Around 200 drivers, belonging to all faiths, from all corners of Mumbai attended an Iftar party organised by the Maharashtra App-based Transport Workers Union (MAT) yesterday in Mumbai. Many of them carpooled in cabs driven by their comrades to arrive at a parking lot near the domestic airport terminal in Mumbai which doubled up as a venue for the Iftar party.

Their trade is a lonely one, with busy cars plying on far flung Mumbai roads in peak hour traffic. It was hence not surprising that many of them seemed to be meeting each other after a long time and a joyous, festive spirit permeated the air with much back-clapping, embracing and loud raucous laughter. A simple spread of Samosas, jalebis, fruits and kababs had been laid out on long, communal tables for the drivers. Close to 7 PM when it was time for Maghrib, a confusion on how to sound the azaan occurred with people scrambling to connect their mobiles to the speakers. Ultimately it fell on one of the drivers to sound the evening call for prayer. A hushed silence descended all around us as the azaan rang out. Someone reached out for an Iftar jalebi in front. It was time to break the fast. The silence persisted. For those who were not observing the roza, the act of eating together had turned into a solemn moment.

A driver who identified himself as Brahmin spoke to SabrangIndia while relishing the vegetarian iftari served to him. As an app-based driver who has seen his income dramatically plummet in the last few years with narrow margins, high costs of fuel and high living costs, he said that the union gives them bargaining power. Referring to the inter-faith gathering around him, he said , “if our car develops a snag late at night , these are the very people who come to help us out. I am a Brahmin but that is inside my home, in my private life , outside I am just a human being like everyone else here. Politics divides us. It is a ***** (uses a common expletive) thing”. 

Posters and stickers, created by CJP in collaboration with digital artist Smishdesigns were distributed in the Iftar party as stickers. They proved to be a hit among the drivers.

Two Sikh drivers who had come all the way from Kharghar in Navi Mumbai appreciated the effort and said that while on ground there is widespread unity among citizens, some people want to create an artificial divide. One of them said, “Such posters are needed to remind people of this unity in the face of manufactured controversies and attempts to vitiate the atmosphere.”

The iftar was hosted on the premises of the Mumbai chapter of Airport Aviation Employees Union (AAEU) and was attended by Nitin Jadhav, the All India joint general secretary of AAEU. Also present was Secretary, CJP, Ms Teesta Setalvad, Prashant Bhagesh Sawardekar, President, MAT and Uday Kumar Ambonkar, General Secretary, MAT.

Speaking eloquently, Mr Jadhav said, “Our space will be made available for this event every year. I am an insignificant person, this is holy work, I will always support this effort to bring people together”

Holding up the poster, Mr Ambonkar , who is also a member of the national committee of Hind Mazdoor Sabha, said , “ look at this tiranga coloured rose. It is in our hands now. It is up to us to uphold the unity of the nation “

Speaking to Sabrang India, Teesta Setalvad said, “It is CJP’s belief that counter-communities like kisan sabhas , feminist groups and labour unions among others can serve as a bulwark against divisive politics. We are taking our message of peace to members of these communities and helping them navigate disinformation and hate speech that is flooding the airwaves all around us”

For many people present the bonhomie was an everyday reality. For those of us invited to observe the celebration, the iftar meal was a welcome respite from the steadily rising drum roll of communal violence all around us.

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Mankhurd residents of all religions came together on April 28, 2022 for an Iftar party, weeks after the Ram Navami violence in the region. According to participant and local leader Jameela Begum, the response of the people reinforced the secular sentiment among the people.

Mankhurd celebrations

On Thursday night, a youth community  pooled together the money to hold the party at the Mankhurd transit camp. Organisers  aimed to bring together Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians as a show of secular unity. After the party at 7 PM, the team also held a Sai Bhandara after 9 PM.

“They honoured local activists and people who help the needy and fight for the locality’s basic facilities,” said Begum, who was one of the felicitated.

She fondly recollected how people from all religions sat at one table for iftar. This event also portrayed the prevalent co-existence of residents who often visit each other’s houses during Ramadan.

After the violence in Mankhurd by Hindutva miscreants, Begum was worried about the conditions of her area. However, since then, people have come together in support of each other. During a local mohalla committee creation meeting, Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey had promised that no such incident will happen again. True to his word, the region was heavily patrolled on Thursday night.

“People will succeed in maintaining this peace and unity. But there will be suffering along the way. However, with police patrolling every masjid street yesterday and people celebrating, I felt good,” said Begum.

Mankhurd wasn’t the only part of Mumbai to hold Iftar on that day.

Bandra’s Iftar party

An interfaith Iftar party at Saint Peter’s Church, Bandra made the papers on Friday morning for its bringing together believers of all religions. The Church wished to increase mutual harmony and trust and stand with the Muslim community against the targeted violence.

“We are all together, every religion talks about living with peace and brotherhood, we have to trust in humanity and walk with each other, know each other better and share happiness and sorrows together,” said the head priest.

Everyone prayed collectively for peace during this interfaith iftar. Men and women also recited a special prayer together. Women offered Namaz together with people of different religions. Many young people also wrote messages of peace to spread the message of brotherhood.

Peace meeting at Kherwadi

Maulana Azad Vichar Manch President Hussain Dalwai organised the meeting at Purshottam High School on April 22 to discuss measures to reduce the ongoing communal tension. Cognisant of the loudspeaker issue, Dalwai called over 80 trustees of the 26 mosques in Baharampada, Bandra East and Nirmal Nagar police to the meeting.

All trustees resolved to follow the Supreme Court’s guidelines regarding loudspeakers. This means the mosques will not use loudspeakers from 10 PM to 6 AM. Accordingly, senior police officers assured them of support in keeping with the spirit of secular India.

CJP Secretary Teesta Setalvad, who attended the event said, “We must imbibe the values of the Constitution. The answer to the hatred entering houses through our phones is by spreading stories of peace.”

Similarly, Dalwai said, “Every single person in all of us will come out from here and become Maulana Azad and Gandhi and gave the message of stopping riots.”

Mohalla / Ekta Committee

Then on April 21 the Constitution Promotion Committee at Matoshree Ramabai Utkarsh Sangh, Chembur spoke about how Mumbaikars are troubled about the communal targeting in India. During an ekta meeting in the evening,

People talked about addressing the matter of peace more vigorously so that tension-prone localities do not get communalised. Focused on constitutional values among Dalit and Muslim communities, organisation members resolved to try at their level to keep their localities safe. Those who saw the Mumbai riots of 1992-93 stressed that future generations should not witness such carnage.

Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey also joined the meeting and assured citizens that the police will not allow the city’s atmosphere to deteriorate.

“Mumbai Police stands with the common citizens and completely against rioters,” said Pandey.

Setalvad, who was presiding over the meeting, called upon the youth to come forward and said, “This is your time, we are with you. Come forward.”

Attendees pledged to start work in this direction and work with the police to protect religious harmony.

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