Composite Culture | SabrangIndia News Related to Human Rights Fri, 12 Dec 2025 10:45:46 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://sabrangindia.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Favicon_0.png Composite Culture | SabrangIndia 32 32 Bettina Bäumer’s Inclusive Philosophy Is What We Need in Such Times https://sabrangindia.in/bettina-baumers-inclusive-philosophy-is-what-we-need-in-such-times/ Fri, 12 Dec 2025 10:45:46 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=44956 Her autobiography is a rare account of a woman’s journey in the deepest sense from Europe to India; from Christianity, both Protestant and Catholic, to the Philosophy of Recognition or Pratyabhijñā, popularly called Kashmir Śaivism.

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One of the most memorable moments of the year was speaking on a panel for the launch of Bettina Bäumer’s autobiography, The Light in-between: A Journey of Recognition. Held on October 31 under the energetic personal supervision of Austrian Ambassador, Katharina Wieser – whose husband (a former professor of Tibetology) had been one of Bettina Bäumer’s students at the University of Vienna – the event opened with a meditative rendering of Rāga Kedar on the Indian cello by Saskia Rao-de Haas, evocative of the conversation between Śaṅkara and the Devī in Vijñāna Bhairava.

This autobiography is a rare account of a woman’s journey in the deepest sense from Europe to India; from Christianity, both Protestant and Catholic, to the Philosophy of Recognition (Pratyabhijñā), popularly called Kashmir Śaivism.

THE LIGHT IN-BETWEEN: A journey of Recognition, Bettina Sharada Bäumer, Aryan Books International, 2025.

It belongs to the genre of women’s spiritual biography shaped by cultural encounter. Others in this lineage include Peter Heehs’ The Mother: A Life, on Sri Aurobindo’s spiritual collaborator, Mira Alfassa; Jacqueline Chambron’s, Lilian Silburn, A Mystical Life; Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, the Tibetan Buddhist nun’s, Cave in the Snow; and the Diaries of Alice Boner. 

The autobiography intimates many journeys:

1) Childhood and survival under a Nazi regime

One of the most moving parts of her story is the account of being a half Jewish child under Nazism. Her father, Eduard, was Protestant (later became Catholic) and her mother, Valerie, was of Jewish origin, but registered herself as “Protestant Christian.” Foreseeing danger – Eduard had read Mein Kampf early – they moved from Frankfurt to Salzburg in 1933. Austria’s annexation in 1938 closed off escape routes.

The Bäumers were artists, but their elder daughter, Angelica was called a “bastard” at school. Her description of being dragged out of class by two Gestapo men as children shouted “bastard, bloody Jew,” while the teacher stood paralysed, chillingly illustrates the everyday complicity that enables fascist violence.

In 1943 her mother left three-year-old Bettina in the village of Grossarl, in the care of a Catholic priest, Father Linsinger and his cook, Kaisermama for nearly six months. Beautiful photographs in the book document this improbable refuge.

Valerie returned to Salzburg but visited Bettina periodically. When their family doctor warned her that she and her children were on a list to be deported to Auschwitz, Valerie fled with her two older children. After an arduous refugee-train journey and a 16-km mountain walk carrying a few bundles they reached Grossarl, where Valerie worked on a farm until the end of the war. In 1985 Bettina visited Father Linsinger, reconnecting, as she writes, “from soul to soul.” He thanked her for allowing him to serve them.

2) Journeys between Christianity and Hinduism

A young Bettina studied at the Universities of Vienna and Rome. Two Christian scholar-theologians shaped her spiritual path and also the Christian world: Raimon Panikkar (1918-2010) and Swami Abhishiktānanda (Henri Le Saux, 1910-1973). Conferences on both, organised by Bäumer, remain among my special intellectual experiences. These figures were leading lights in the Church’s turn toward religious pluralism signalled by Vatican II and its landmark declaration Nostra Aetate (1969), which, for the first time, acknowledged multiple truths across religions.

Panikkar, son of a Hindu father from Kerala and a Catalan Catholic mother, joined Opus Dei in 1940. It was an authoritarian organisation which later expelled him for disobedience. Incorporated in 1946 in the Diocese of Varanasi, he studied Sanskrit and Indian philosophy at BHU and Mysore, taught in Varanasi, lived simply, dressed in dhoti and sandals. Rebellious in temperament, he even married at 73, defying clerical celibacy.

Panikkar famously said: “I left Europe (for India) as a Christian, I discovered I was a Hindu and returned as a Buddhist without ever having ceased to be a Christian.” He refused notions of mixed identity: “I am not half Spanish and half Indian…but fully Western and fully Eastern.” In Santa Barbara his Easter service involved blessing the five elements – earth, air, water, fire, and space – along with all forms of life before celebrating the Eucharist. He celebrated a Cosmotheandric vision viewing cosmos (world), theos (God), anthropos (human) as interconnected.

Bäumer travelled to Rome via Assisi, where she studied with him. Panikkar taught her meditation and “converted” her, urging her to surrender her “little self” to the Divine. Their collaboration later produced The Vedic Experience: Mantramañjarī, which Panikkar metaphorically called an immersion in the “Ganga of the Veda.”

As Come Carpentier de Gordon observed, Panikkar moved beyond a conception of western ecumenism as a dialogue restricted to the three Abrahamic religions. He refused to deny the Vedic gods and asked, “Why should we decide whether they are gods?” He emphasised cross-fertilisation of cultures and enrichment through the other. 

Inspired by the Bhakti tradition of the Marathi saint-poets, Tukaram, Jñaneśvar, Namdev and Eknath, Panikkar and Bäumer made a pilgrimage to Alandi, Jñāneśvar’s samādhi.

In Rome, Panikkar had given her The Hermits of Saccidānanda, by Abhishiktananda and Jules Monchanin. After reading it she travelled to India in 1963 to meet Swami Abhishiktānanda at Shantivanam. A late encounter with Ramana Maharshi had transformed him; the Upaniṣads, he wrote, revealed Christianity’s deepest truths. After Abhishiktānanda attained mahāsamādhi in 1973, his disciple Marc Chaduc (Ajātānanda) entered ten years of silence. Bäumer wrote movingly of him as her guru-bhāi, describing his aspiration toward the sahasrāra and the self-luminous Puruṣa (svaprakāśa) recorded in his diary.

Both Panikkar and Abhishiktānanda insisted she complete her academic studies before returning to India again.

3) Journey from Veda to Tantra, 1965 onwards

The book offers a vivid portrait of Banaras – and of another India. Two women profoundly shaped Bäumer’s path: Alice Boner and Lilian Silburn.

Swiss artist and art historian Alice Boner (1889–1981) lived in Banaras from 1936. She collaborated with Bäumer on texts of Vāstuśāstra, Śilpaśāstra, and the temples of Odisha. Boner wrote of her Indian adventures in Indian dance; Indian sacred sculpture; and Indian temple architecture. Alice Boner’s mystical experience at Ellora’s Kailāsanātha temple left an indelible mark.

Shortly before her death she placed a shawl on Bäumer’s shoulders saying, “You are my daughter.”

Bäumer lived in Boner’s stone house on Assi Ghat for twenty years. It became the venue for early workshops on Kashmir Śaivism—including on her translation of two chapters of the Netra Tantra—the site of my first workshop with her in 2013.

Lilian Silburn, French Indologist and mystic, studied with Swami Lakshman Joo (as did André Padoux). She wrote what Bäumer considers the finest commentary on the Vijñāna Bhairava. She referred to the intuitive search for the source of yantra and mantra and of a secret doctrine passed from master to disciple known by persons such as  Swami Lakshman (Joo) of Srinagar.

Baumer with a slide of Swami Lakshman Joo in the background, at the Austrian Embassy, October 2025. Photo: By arrangement.

Banaras was also home to Gopinath Kaviraj, whose scholarship revived tantra studies. He told Bäumer that Kashmir Śaivism is the culmination of Indian thought. Among his students were Pandit H. N. Chakravarty, who took Bäumer to meet Swami Lakshman Joo in 1986, and Jaideva Singh, renowned scholar of the philosophy of Kashmir Śaivism and translator of major texts of the tradition.

Both Lilian and Jaideva Singh had Sufi connections. A Sufi is said to have visited Jaideva Singh shortly before his death; he reportedly experienced the nāda (cosmic sound) rising to the sahasrāra (crown chakra). Lilian Silburn became a follower of a Hindu Kayastha Naqshbandi Sufi teacher, Śrī Rādhā Mohan Lāl Adhauliyā (1900-1966), whom she called sadguru.

4) Journey of awakening the self and teaching the tradition of Pratyabhijna (the school of recognition)

After experiencing self-realisation Bäumer received dīkṣā from Swami Lakshman Joo in 1986. Perhaps because of her early exposure to violence she found eventual satisfaction in a philosophy that contributed the idea of Śānta Rasa, a ninth rasa regarded by Abhinavagupta as containing the essence of all the other rasas, which enables the Rasika to savour all the eight others and experience aesthetic delight.

Baumer with a photograph of Swami Lakshman Joo, at a workshop, Deer Park Institute, Bir, August 2022. Photo: By arrangement.

Pratyabhijñā offers an extraordinarily rich conceptual vocabulary connecting the aesthetic and the metaphysical.  Non-dualism (a-duality in Panikkar’s preference) does not preclude multiplicity or beauty; divinity is both male and female. The cit (caitanya, saṁvit or consciousness) of Kashmir Śaivism is neither the Vedāntic ātman nor the Buddhist anātman. Instead it shares aspects of prakāśa (illumination) and vimarśa (reflexive awareness) with Param Śiva, who presides over and pervades a hierarchy of tattvas (elements of the universe and human nature including water, earth, fire, air and ether).

For nearly two decades Bäumer has conducted many workshops in India and Europe. She devised a seminar-retreat structure integrating Text, Meditation, and Nature, with meals taken in silence – following Lakshman Joo’s instruction that silence preserves the energy generated in meditation.

A brilliant talk by philosopher Arindam Chakrabati on the Vijñāna Bhairava invites us to reinhabit Kashmir Śaivism as social philosophy. Verse 106 emphasises sambandha, the relational, which takes us beyond the narcissism we inhabit.

ग्राह्यग्राहकसंवित्तिः सामान्या सर्वदेहिनाम्।

योगिनां तु विशेषोऽस्ति सम्बन्धे सावधानता॥ १०६॥

grāhyagrāhakasaṁvittiḥ sāmānyā sarvadehinām |

yogināṁ tu viśeṣo’sti sambandhe sāvadhānatā || 106 ||

The experience of object and subject (grāhya-grāhaka) is common to all embodied beings; yogins differ in their attentiveness to the relation between them. Focusing on the madhya (also the suṣumnā nādi), the centre between object and subject enables the self to transcend, what philosopher Daya Krishna called, the “prison-house of I-centricity.”

Śaṅkara tells the Devī that this is the very secret of the secret doctrine. The great question she asks already has all the seeds of an explanation; doubt is pregnant with insight – as Lakshman Joo beautifully renders it.

This inclusive philosophy enables us to fight then the totalitarian ideologies of our times that are egocentric and ecologically destructive.

Shail Mayaram is the author of the book The Secret Life of Another Indian Nationalism: Transitions from the Pax Britannica to the Pax Americana, published by Cambridge University Press. She is an honorary fellow at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies in Delhi. She is former chairperson of the Academic Advisory Board at the Käte Hamburger Centre for the Study of Apocalyptic and Postapocalyptic Studies at the University of Heidelberg.

Courtesy: The Wire

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]]> Unifying cultural celebration weaponised: Ganesh processions turned into stages for hate speech & moral policing https://sabrangindia.in/unifying-cultural-celebration-weaponised-ganesh-processions-turned-into-stages-for-hate-speech-moral-policing/ Sat, 27 Sep 2025 10:57:14 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=43891 Ganesh Chaturthi, once a symbol of shared community celebration, was exploited this year by hard-line groups across India to amplify anti-Muslim and anti-Christian rhetoric, transforming a festival of harmony into a tool of exclusion

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]]> Ganesh Chaturthi has traditionally represented community solidarity and celebration. The late nineteenth-century leadership of Lokmanya Tilak created a dynamic festival in Maharashtra that established a cultural space in which diverse caste, class, and faith groups engaged as fellow citizens and, ultimately, as a unity against colonial rule. Through the years, Ganesh Chaturthi also became a significant socio-cultural phenomenon within Maharashtra and other states, with the oft visited pandals becoming known for their innovation and engagement. Similarly, Durga Puja also emerged as a platform for social statements in Bengal, eventually leading to a swath of pandals emerging in the 1970s and 1980s to promote ideas around women’s rights, literacy, poverty, public health, and commonality.

As political power shifted and the presence of an aggressive exclusion-driven right-wing party emerged, these ideas of inclusion slowly vanished also from the community-driven Ganesh Chaturthi.  Nowhere is this more evident than this year, 2025. Turning turtle on the tradition of social commentary which was essentially progressive, the 10-day long festivities were exploited by Hindutva groups in various municipalities to manufacture a sense of othering, even hate. Political power has always dominated these community expressions, with the dominant political force, “capturing” the dozens of “Ganpati mandals.” This year, Hindutva groups engaged in furthering their central political agenda by promoting conspiracy theories about “love jihad,” conversions, and fears of demographic change. All this under the garb of cultural and religious devotion.

Some key incidents from the Ganesh Chaturthi 2025 celebrations:

Bangalore, Karnataka

On August 3, in Bangalore, a Hindutva leader by the name of Mohan Gouda uttered remarks at a gathering, under the pretext of encouraging people to celebrate participation in the Ganesh festival, but his comments soon took a turn towards the communal. Gouda said people should attend this festival, but also advocated for a supposed “Hindu Rashtra” merging the religious celebration into a political-religious ideology. He argued that English medium education was a tool to segregate Hindus from their culture, claiming it intended to “make Hindus mentally Christian.” He evoked the theme of “love jihad” again, as well as conversions happening systematically, arguing that these conspiracies were detrimental to Hindus and Hindu society.

Through video and social clips being distributed on HindutvaWatch’s Telegram channel- and reproduced on both Facebook and Instagram- you can hear his comments and witness his ridiculous claims first-hand.  He states: “English medium education was introduced to separate Hindus from their culture and make them mentally Christian.”

His remarks are more than mere political rhetoric at a festival; they turn a moment of religious observance into a statement of political exclusion. Gouda’s comments convey to worshippers that it is a particular religious identity that delineates loyalty, and that any existence/involvement of minorities in that moment is a form of “internal threat.”

Kota, Rajasthan

On August 27, a flashpoint erupted in Kota’s Vigyan Nagar over a local non-vegetarian restaurant that posted wishes for Ganesh Chaturthi along with pictures of its menu. Activists from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) – Bajrang Dal saw the post and descended on the location, accused the place of promoting religious enmity, and claimed that by associating images of Ganesh with its non-vegetarian food, they were hurting the sentiments of Hindus. The municipal authorities, clearly under duress, arrived on-site and soon sealed off the restaurant!

Clarion India reported the incident via HindutvaWatch, which added further details to what had unfolded. According to Clarion, a restaurant owner and two others were arrested and police confirmed that the person responsible for preparing the poster, the restaurant, and the person preparing the posters for printing had all been detained. A minor was also detained for allegedly posting the content but was later let go. Regarding the arrest, Kota City Superintendent of Police, Tejaswini Gautam, stated the case is being handled with seriousness and assured that compliance with the law would occur and that everyone accused except the minor would be charged in accordance with the appropriate legal statues. Clarion also reported that during the protest, workers prayed the Hanuman Chalisa in front of the restaurant site and requested justice until police intervened.

None from the media have queried the police authorities about which law has been violated in posting or conceiving an image with Ganesh Chaturthi with a non-vegetarian menu. On the contrary, the right to life and right to do business freely (Article 21 and Article 19) of the restaurant owner stand violated.

Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh

On August 31, 2025, in Ashok Nagar, Bilaspur, observances around Ganesh Chaturthi took a distinctly communal turn. At the local function, Hindu nationalist figure Thakur Ram Singh grabbed the mic to insult Christians and Muslims, claiming they were causing conversions. He referred to them as “illegitimate children of Chadar-Father” in an overtly inflammatory way, attempting to ‘de-legitimize’ them as an identity group, in public. The implication of conversion, especially at a religious function, no doubt heightened fears of encroachment on Hindu faith, resulting in minorities becoming enemies within.

At the time of writing, mainstream/legacy media have not detailed the police or administrative responses to that particular speech. Bilaspur has begun to be a recurring place of communal tension and mobilisation: just months prior, it was reported that Thakur Ram Singh and others had led police to raid Christian prayer meetings as part of a “conversion campaign,” as well.  The Bilaspur event can be viewed as part of a pattern, for religious festivals in our context have evolved into not just sites for communal signalling, but actually exclusion; prejudice cloaked as religious rhetoric towards political mobilization.

Dehradun, Uttarakhand

On August 31, 2025, in Dehradun, a rally celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi hosted by the Hindu Raksha Dal included Swami Darshan Bharti, who delivered a speech that condemned Muslims. He reportedly insisted that Islam needed to be “crushed” in Uttarakhand and that “Allahu Akbar” could not be shouted in a territory of Hindus and Hindu gods. Accompanying Bharti was Bhupendra ‘Pinki’ Chaudhury, the President of Hindu Raksha Dal, who used derogatory language and communal identifiers to label Muslims “topi-dariwale,” “burkhewale,” “kuthmulle,” and “jihadi.” Apart from the slur and denigration of Muslims, such a speech also engendered a sense of fear (at witnessing assertions of religion, chanting of prayers etc) and demographic anxiety. Hence, a public religious event, marked traditionally with community celebration, saw –through the presence and hate speech delivered by hate offenders— the assembly transformed into a site of communal exclusion.

 

So far, no information is available from mainstream newspapers (in English or regional) about any action, arrest or filing of FIRs pertaining to this speech. The absence of any visible response from authorities together with the public nature of the event and speech contribute to ongoing contexts of impunity and normalization of this kind of hate discourse under the guise of religious ceremonies.

Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

On September 4, 2025, at a Ganesh Chaturthi celebration in Purushottam Nagar, Bhopal, an event organized by VHP-Bajrang Dal leader Manish Saini delivered incendiary diatribes against non-Hindus. He claimed that non-Hindus have ‘a deliberate agenda to attack Hindu women’, mentioned cow slaughter, and cited the popular conspiracy theory of “love jihad.” He framed religious minorities as predatory agents who are actively destroying the social fabric of Hindu community from within and implied that Hindu women were perpetually at risk of either forced conversion to Islam or being ‘snared’.

A video of the event can be accessed on social media and has been shared on HindutvaWatch’s Telegram and Facebook broadcasting platforms.

In addition to the contents of the speech, little media or local official coverage has reported on subsequent activity — such as FIR lodging, arrests, or administrative censure. There has not been a public response from municipal authorities or police in Bhopal that indicates whether they would hold Saini accountable for this incitement in a public setting. This absence of public condemnation or visible follow-up action, to an explicit example of hate speech throws up the question of impunity around such crimes that result in the normalisation of hate and exclusion.

From Devotion to Division

Ganesh Chaturthi, a festival that was in previous decades, an occasion for collective bonding, is seeing signs of being turned into a platform for hate and violence in its entirety. From Bangalore to Bhopal, the festival was utilized to, amongst other things, legitimate conspiracy theories, justify the vilification of minorities, and monitor the social and economic lives of vulnerable communities. These instances signal how quickly a space intended for devotion can be co-opted for exclusionary politics when law enforcement abandons its duties and the government remains silent. The commissioning of such incendiary speech during religious observances poses a distinct threat not only to minorities, but to the democratic and secular fabric of the country. If immediate steps are not taken to reign in the instigators, and return festivals to their inclusive or so-called “original” form, hate will only continue to grow.

(The legal research team of CJP consists of lawyers and interns; this resource has been worked on by Preksha Bothara)

Image: Representational Image

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]]> ‘What happened to Ali Mohammad was wrong’: UP temple’s Muslim caretaker held for offering namaz; Hindu priest to arrange bail, says he served with dignity for 35 years reports TOI https://sabrangindia.in/what-happened-to-ali-mohammad-was-wrong-up-temples-muslim-caretaker-held-for-offering-namaz-hindu-priest-to-arrange-bail-says-he-served-with-dignity-for-35-years-reports-toi/ Tue, 01 Jul 2025 12:27:53 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=42566 In Budaun, Times of India reported how a temple priest has offered to bail out a Muslim caretaker arrested for offering namaz on temple grounds. Paramanand Das condemned the video recording and emphasised Ali Mohammad's decades of faithful service. Despite the arrest and charges of defiling a place of worship, Das affirmed Ali's respect for all faiths and the temple's inclusive nature.

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]]> BAREILLY: The head priest of a temple in Budaun has offered to arrange bail for a Muslim caretaker who was arrested after a video of him offering namaz on the temple premises was shared widely on social media. The priest, Paramanand Das, stated that he would step in if the family could not arrange for the bail. Moreover, Paramanand Das also condemned the unidentified person who secretly recorded the video of Ali Mohammad, saying the village panchayat would take action against him. Ali, who has served the temple for over three decades, was charged for “defiling a place of worship with intent to insult religion” — BNS section 298 — and remanded to police custody for 14 days. Ali, 60, a resident of Daharpur Kala village in Budaun district, had long been associated with the

Brahmdev Maharaj temple, was also where the Muslim caretaker w lived alone after separating from his family. For more than 35 years, Mohammad has quietly tended to the temple, a place he also called his home. On most days, he has fed animals, cleaned the temple grounds, assisted during aarti, and found quiet moments to pray, yes offer namaz.

However, something he has done for years, the namaz, discreetly offered near a tree on the premises, became a matter of public controversy when someone filmed it — reportedly around two months ago — and uploaded the video online on June 28.Within hours, Ali found himself behind bars for “defiling a place of worship with intent to insult religion”. This act is symptomatic of the street vigilantism encouraged by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) be it in Uttar Pradesh where the incident happened, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat or Maharashtra. Local police also immediately tend to bend to the will of these mobs on the prowl, influenced by the fact that they enjoy political patronage.

In this case, Ali Mohammad had reportedly earlier apologised to some local villagers when questioned about the prayer, and the matter had initially subsided until the clip resurfaced. Paramanand Das told TOI he was taken aback by the arrest of the man who had served the temple faithfully since the days of his late mentor, Radheshyam, in 2002 and promised to personally arrange help for Ali’s bail if his family were unable to do so. “What happened to Ali Mohammad was wrong and unexpected,” Das said, adding that the village panchayat would “punish” the individual responsible for circulating the video. “The unidentified man who slyly shot and posted the video has committed a greater offence than Ali. If the police take our statement, we will support Ali. Humanity is above religion,” he added. However, Das also said, “Whatever he did here was wrong. “Das added that the temple is a place of devotion for people from all faiths. “On Diwali, people of different religions come to offer prayers at the feet of Brahmdev Maharaj. Ali respected every religion, committed no crime, and never harboured any religious hatred. He worked with dignity and respect, maintaining the temple’s sanctity.”Dataganj circle officer K K Tiwari said, “An FIR has been registered against Ali. He has been arrested. Investigation has so far revealed that Ali was living for decades near the Brahmdev Maharaj temple complex. Someone recorded a video of him offering a prayer supposedly near a tree inside the premises and shared it online. Police force was deployed at the temple premises as soon as we received information in this regard.” Ali himself, in a video released by police, seemed utterly bewildered by the stringent charges slapped on him. He said, “The temple is my sanctuary, the place I found peace. I left my family to serve here. I received meals three times a day from the temple, sometimes even clothes. I did not commit any crime – I would not even think of defiling a place that is home for me.”


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]]> Pahalgam Attack: Kashmir unites in heroic resilience amid terror attack, proving humanity’s strength against hate narrative https://sabrangindia.in/pahalgam-attack-kashmir-unites-in-heroic-resilience-amid-terror-attack-proving-humanitys-strength-against-hate-narrative/ Wed, 21 May 2025 08:00:59 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=41849 Kashmir, renowned for its breath-taking landscapes and the warmth of its people, became a place of tragic sorrow, loss and anger, on April 22 when a terror attack claimed 26 lives at Baisaran, Pahalgam.  In the face of the chaos that followed, local heroes like Syed Adil Hussain Shah and Sajad Bhat risked their own lives to save others;  despite the tragedy, the people of Kashmir, transcending religious and cultural divides, stood in fraternal solidarity, showing that humanity, love, and peace are stronger than terror and hatred

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]]> “If there is paradise on Earth, it is here, it is here, it is here.” This timeless Persian couplet, often attributed to the poet Amir Khusrau, has for centuries captured the ethereal beauty of Kashmir – a valley renowned not only for its breath-taking landscapes but also for the warmth and profound hospitality of its people. Yet, on April 22, the serenity of this paradise was shattered as Pahalgam – a scenic tourist destination –resonated with the grim sounds of bullets and blood, the grim reality of a terror attack. The cowardly terror gunning reportedly by four men, selectively targeted innocent tourists, claiming the lives of twenty-six civilians.

In the immediate aftermath, a chilling new aspect emerged: terrorists reportedly demanded the religion of their victims before pointedly unleashing their violence against only those from the Hindu majority. This deeply disturbing report, amplified across social media, quickly fuelled a divisive narrative and a wave of online trolling against Kashmir and its Muslim residents.

Amidst the chaos, when death stared everyone in the face, the first heroic story that emerged was that of Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a brave local pony handler, unarmed and unprotected, who displayed a level of courage and humanity that stands unmatched. Adil Shah did not flee. He did not hide. Instead, he stepped forward to confront the attackers, questioned them for their inhumanity, and tried to shield two terrified tourists from Pune — Kaustubh Ganbote and Santosh Jagdale. In doing so, he was shot four times — twice in the chest, once in the abdomen, and another bullet tore through him elsewhere. He succumbed tohis injuries on the spot, his blood soaking the very earth he had guided thousands across, every day, with quiet pride and dignity.

Besides Adil who sacrificed his life, far removed from the sensationalised claims and buzzing news cycles that amplified the hate narrative, on ground, multiple accounts of unbridled solidarity and assistance towards the victim survivors unfolded. While the hysterical reporting on a vast majority of electronic media channels chose to ignore these accounts, these accounts of reassuring humanity, painted a starkly different picture. Despite the vitriol aimed at Kashmir and its people, the valley affirmed its unwavering commitment to peace, love, and harmony, showcasing the very essence of the hospitality for which it has long been celebrated.

When a native Kashmiri guy Sajad saves a young boy from a volley of gunfire in Pahalgam

A native Kashmiri, Sajad Bhat, emerged as a true beacon of courage amidst the chaos, bravely saving a young boy from the gunshots and gunfire in Pahalgam’s Baisaran area. This local hero instinctively carried an injured tourist down to safety on his back after the attack.

A scene of selfless rescue

Sajad Bhat, who unhesitatingly risked his own life, later recounted the harrowing experience and the immediate, collective response from the local community. Describing the frantic efforts to save lives, he explained: “Baisaran Valley is a very large valley. When we saw the injured there, our first priority was how to safely get them to the hospital and help them. Many horsemen also carried them on horseback to the hospital,” he explained, painting a picture of a spontaneous, collective effort.

Saw a child who was pleading, ‘uncle, uncle! save me, save me!’: Bhat

He further detailed his own harrowing rescue of a child. He said that “Besides me, there were many others who carried them on their shoulders to get them to the hospital. I also saw a child who was calling out, ‘Uncle, Uncle!’ He was pleading, ‘Save me, save me!’ I directly put my life at risk, lifted him onto my shoulders, and took him straight to the hospital. On the way, I reassured him constantly, telling him not to be afraid, that nothing would happen to him here. I gave him water on the way and took him directly to the hospital.”

Sajad Bhat firmly stated that it’s the inherent responsibility of locals to aid the injured. When speaking about the injured civilians, he clarified, “I wasn’t there when the initial incident happened. We reached there later for the rescue. It’s our duty, the duty of the locals here, to go there and help the injured.”

A plea for humanity and peace: ‘we stand with you, don’t be afraid; please come to Kashmir

Recalling the horrific scene, Bhat described, “It was a terrifying sight. We too were scared in our places, wondering what was happening. No one was visible; some tourists and some horsemen were wandering around, trying to save people.”

He didn’t shy away from emphasising the profound gravity of the situation, stating with deep emotion, “Our intention is that humanity has been murdered; the entire Kashmiri people have been murdered. This should not happen; this should never happen.”

In a heartfelt plea, Bhat earnestly requested, “We just request that you don’t be afraid. Please come; you are our guests; you are our brothers. We stand with you. Don’t be afraid; please come to Kashmir.”

When a Hindu man rescued Maulvi and Madrassa student in Poonch amidst bombing

In the aftermath of the cross-border shelling in Poonch, a remarkable story of interfaith unity and bravery emerged. Former BJP MLA Pardeep Sharma, 51, was hailed as a hero for transcending religious and political lines to rescue those affected.

As reported by India Today (IT), when mortar shells struck Jamia Zia Ul Uloom, a local madrassa housing over 1,200 students and operated by his childhood friend Sayyed Habib, Sharma immediately rushed to the scene.

Friendship forged in crisis

Sharma’s actions were driven by a decades-old friendship with Sayyed Habib, forged when they first met in Class 9 at Poonch Government School. Despite their divergent paths into religious leadership and politics, their bond remained strong.

IT reported that this enduring friendship brought them together again as shells rained down on several buildings across town. Viral videos captured Sharma carrying wounded children to safety, earning him the title of “guardian angel” among Poonch residents. The attack tragically claimed the life of a maulvi and injured three children.

Recalling the harrowing moments, Sharma stated, “The maulvi died in my arms. I tried to help by placing a cloth on his cheek, but he couldn’t be saved.” He added, “Then I rushed to save three children. The hospital was full, so I held on to them until a stretcher became available.” When urged to save himself, Sharma’s response was resolute: “I told them the shells weren’t meant for me. At least not today” as reported

With me were Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs—all working together to help: Sharma

Sharma profoundly underscored the collective spirit that permeated the scene, noting that “With me were Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs—all working together to help. In that moment, nothing else mattered but saving those kids.” Sayyed Habib echoed this sentiment, confirming, “I didn’t think twice. I called Pardeep bhai. I knew he’d come—and he did.” While Sharma tended to the injured, Sayyed oversaw the safety of over a thousand children.

If anyone sees religion during tragedy, there is no person worse than him: Sharma

Sharma emphasised the collective spirit at the scene, highlighting that “If anyone sees religion during tragedy, there is no person worse than him. When shells are falling and bullets are being fired and people are getting killed and injured and you talk of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians, then you don’t have the right to live,” as Indian Express reported

Sharma was actively “on the roads” for four days with his team, assisting in shifting the injured to hospitals. He recounted being woken by his family during the shelling on the intervening night of May 6 and 7: “I could hear the loud explosions. I thought of doing something for the people caught in the crossfire to help them in this distressing situation.” He even used Facebook Live to urge people to stay indoors and remain alert, as Indian Express reported

Hindus, Muslims are helping each other; society must not be divided at any cost after Pahalgam: tourist Puja Jadhav

A tourist identified as Puja Jadhav, when vacationing in Kashmir, has publicly refuted the prevailing negative narratives concerning Muslims and Kashmiris. In a widely shared video, Jadhav stated, “I am here on vacation, and Hindus and Muslims are helping each other.”  She further emphasised the unity she witnessed, urging people not to allow societal divisions, especially in the wake of the recent Pahalgam attack.

The video gained significant traction after being shared by prominent figures, including former BSP MP Kunwar Danish Ali. His sharing of Puja Jadhav’s video further amplified her message, bringing it to a larger audience and challenging divisive rhetoric.

Candlelight vigil for terror victims by local Kashmiri residents

On the evening of April 22, the day of the terror attack itself, residents of Kashmir came together to hold a candlelight vigil in memory of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. The gathering reflected the community’s deep sorrow and strong condemnation of the cowardly act of violence.

Carrying banners and raising their voices, people demanded justice and an end to terrorism. The vigil highlighted the growing resolve among Kashmiris to stand against violence and support peace in the region. Local residents made it clear that terrorism has no place in their society.

The march served as a collective cry for justice, with participants vociferously demanding accountability for the perpetrators of these heinous acts. Banners and slogans echoed a singular message: an end to violence and the restoration of lasting peace in Kashmir. The community’s resolute stand underscores a deep-seated longing for security and a future free from the constant threat of terrorism, sending a clear message to authorities to expedite justice and ensure such tragedies are never repeated.

After about 100 people got into trouble local Adil Bhai supported us: tourist from Pune in Pahalgam

Another tourist from Pune, when in Pahalgam, shared her moving experience, vouching for the deep-rooted Hindu-Muslim unity in the region.

“After about 100 people got into trouble, local Adilbhai supported us, gave shelter, and arranged food for everyone” she recalled with gratitude.

Adil, a local cab driver, emerged as a beacon of hope in a time of crisis. He welcomed a family from Maharashtra into his own home, offering them not just food and shelter, but a sense of security in a moment of fear and uncertainty. His actions spoke louder than any slogan or headline—acts of kindness that transcended religion and reminded everyone of our shared humanity.

“When Hindus are in trouble, Muslims are rushing to help,” she added, reflecting on the unity she witnessed first hand.

Adil himself humbly said, “One person made a mistake, but the whole of Kashmir will suffer the consequences. We do not support this. This is a murder of entire humanity.”

In a time when tensions threaten to divide, voices like Adil’s—and actions like his—stand as powerful reminders that the spirit of brotherhood is alive and well in Kashmir.

Kashmiri families open hearts & homes to tourist after Pahalgam attack

Similarly, many stories of fear and resilience surfaced—but some, like this one, reveal how moments of terror gave way to powerful human connection.

Rupali Patil, a tourist from Pune, shared how unsettling it was when the news first broke. “I was afraid to even step out of my hotel room,” she admitted. “But amid the chaos and confusion, I and many others found comfort in the homes of Kashmiris who took it upon themselves to protect us. Some even went out of their way to bring back people from our group who were stranded in other areas” as reported Times of India

Public figures have also recognised the overwhelming response of local Kashmiris in aiding victims. TMC MP Sagarika Ghose posted on X (formerly Twitter) and said that “At every stage during and after the Pahalgam terror attack, Kashmiris have rushed to help victims and families. A pony operator died trying to save others, Kashmiri families offered their homes, and many helped tourists flee the spot. The people of Kashmir are an integral part of our large Indian family. Terrorists want to drive us apart and spark anti-Kashmiri fury. We must not aid them in their evil agenda.”

After the attack: a unified voice from Kashmir

In the aftermath of the tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam, a powerful and unified voice rose from the heart of Kashmir. It wasn’t just about grief—it was about solidarity, resilience, and a reaffirmation of the values that truly define the region.

“This is what Kashmiris themselves said after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam,” one observer noted. Locals gathered, visibly shaken but united, and their words echoed far beyond the valley.

“Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian are brothers,” they declared with conviction—a reminder that communal harmony is not just a slogan here, but a lived reality, rooted in everyday relationships and shared experiences.

We are one, we stand united against terrorism: Kashmiris take a stand against terror

In yet another powerful display of unity and courage, local Kashmiri Muslims in Anantnag raised their voices loudly against the Pahalgam terror attack. Taking to the streets, they held a strong and heartfelt protest against terrorism, rejecting violence in all its forms.

This is the real India—where religion does not divide, and humanity remains the highest identity.

These images may not sit well with certain ideological groups, and mainstream media might choose to ignore them—but the truth on the ground speaks louder than any narrative.

However, despite the divisive narratives that followed, the local Kashmiri community stood firm in its commitment to peace, love, and hospitality. Individuals like Sajad Bhat, who risked his life to save tourists, and interfaith heroes like Pardeep Sharma exemplified the region’s enduring spirit of solidarity, transcending religious and political differences. The stories of local residents offering shelter, care, and support to tourists in distress demonstrated that the true essence of Kashmir lies not in the headlines, but in the human connections that thrive in moments of crisis. As the people of Kashmir continue to unite against terror and hatred, they remind us that humanity and peace must always prevail, regardless of the forces that seek to divide.


Related:

Everyday Harmony: Kashmiri Pandits welcome back Hajis with Na’at recital

Unity over Division: Banke Bihari Temple stands firm against boycott of Muslim artisans

India’s Eid: rose petals & inter-faith unity shared joy paint India’s heart-warming harmony across the country

 

 

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]]> Faith Knows No Religion: Banke Bihari Temple again rejects boycott call against Muslim artisans and businesses https://sabrangindia.in/faith-knows-no-religion-banke-bihari-temple-again-rejects-boycott-call-against-muslim-artisans-and-businesses/ Thu, 08 May 2025 11:53:44 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=41662 Banke Bihari Priests reject boycott calls against Muslim artisans and businesses, hail Muslim artisans as vital to temple traditions, embrace unity over division, and uphold faith as the highest virtue in Brijmandal—where even Raskhan sang for Krishna, and craftsmen of all faiths continue to serve the divine with devotion, senior priest said "Bhakti is supreme in Brijmandal. If someone has faith and comes for darshan, why should we oppose it?"

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]]> In a strong rebuke to calls from right-wing groups urging a boycott of Muslim traders and artisans following the recent Pahalgam terror attack, the revered Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan has stood firm in its commitment to communal harmony and legacy of the temple tradition. The temple’s administration has emphasised the deep-rooted and indispensable role of Muslims in the upkeep and traditions of the shrine, rejecting any notion of exclusion based on religion.

Muslims are integral to temple traditions

Speaking on behalf of the temple administration, Gyanendra Kishore Goswami, a senior priest and committee member, clarified that any call to boycott Muslims was neither practical nor aligned with the spiritual values of Brijmandal, the sacred region encompassing Vrindavan.

“It is not practical. Muslims, particularly artisans and weavers, have deep-rooted contributions here. They’ve played a major role in weaving the dresses of Banke Bihari for decades,” Goswami said. “Many of them have a strong belief in Banke Bihari and visit the temple too” he said, reported Times of India.

For generations, skilled Muslim craftsmen have produced intricate crowns, bangles, and garments for the deity. Their craftsmanship, honed over decades, is vital to the temple’s rituals and daily adornment of the idol. Their devotion, Goswami notes, transcends religious labels.

The response came after some fringe groups held protests in Mathura and Vrindavan, urging Hindu shopkeepers and devotees to boycott Muslim-owned businesses. These groups reportedly demanded that Muslim traders display the proprietor’s name on their shop signboards—an act widely perceived as coercive and discriminatory.

However, Goswami was unequivocal in his stance and said that, “Yes, those terrorists (in Pahalgam) should be punished severely, and we’re totally with the government. But in Vrindavan, Hindus and Muslims live together in peace and harmony” TOI reported.

His message was echoed by several priests and local residents, who expressed solidarity with the Muslim artisans and business owners who have coexisted peacefully in the holy town.

“Bhakti is supreme in Brijmandal”

Goswami, who also serves as the Rajbhog Seva Adhikari at the temple, further emphasised that devotion—bhakti—is the highest principle in the spiritual ethos of Vrindavan.

“Bhakti is supreme in Brijmandal. It rises above knowledge or even detachment (vairagya). If someone has faith and comes for darshan, why should we oppose it?” Goswami asked, reported The Hindu.

Support for Muslim shopkeepers

Just steps away from the temple, Javed Ali, a Muslim shopkeeper who has been selling religious items for over two decades, shared his experience of intimidation by protesters. He was asked to visibly display his name on his shop’s signboard or vacate.

“They came to my shop and asked us to put the name of the proprietor on the signboard. I’ve been running this shop for over 20 years. My father worked here as a tailor. Whenever a customer buys things, I usually give them a bill with my name and mobile number. We have nothing to hide,” Ali said. “With the blessings of Banke Bihari, this place is always peaceful” TOI reports.

His neighbouring shop owner, Nikhil Aggarwal, affirmed that the local community has never had any issues and often supports one another irrespective of faith.

“We’ve never had any problem. We work together and support each other,” Aggarwal noted.

When ‘God’ didn’t stop Raskhan or Rahim from composing bhajans

Lala Pandit, priest at the Danghati Temple in Goverdhan said that, “When God didn’t stop Raskhan or Rahim from composing bhajans, who are we to stop anyone from praying?”

“Lord Krishna is the god of love. There’s no room for hatred in his land” he added

Mahant Dinesh Chaturvedi of the Kali Temple in Mathura echoed the sentiment: “How can anyone prevent a devotee from entering a temple? Temples are public spaces. Every religion has both good and bad people.” Commenting on the impracticality of such boycotts, he added, “You can’t go around asking every shopkeeper about their religion before buying something. Besides, many Muslims have helped tourists in Kashmir. We shouldn’t paint everyone with the same brush” as reported The Hindu.

Govind Pandey, priest of the Dauji Temple in Baldev, also saw no issue with buying from Muslims.

Rejection of discriminatory demands

Earlier, temple priests had also strongly rejected a demand by Dinesh Sharma of the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Mukti Sangharsh Nyas to stop using garments crafted by Muslim artisans. Sharma argued that only those who followed “religious purity” should be allowed to make Lord Krishna’s attire.

Terming the demand both “impractical” and “misguided,” Goswami pointed out that about 80% of the temple’s attire—including crowns, garments, and zardozi work—are made by Muslim artisans. He also highlighted the logistical challenge of replacing such skilled labour, noting that the deity requires nearly a dozen ornamented outfits each day.

“How can we assess the personal purity of every artisan?” he asked. “If Prahlad could be born in the family of a demon king, and Kansa in the same lineage as Lord Krishna’s grandfather, then how can we judge artisans by their birth or religion?”

Goswami further emphasised that devotees themselves ensure purity when commissioning attire and offerings, reinforcing that faith, not exclusion, lies at the heart of temple customs.

A legacy of shared heritage

The involvement of Muslims in temple traditions is not new. Historically, Muslim artisans have played a vital role in creating the visual grandeur of the Banke Bihari deity. From intricate embroidery to metalwork, their contributions span generations. In similar traditions elsewhere—like the crafting of Rudraksha garlands in Kashi—Muslim families play key roles in Hindu religious life.

Even today, Goswami noted, Muslim musicians perform traditional instruments like the nafiri during festivals. Several acclaimed bhajan singers from the Muslim community continue to offer devotional service to Lord Krishna, embodying the spiritual unity Vrindavan is known for.

 

Related:

Vrindavan’s ISKCON temple sealed as priests, and many others test Covid-19 positive 

Allahabad HC bats for tolerance, but refuses to strike down meat and liquor sale ban

Ram Navami violence: PILs seek SC monitored investigations, transfer of cases to NIA

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]]> Lalita Ramdas hails Himanshi Narwal’s stoic courage in open letter https://sabrangindia.in/lalita-ramdas-hails-himanshi-narwals-stoic-courage-in-open-letter/ Fri, 02 May 2025 05:39:13 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=41553 Lalita Ramdas, wife of admiral Ramdas, wrote this a few hours after watching an amazing short clip of Himanshi Narwal's comments to the press.

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]]> It brought tears to her eyes and certainly made her heart swell with pride and joy, to hear a tragically widowed young woman, speak out with such lack of rancour and plead that there be no hatred, no targeting of Muslims and Kashmiris.

What an example..
Hope the sarkar will issue a strong message now to stop the shameful acts of hate, vengeance and petty retribution.

Himanshi

My name is Lalita Ramdas

I am a Navy daughter and a Navy Wife
My father and my Husband were both Chiefs of the Naval Staff….the first and the thirteenth,!

This is a personal tribute from possibly one of the oldest Navy daughters/wives alive today ….to the newest and youngest among the special fraternity of Naval Wives.

I am so proud of you as I watch the clip of your words to the press, over and over again. Your extraordinary strength, composure and conviction when you speak out against hate and targeting of Muslims and Kashmiris after the horrific killing of so many innocent men in Pahalgam on the 22nd is truly remarkable! And so badly needed in our times
“We only want peace”, you said, and of course rightly, “we want justice too”.

You are the perfect Fauji wife Himanshi, true to the spirit of the service, the constitution and to our secular values.

You are clearly a woman who knows her mind, and there could not have been a more courageous partner of a Navy man like Vinay.

You have echoed the thoughts and feelings of every thinking citizen of this country..
And we should all take your message of love and compassion far and wide.

Thank you Himanshi

I wrote you a letter just two days ago, which I sent c/o the CNS sectt.
Hope you get it.

And since they kindly sent me your address I will be mailing you my letter directly to Karnal..

Lalita
Himanshi Zindabad!
Nari Shakthi Zindabad
Bhartiya Nao Sena Zindabad
Jai Hind – Jai Jagat
.

https://www.threads.com/@zoo_bear_/post/DJG0cA3yCek?xmt=AQGzDVH4yZrWa-Puwqf17C-H8LizxrI69Pl59fY7WIel_g

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/16P9achuRj/

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]]> India’s Heartfelt Eid: where flowers & faith bridge divides https://sabrangindia.in/indias-heartfelt-eid-where-flowers-faith-bridge-divides/ Tue, 01 Apr 2025 11:06:19 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=40860 India celebrates Eid-ul-Fitr with unity and love, as people from different faiths come together to spread joy and kindness, in sharp contrast to the hate-driven politics that politicians and police displayed in some locales like Varanasi and other parts of UP; from Jaipur to Mumbai, Prayagraj to Indore, heart-warming gestures of communal harmony paint a vibrant picture of the nation's diverse yet cohesive social fabric, showcasing the enduring power of unity and mutual respect for each other

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]]> This Eid-ul-Fitr, a tapestry of communal harmony unfolded across India, transcending religious boundaries. In Jaipur, rose petals showered namaz-goers near the Eidgah, a testament to the city’s deep-rooted unity. Mumbai witnessed Hindus, wearing white caps, greeting Muslims with roses, fostering a new bond of trust. Prayagraj saw similar floral greetings and a Hindu-Muslim Iftar, emphasising the city’s “Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb.” In Seelampur, Delhi, Hindus showered flowers during both Eid and Ramadan prayers, showcasing consistent solidarity. Indore upheld a 50-year-old tradition of a Hindu family escorting the city Qazi, symbolising interfaith respect.

All in all, Hindu-Muslim unity shone across cities, with shared prayers, gifts, and gestures of goodwill, showed India’s enduring tradition of communal brotherhood and respect

Amroha and Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh also echoed these sentiments with floral greetings during Eid processions, highlighting the nation’s collective spirit of brotherhood.

These acts of kindness, from offering water to Namazi’s to sharing festive meals, shows the enduring power of unity and mutual respect, painting a vivid picture of India’s diverse yet cohesive social fabric

Jaipur, Rajasthan

On March 31, Monday, a large gathering of people in Jaipur, who had observed the month-long Roza, came together at the Eidgah and various other locations to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr. They performed sajda and offered prayers, united in their hopes for peace and harmony. After the namaz, joyful greetings and embraces were exchanged, highlighting the spirit of togetherness.

Near the Eidgah, located along Delhi Road next to Jaipur’s walled city, Hindu residents greeted the namaz-goers by showering them with rose petals. This thoughtful gesture symbolised the deep-rooted communal harmony that Jaipur is known for, a beautiful reflection of mutual respect and solidarity.

The celebration also carried on with the traditional giving of ‘eidee,’ where young people received gifts from their elders. Many took the opportunity to explore the city, visiting restaurants and cinemas. The joy of Eid was palpable, with people of all ages coming together in celebration after the namaz.

“It feels wonderful to be here, with roses showered upon us,” said Syed Sajjad Hussan, a 60-year-old who attended namaz at Karbala. “Jaipur is known for its communal harmony. We, the Muslim community, also share similar gestures when our Hindu brothers celebrate festivals like Diwali or Holi,” he added. His words echoed the unifying spirit that defines the city, a sentiment reported by the Times of India.

As the walled city of Jaipur saw an influx of visitors, many Muslim residents took time off to explore the city’s iconic attractions, including Nahargarh Fort, Jal Mahal, Jantar Mantar, and the City Palace. Mustaq Khan, a 32-year-old from Ramganj Bazaar, shared, “Now that Roza is over, it’s time for celebration. I’ve taken four days off to visit various places in Jaipur with my family.” The festive spirit was evident as the streets came alive with young people heading out to enjoy the city’s vibrant offerings, from popular eateries to cinemas, with many catching the new release Sikander starring Salman Khan.

The mosques and dargahs in the walled city were beautifully illuminated for the occasion, their lights adding a magical touch to the celebratory atmosphere. Amid this vibrant energy, a heart-warming gesture of communal unity stood out. In several localities, Hindu families offered water to the Namazis, showing a profound display of goodwill and respect.

 

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This simple yet meaningful act of kindness highlighted the deep-rooted harmony that defines the city, where people from different communities continue to celebrate and support each other during festive occasions. Such gestures are a testament to the long-standing tradition of peaceful coexistence and mutual respect in Jaipur, fostering a sense of unity that transcends religious boundaries.

The sense of togetherness in the city during Eid-ul-Fitr was truly remarkable, as Hindu and Muslim communities came together not just in spirit but through thoughtful and respectful acts that enriched the celebrations for everyone involved.

Mumbai, Maharashtra

In a different corner of the country, in Mumbai, Eid took on a special meaning this year. As the Namazis emerged from the masjid in the bustling Chirag Nagar area of Ghatkopar after finishing their Eid prayers, they were met with an unexpected gesture of goodwill. Five Hindus, dressed in white caps, stood waiting to greet them with red roses. The surprise greeting was met with warmth and curiosity, and the congregation, moved by the gesture, invited the Hindus into the mosque.

This initiative, a beautiful example of communal harmony, was led by 64-year-old Sharad Kadam, the former Mumbai president of the Rashtriya Sewa Dal, a youth organisation founded by Congress Socialists post-Independence. Inspired by Gandhian ideals, Kadam, with the suggestion of Wardha-based Gandhian Vijay Tambe, and with the help of local Muslim activist Kalubhai, decided to wear white caps—a symbol worn by both Warkaris and Gandhians—as markers of their Hindu identity.

Joining Kadam on this special occasion were members of the Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti, an organisation founded by the late rationalist Narendra Dabholkar. Kadam emphasised the importance of unity, saying, “All of us from different organisations work together. The atmosphere today cannot be countered by any single group, especially not by a social one. That’s why I invited members from all opposition parties, but unfortunately, none thought it was worth their while.”

Kadam, who resides in Bhatwadi, Ghatkopar, has a deep connection to the local communities around the masjid, including Parsiwadi and Yasin Mistry Chawal, areas that had witnessed severe rioting during the 1992-93 communal clashes. Despite the difficult past, the heartfelt gesture of unity left a lasting impression.

The Muslims present at the mosque were deeply moved by the act of kindness and committed to nurturing this newly-formed bond beyond the festive occasion. “We won’t confine it to Eid; we will make it an ongoing relationship,” they assured Kadam, as reported by Hindustan Times.

While Kadam had participated in Hindu-Muslim harmony meetings in mosques in Malwani and Malad, this was the first time he had celebrated Eid in such a unique, personal way. It was a poignant reminder that the spirit of unity and peace can flourish in even the most unexpected places, and that such gestures of goodwill, when rooted in mutual respect, can help heal old wounds and build lasting connections.

“We need to build trust and friendship with each other,” said Kadam. “Otherwise, we’ll be decimated by those who say ‘Batengey toh katengey’” reported the HT.

Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh

A similar heart-warming display of unity unfolded in Prayagraj, where social organisations and members of the Hindu community came together to shower rose petals on those exiting the mosques after offering their Namas. The generous gesture saw several kilos of rose petals being used, with each Namazi greeted with a rose, symbolising goodwill and communal harmony.

According to The Free Press Journal, Raziya Sultan, who was present at the event, remarked, “Prayagraj has always been a city that promotes the Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb,” reflecting the deep-rooted tradition of cultural and religious coexistence in the city.

A special Ramadan Iftar party was organised by the Hindu-Muslim Unity Committee, led by Manish Agarwal, at the Indira Bhawan Compound in Civil Lines. People from all communities participated in the event with enthusiasm and broke their fast in a harmonious atmosphere. Before the Iftar, prayers for peace, tranquillity, and brotherhood were offered. During the Iftar, those fasting broke their fast with dates, fruits, and sherbet. Attendees praised the initiative, stating that such events strengthen love and unity in society.

Manish Agarwal mentioned that the aim of the Iftar party was to spread the message of goodwill and brotherhood in society, as reported by Live Hindustan.

Seelampur, Delhi

Videos from Seelampur, Delhi, recently surfaced on social media, capturing touching moments of love and unity between Hindus and Muslims during Eid. One video showed Hindus showering flowers on Muslims as they made their way to offer Namaz for Eid-Ul-Fitr. This simple yet powerful gesture of solidarity reflected a spirit of respect and togetherness. It highlighted the deep, often overlooked bonds between the communities, offering a beautiful reminder of the peaceful coexistence that thrives amidst the more divisive narratives that often dominate the headlines.

 

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Another touching incident took place during the Ramadan Jumma (Friday Prayer), when Hindus once again demonstrated their support for the Muslim community. As Muslims gathered for prayers, Hindu locals could be seen sprinkling flowers over them, in a gesture of goodwill and mutual respect. This was not an isolated incident, as Seelampur also witnessed a heart-warming display of togetherness during the celebration of Holi. During the festival, despite the cultural and religious differences, Hindu locals spread flowers over the Namazis, further reinforcing the unity shared between the communities.

 

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Indore, Madhya Pradesh

A heart-warming incident in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore has once again demonstrated the spirit of communal harmony in India. In keeping with a 50-year-old tradition, a Hindu family continued the practice of respectfully transporting the city Qazi to the main Idgah for the Eid-ul-Fitr prayers. This remarkable act of unity saw Satyanarayan Salvadia, a resident of Indore, escorting Shahar Qazi Mohammad Ishrat Ali in a horse-drawn carriage from his Rajmohalla residence to the Idgah in Sadar Bazar.

This tradition, which began with Satyanarayan’s late father, Ramchandra Salvadia, over five decades ago, has been passed down in the family as a beautiful symbol of brotherhood. Satyanarayan, who took over this responsibility after his father’s death in 2017, expressed that through this gesture, his family hopes to spread the message of unity and harmony among the people of the city, as reported by NDTV.

Indore remains the only city in the country where a Hindu family continues to honour the Qazi with such respect during the Eid celebrations, further underscoring the unique Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb (culture of unity and tolerance) of India. Mohammad Ishrat Ali, the Shahar Qazi, reflected on this cherished tradition, urging young people to view the world from a social perspective, beyond the divisive lens of politics.

As Eid prayers were offered in the city, some participants wore black armbands to show solidarity with Palestinians facing oppression, highlighting the global connection to the spirit of Eid. Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jeetu Patwari also visited the Idgah, extending his wishes to the Qazi, and emphasised the importance of India’s tradition of communal harmony, stating that those who preach hatred cannot be true patriots.

This annual tradition in Indore serves as a powerful reminder of how small, respectful actions can foster a sense of community and help bridge divides, promoting love and understanding across cultures and faiths.

Amroha, Uttar Pradesh

The beautiful pictures from Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, following Rajasthan, have touched many hearts. In these videos, members of the Hindu community are seen showering flowers on Muslims who are on their way to offer prayers.

This heart-warming gesture has become a symbol of unity and brotherhood, sending a powerful message of harmony across the country.

Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh

In Sandi town, Hardoi district, Hindus warmly showered flowers on Muslims taking part in the Eid procession, with Municipal Council President Ramji Gupta present to witness the beautiful display of solidarity. According to Dainik Bhaskar, after the prayer, members of the Muslim community generously distributed charity to the poor and needy. Outside the Eidgahs and mosques, the atmosphere resembled a vibrant fair, with both children and adults enjoying sweets, sevai (vermicelli), and toys.

As the day unfolded, people greeted one another with embraces and exchanged heartfelt Eid wishes. Prominent city figures, administrative officers, and religious leaders joined in the celebrations, collectively sending a powerful message of unity and brotherhood within the community. The event served as a reminder of the harmonious spirit that binds people together, regardless of their faith.

Related:

Everyday Harmony: A Hindu temple that serves ‘Iftar’ to Muslims during Ramzan

Devotees are our guests: Sikhs, Muslims of Prayagraj serve Kumbh pilgrims with shelter, food, and love

A legacy of Unity: Stories of harmony across faiths and cultures

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]]> Chennai: A temple that feeds the faithful during Ramzan https://sabrangindia.in/chennai-a-temple-that-feeds-the-faithful-during-ramzan/ Thu, 20 Mar 2025 07:32:46 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=40670 This simple yet touching tradition was begun by Dada Ratanchand, a Hindu refugee from Sindh, who sought refuge in Chennai after the Partition of India.

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]]> Chennai: Let’s celebrate this incredible story of compassion, faith, and togetherness in India! In the heart of Chennai city, a temple called ‘Sufi Dar’ has been serving ‘Iftar’ to the Muslims throughout Ramadan for the last 40 years or so.

The scene at the Wallajah Mosque in Triplicane is electrifying. Volunteers from the Sufi Dar temple located in Mylapore come to the Big Mosque every evening with the eatables for ‘Iftar’.

The volunteers, respectfully donning traditional Muslim caps, serve the fasting Muslims to break their fast. They help them with water bottles and dates to break the fast which is for 13 to 14 hours in this part of the world.

Every evening the Sufi Dar volunteers come carrying colorful buckets filled with eatables to the big mosque. They bring items like; fruit, milk, cooked rice, sweets, dates, watermelon, and packaged water.

“Each day we change the menu and give vegetable biriyani, channa rice, pulao, cauliflower rice etc,” said Harish Makkar, one of the volunteers from the Sufi Dar.  “Some 1000- 1200 Muslims gather daily at the mosque to break their fast. Volunteers or ‘sevadars’ from the Sufi Dar have been serving them faithfully for nearly four decades,” he adds.

“The Muslim brothers appreciate our activity, the sevadar (volunteer) said”, adding, “We do this as a service and with the motive that compassion knows no religion.”

“The important thing about our activity is the leftover food is distributed among the Hindu destitute who gather in large numbers every evening outside the mosque,” the volunteer explained.

As one enters the Sufi Dar, one is overwhelmed by the atmosphere of sanctity that prevails there. Pictures of several Muslim Sufi saints, Hindu saints and mystics, Jesus Christ and Mother Mary, Guru Nanak, and other Sikh gurus, religious leaders of Radhaswami and Chidakashi sects, and Sai Baba adorn the walls of Sufi Dar.

Marble statues of Lord Ganesh, Laxmi Narayan, Shiva Parvati, Radha Krishna, Lord Ram, Sita, Laxman, Hanuman, Durga Mata and Jhulelal Saint are tastefully arranged and placed there.

Every visitor, irrespective of his faith, is sure to behold his favorite deity and feel at home in Sufi Dar.

This beautiful tradition was started by Dada Ratanchand, a Hindu refugee from Sindh, who sought refuge in Chennai after the Partition of India.

Nawab Mohammad Ali Wallajah, the ancestor of Nawab Mohammad Abdul Ali, the current Prince of Arcot built the Big Mosque.

In a world often divided, this Chennai temple stands as a shining example of unity, reminding us that love, kindness, and tradition can bring communities together.


Related:

Hindu-Muslim Unity: The other side of Kanwar Yatra

Muslim community comes together to perform last rites of Hindu neighbour

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]]> Mughal Emperors Played Holi And Called It Eid-e-Gulabi https://sabrangindia.in/mughal-emperors-played-holi-and-called-it-eid-e-gulabi/ Mon, 17 Mar 2025 05:45:40 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=40573 Amir Khusro And Other Muslim Poets Composed Beautiful Verses On Holi; Now It is Being Weaponised

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]]> According to advice of the Dy. Superintendent of Police in Sambhal – Anuj Kumar Chaudhary – that Muslims should stay indoors if they felt uncomfortable with Holi colours being sprinkled on them – as the festival comes only once a year, whereas Jumma Namaz takes place 52 times in a year – it appears that the Muslims might have heeded his advice and remained indoors.

There are no reported complaints from any Muslim that they were on streets – with or without any work – and got coloured. They changed the timing of their congregational Jumma Namaz in the Holy month of Ramazan – to accommodate the Hindus observing their festival – and some might have decided to forgo their obligatory prayers.

The Hindu nationalists in Sambhal (UP), and in other BJP ruled states had the streets entirely to themselves till they wanted. Chaupai, a Holi procession passed peacefully through 10 mosques in Sambhal, including the border wall of Shahi Jama Masjid (Pragynesh, 2025). The BJP MLA from Bihar – Haribhushan Thakur Bachol – made a similar appeal on the legislative assembly premises, asking Muslims to stay indoors on the day of Holi (Pandey, 2025). No one from the BJP or their alliance partners in Bihar, including JD(U) condemned the statement.

Representative image of people celebrating Holi. (Photo credit Reuters)

Hansraj Meena (25) in Dausa (Rajasthan) ventured out and despite his objection, colour was forcibly applied on him. He died after being assaulted by three persons who applied colour on him. Meena should have remained indoors but he ventured out to go to a library to prepare for his state civil service exams. He did not heed the advice of Dy.S.P. Chaudhary (Khan, 2025).

Provocative slogans were raised during Shimga festival on 13th March, 2025, when Madachi Miravnuk, an old Konkani ritual, when tree trunks are carried to the Dhopeshwar temple in Rajapur (Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra) on the eve of Holi. Those carrying the tree trunk rammed into the mosque gate several times while raising provocative slogans (Express News Service, 2025). Muslims staying indoors did not protect this mosque.

UP police had to baton charge the traditional ‘Laat Sahab’ procession in Shahjahanpur district as those participating in the procession threw brickbats on the police, injuring three of them. Trouble started when those playing Holi threw footwears at the police (Rozana Sahafat, 2025). In Unnao (UP), drunk Holi revellers threw brickbats at the police in which three police officers were injured. To control them, police used their batons to disperse them. In the baton charge, many revellers were injured (Rozana Sahafat, 2025). In the traditional Phag procession in Gunj Muradabad village, on 14th March 2025, they were singing objectionable songs. At the conclusion of the procession, some drunk youth started teasing and playing mischief. When police resorted to mild baton charge, they started throwing brickbats at police. At least three police personnel were injured due to the brickbats thrown at them (Rozana Sahafat, 2025). Muslims remaining indoors did not save the police or the drunken brawls resorted by the revelrs.

On 13th March 2025, on the eve of Holi festival, a man in Dombivili, a distant suburb of Mumbai, attacked a 17-year-old boy when a water balloon allegedly thrown by him landed on the man (Press Trust of India, 2025). This man in Dombivili did not heed the advice of the Dy. S.P. of Sambhal resulting in unnecessary conflict.

Does policing and maintaining law and order mean asking law abiding citizens from marginalized communities to remain indoors, while the potential law breakers from more powerful and dominant sections of the society have the freedom to indulge in revelry even in violation of law endangering peace? In the same vein, women are asked to remain indoors if they do not want to be sexually assaulted.

This approach also encourages those who believe in ‘might is right’ doctrine to be law unto themselves. The Dy.S.P. of Sambhal Anuj Kumar Chaudhary is seen in the viral video taking note of the fact that during the Holi festival people consume bhang (cannabis) and therefore mishaps of forcibly applying colours on Muslims might occur. However, he does not warn the consumers of cannabis. Will the police advice Indians who do not want to be killed in a potential road accident to remain indoors on the eve of new year celebrations as the likelihood of drunken driving increases?

Muslims are not the only victims during the Holi festival. Many Hindus do not like to be coloured. Women also are vary of Holi festival as they too are targeted by strangers against their wish on the pretext that everything is permissible during Holi. They say “Bura Na Mano Holi Hai”. The BJP and Hindu nationalists use the occasion to communally polarize people and assert dominance of Hindus. However, the moot question is, shouldn’t we take note of what damage such an approach will do to the Hindu religion and ethics? Not long ago, these festivals were celebrated peacefully with participation of people from all communities. This writer has also enjoyed playing Holi in his school days, and indeed taking part in all other festivals of all religious communities. The unprecedented and massive deployment of police force now necessary since a decade tells its own story. Holi is such a beautiful festival in which one reminds oneself to burn all negative feelings and instincts like acquisitive desires, selfishness, jealousy, fear, hatred into the Holi fire. Mughal emperors too played Holi with their Durbaris for days together and called it Eid-e-Gulabi. Amir Khusro and many Muslim poets have composed beautiful verses on Holi.

Source:  Weaponising The Holi Festival For Communal Polarisation

Courtesy: New Age Islam

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]]> To My Valentine… https://sabrangindia.in/to-my-valentine/ Fri, 14 Feb 2025 10:12:28 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=40154 I wait for you, Oh, my love… Like a weary farmer Waiting for the rain. Like a lost child Longing for its mother. Like an innocent prisoner Hoping for bail. Yes..Now I understand What it takes to wait… And also see more clearly— A farmer’s despair, An orphan’s fear, A Dalit’s anxiety, An innocent man’s […]

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]]> I wait for you,

Oh, my love…

Like a weary farmer

Waiting for the rain.

Like a lost child

Longing for its mother.

Like an innocent prisoner

Hoping for bail.

Yes..Now I understand

What it takes to wait…

And also

see more clearly—

A farmer’s despair,

An orphan’s fear,

A Dalit’s anxiety,

An innocent man’s expectation.

Come, my love, come…

Be the smile

That blooms on a hopeless farmer’s face.

Be the mother

Who embraces the abandoned child.

Be the light of hope.

Be the peace of the innocent.

Come, my love,

Be the revolution

That transforms this cruel world.

Be the compassion of a new tomorrow,

Be the fire that burns ruin,

Be the light that glows within it.

Be the passion in the penace

and

the penace in the passion

Come, my love…

In this lonely journey

Amidst a marching crowd,

Be my companion,

Be my comrade,

Be my joy of togetherness.

Like the river

That soothes a burning soul,

Come, my love…

Defeat the Man

and make me human

through the flood of love

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