact that it can be seen from all the corners of Gulmarg. The Maharani temple also known as Mohineshwar Shivalalaya was built by Mohini Bai Sisodhia, the wife of the erstwhile ruler of Kashmir Maharaja Hari Singh (the last king of Kashmir) in 1915. Mohini Bai Sisodhia was the daughter of Maharaja Mohandev of Dharampur. When the last Dogra king was spending his time in Gulmarg in his royal palace, a couple of kilometers from the temple, his queen used to come here to worship Lord Shiva. In fact, she stayed here for months and worshiped Lord Shiva in this temple. The temple remains open everyday from 6am to 9pm. Aarti is performed twice a day for devotees. * Indo-Pak tennis duo on winning streak , Indian Express, Tuesday, August 07,2007 http://www.southasianmedia.net/index_story.cfm?id=413727&category=Frontend&Country=MAIN Big win on Friendship Day: India ’s Bopanna (left) and Pak’s Aisam ul Haq Qureshi as tennis partners MUMBAI, AUGUST 6: India’s foremost partnership, Lee-Hesh, may have camped for good but India’s Rohan Bopanna and Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi have ensured that our tennis version of the Samjhauta Express is chugging along quite nicely. The pair of 27-year-olds have linked up successfully to pick their third straight doubles title over a fruitful summer, and the duo’s only pit-stops along the way have been Oriental restaurants serving Indian and Pakistani delicacies; “hot and spicy,” the two insist. For the twosome, the best bonding happens over the spontaneous joy of discovering an Indian restaurant in faraway Europe. Bopanna-Qureshi picked their career-best prize-money $125,000 ATP Challenge title in Segovia, Spain this Sunday, after twice coming up trumps in Manchester and Nottingham. And Bopanna’s jump in rankings (92) would have one believe that the grass is greener on every other court. “It’s a lonely Tour, so in doubles it helps choosing a partner who’s already a friend. We get along very well on and off the court which makes a big difference,” says Bopanna, of a partnership that was first tested at Bristol when they played a tournament in 2003, but has strengthened ever since. The duo’s maiden title came at Denver later the same year, though the triumph in Spain is rated as their biggest till date, ever since they started focusing seriously on doubles. “We’ve stayed and travelled with each other and had dinners out together —even with families. The understanding is very good. It has showed when we’ve been two match points down, and still pulled the match our way,” the Coorgi adds. ‘Shabbash’ rings intimidatingly on the courts when the two play, though away from it, they are known to relax over a round of golf or a pack of Bollywood DVDs. Qureshi lends touch to Bopanna’s booming game when their similarly strong serve-and-volley games are on view. And it’s a mixture of Urdu-Hindi which pushes them along. “The communication is fantastic,” says Qureshi, adding, “Plus we’ve learnt to make things happen on court. We both know a bit about each other’s personal lives as well, that helps.” Some eyebrows were raised when the pair started out four years ago, but the two stayed steadfast. Nationalities will matter even little as the ATP points kitty starts to swell. The duo plan to play together at the Mumbai ATP later this year, with Mahesh Bhupathi promising a wildcard in case the numbers don’t add up. “Rohan’s my best friend on the Tour and I’ll push him to do well in singles as well,” Qureshi offers as the ultimate gift, a day after Friendship Day * Muslims perform last rites of Kashmiri Pandit poet, Rediff.com, May 16, 2007 http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/may/16poet.htm Keeping the centuries-old tradition of 'Kashmiriyat' alive, hundreds of Muslims came forward to perform the last rites of a 130-year-old Kashmiri Pandit poet. Samsar Chand breathed his last on Tuesday at Achan village in south Kashmir 's Pulwama district. Chand was the lone Kashmiri Pandit residing in the village as his entire family and other fellow community members had migrated to various parts of the country following the outbreak of violence in the Valley in 1989. After hearing the news of his death, hundreds of Muslims gathered at his residence to perform his last rites. * Non-Muslim students in Lucknow pursue Islamic studies, S Ubaidur Rahman, Khabrein http://www.khabrein.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=479&Itemid=1 * Hindu trust helps Mughal emperor's kin March 30, 2007 http://www.andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=20938 This humane gesture of communal harmony comes in a year that India celebrates the 150th year of the first war of independence in 1857 - a war fought under the leadership of Zafar. Sultana Begum has set up the Bahadur Shah Zafar Memorial Trust in West Bengal, with the aim of making people aware of the contributions made by the last Mughal emperor. 'I want to spread the message of communal harmony of the last Mughal emperor among the youth,' she said. The trust will hold a poetry meet in Kolkata on April 22. She also plans to revive Zafar's famous 'Phul Walon ki Sair' (floral tour). * India : Communities strike harmony chord on Ram Navami, The Telegraph, Mar 28, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070328/asp/jamshedpur/story_7574743.asp JAMSHEDPUR : Suman Prasad does not remember the last time he celebrated Ram Navami without his neighbour Naseem Khan. Be it Dussehra, Diwali or Ram Navami, for Prasad and for all the Hindu families on Gouri Shankar Road in Jugsalai, no celebrations can be complete without their friendly Muslim neighbours. “Since 1937, local Muslims have been part of the Ram Navami celebrations here. From making flags to the procession and even distributing the prasad, Muslims here are part of it all,” said Prasad, general secretary of Sri Vishnu Seva Samiti, a small temple located in the middle of the all-Muslim colony. The temple stands out as a model for communal harmony with almost half a dozen committee members being Muslims. And it definitely is not a lone example in the city. At Dhatkidih, around 15 Muslim boys are part of the martial arts troupe in the Bajrang Akhara, a trend that has continued for generations. “It has been about 40 years now that the Muslims have been part of these celebrations,” said Azim Khan, vice-president of the state BJP minority wing, also a resident of Dhatkidih. For generations, people living in the narrow bylanes of Dhatkidih have been actively involved in the festivities. And it is not only the young. Communal love sees no age barrier. Every year, senior Muslims construct stalls and shelters to serve sherbet and cold water to the devotees. “We do not remember when it all began. All we can recall is that we have been putting up stalls on Ram Navami ever since,” said Khan. But for Mansoor Ali, president of the central mosque in Sakchi, this year’s celebrations would not be the same. “We always look forward to this day, as a small shelter is built near the mosque gate for people to take rest during the procession. But from this year the routes have changed and we will not be able to make this arrangement, nonetheless, we will put up a huge banner on the main Sakchi roundabout,” he said with enthusiasm. * India : Hindus join Muharram rally in MP town , Rediff.com, January 30, 2007 16:41 IST http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jan/30mp.htm In a unique display of solidarity between Hindus and Muslims, a large number of Hindus joined the Muharram rally in Umaria in Madhya Pradesh on Monday night, keeping alive a tradition dating back to 1882. The rally reportedly included 25,000 Hindus as part of a tradition started by Baba Madhav Singh in 1882. "Hindus in large numbers had traditionally been participating in the rally. On the night of Shahadat, thousands of Baba's devotees took part in the rally wearing green scarf on head and 'sehali' around the neck and chanting slogans. It was difficult to differentiate between Hindus and Muslims," Imambada's Mujabar Syed Ali Khan said. He said the responsibility to look after the arrangement of the Muharram rally was on Hindus. Mateshwar Durga Puja Seva Samiti's Ganesh Sachdev said all members of the Samiti contributed towards preparation of 'langar.' He recalled that Muharram and Dussehra had fallen on same dates in 1983. Both communities had celebrated the festivals together. On the one hand, Divine Mother's procession was being carried out, on the other immersion of Tazia took place. UNI * Mathura ’s Pride, India West, January 19, 2006 Mathura (PTI) - In a ceremony showcasing communal harmony, five Hindus wedded five Muslims. A priest chanted mantras as a Hindu couple exchanged garlands and a qazi read out the verses from the Quran as the bride said, “Kubool hai,” incorporating both Hindu and Muslim wedding rituals. “The aim of this novel program is not only to promote communal harmony, but also to crusade against dowry,” District Magistrate T. N. Singh said. The ceremony was organized by the Indian Welfare Society. Each couple was presented household goods worth Rs. 50,000. Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, has a tradition of communal harmony. A common wall between a mosque and Krishna temple bears testimony to the harmony and culture of this pilgrim city. *A Brahmin Who Sent a Muslim for Haj, Siraj Wahab, Arab News, December 30, 2006 http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=90497&d=30&m=12&y=2006 Mahboob Hasan's true story may seem to be an exception for those unfamiliar with the inter-faith traditions of India. To others who are acutely aware of the horrific communal riots of Gujarat in western India, in which Muslims were burned alive by Hindus, it will certainly come as a surprise. Hasan from Aurangabad in India's Maharashtra state is one of the millions of pilgrims standing shoulder-to-shoulder as Muslims here on the plains of Arafat where Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) delivered his last sermon. The standing of the pilgrims in Arafat is the climax of Haj. Hasan was able to stand here yesterday thanks to the sponsorship of a caring family back home - a family of Brahmins. Hasan's relationship with the Jagtap family began in the 1960s when he held a lowly position at Maharashtra government's Department of Cooperatives. His boss was Harishchandra Jagtap. Eventually the Jagtaps had a son by the name of Surendra and they offered Hasan a job as a nanny. It was Hasan who would take Surendra to the only English school in the city. In his late 30s, Surendra now works as an engineer in Dubai. The Jagtaps never forgot Hasan's loyalty after he retired. Mrs. Jagtap decided to send Hasan to Haj at her expense. She explained her decision to her son and reminded him of what Hasan did for him when he was a school-going boy. Surendra said he would bear all the expenses of Hasan's pilgrimage, but Mrs. Jagtap insisted she will pay and in the end she had her way. "Hearing such a story is heartening," said one journalist covering the Haj. "There are some in our society who disapprove of Muslims associating with non-Muslims in any way. In reality, we live in a global community and if the intention of one human being to another is good, then we should thank God for such a blessing." It is normal for many Indians to spend their life's savings to perform Haj, but Hasan, who was never highly paid and had barely the savings to support himself after retirement, decided at some point he simply would have to forgo his pilgrimage. However, thanks to Mrs. Jagtap's gesture, Hasan was able to perform Haj without spending money that he would need for his waning days. "How can I forget their token of affection," he was quoted as saying to his friends yesterday. "They are very nice people. Mr. Jagtap was a very nice man. He died years ago. He shared my happiness and my pain in those difficult days. They treated me as one of their own. They are my extended family and I am part of their extended family." Ten days before Hasan departed for Haj, Mrs. Jagtap died. One of the Hindu woman's last gestures was giving Hasan 300,000 rupees (about SR26,000) to pay for the trip of his lifetime. Hasan says the Jagtap family is in his prayers here in Arafat.
*Children dressed to represent different creeds of India at a Prakash Utsav of Guru Gobind Singh, in Lucknow, U. P., Hindustan Times, October 8, 2006
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