Some heart-warming tales from India: Rama breaks to offer Namaz; Muslim family that has been organising Durga Puja; Hindu-Muslim love gets Court's blessing
When
Rama took a break to offer Namaz
Manjari
Mishra
3
Oct 2008,
LUCKNOW:
Masood Ahmad recalls the hush that fell when he went onstage to announce an
unscheduled break during the raging battle between Lord Rama and Ravana, last
Dussehra. The huge audience assembled at the Bakshi Ka Talaab ground was not
amused. A few even began to boo, till the reason for the interruption was
explained.
The
Ramlila cast — including Rama, Ravana and Lakshman — Ahmad explained, needed to
offer namaz and break roza. Not a single protest was heard thereafter. The show
resumed only after the actors rolled up their prayer mats post-namaz and shared
the iftari snacks — right on stage.
Masood
Ahmad took over as manager of the BKT Ramlila Samiti from his father Muzaffar
Hussain, who floated the outfit and also the concept of a mixed cast along with
a Hindu friend in 1972. The move generated much curiosity and even a whisper
campaign initially. But things have gradually settled down.
The
casting coup of the year, says Ahmad, is the new Lord Rama — gawky 15-year-old
Mohammad Sher Khan from BKT Higher Secondary School.
Khan,
who’d been playing Bharat and Shatrughan for three years, is exultant about his
elevation to lead status. ‘‘I have read Ramcharitmanas several times and
particularly liked the ‘kirdar’ of Rama,” he declaims grandly. An unimpressed
director, Sadiq Khan, exhorts the youngster, just back from school, to go over
the script once more.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/When_Rama_took_a_break_to_offer_namaz/articleshow/3553853.cms
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For
generations now, this Muslim family has been organising Durga Puja
Minati
Singha,TNN
3 Oct
2008, 0104 hrs IST,
BHUBANESWAR:
While communal violence continuing to singe Kandhamal district of Orissa, an
obscure village in Nayagarh has stood out as a beacon of peace.
Though
Manikagoda celebrates Durga Puja like any other place in the country, it’s
unique because a Muslim family has been organising it for generations now. And
the Hindu population of the village have no qualms in actively participating in
the revelries. Like previous years, the family of Dalabehera Sheikh Habibur
Rehman (75) are busy preparing for this puja that will commence from Saturday.
‘‘We
stop eating non-vegetarian food a month before the puja, but we also celebrate
Eid with equal faith and belief. I have been conducting Durga Puja for the past
35 years. I inherited this right from my forefathers, who had been doing this
for generations,’’ said Rehman. The population of the village is about 10,000
of whom about 2,000 are Muslims.
Rehman
performs the key role in the puja while people belonging to the majority Hindu
community contribute their services to the goddess. ‘‘Tho-ugh a Brahmin priest
conducts rituals and chants slokas, I perform the main role. We collect money
for the puja and spend nearly Rs 1 lakh on the occasion,’’he added.
Siba
Prasad Hota, who performs the rituals, said, ‘‘No one has ever raised any
question on why the puja is being done by Muslims. All of us take part in it
with equal fervour. All religions teach love for our fellow human beings.’’
Inspector
in-charge (Bolagarh) Prahlad Nayak said, ‘‘we provide security but no untoward
incident has ever occurred during the puja. The villagers have shown exemplary
camaraderie even in other times.’’
*****************************
Hindu-Muslim
love gets HC's blessing
12 Apr
2007, 0150 hrs IST,TNN
MUMBAI/BHOPAL:
In an unusual development, Bombay High Court and MP High Court came to the
rescue of a Muslim-Hindu couple, Mohammed Umer and Priyanka Wadhwani, who were
facing death threats allegedly from Bajrang Dal after their marriage.
On
April 2 Priyanka and Umer left Bhopal for Mumbai. The next day Umer underwent
shuddhikaran (purification ceremony) and converted to Hinduism after changing
his name to Umesh. The same day they got married in a traditional Hindu
ceremony.
Despite
both being adults the Bhopal police had lodged a case of kidnapping against
Umer. "His brother was picked up by the Koh-Fiza police in Bhopal and
detained illegally," the couple's petition filed in the Bombay High Court
alleged.
Justice
Ranjana Desai and Justice Dilip Bhosale of Bombay High Court held that the
couple who had fled from Bhopal to take shelter in Mumbai were married and
ordered the Mumbai police to provide them protection.
The
judges have also restrained the Bhopal police from arresting Umer against whom
a case of kidnapping has been registered at the behest of the girl's parents.
"We
are relieved," said Priyanka, emerging out of the court. "I left of
my own free will and was not kidnapped. My husband's family is being harassed
by the police in MP and we hope the court's order will put a stop to it."
The
family dispute over the inter-religious marriage took a political colour when
Bajrang Dal activists organised protests outside Umer's home in Bhopal. The
couple also said they were threatened with physical harm if they returned to
Bhopal.
The
Bombay HC judges interviewed Priyanka in their chamber where she reiterated
that she was an adult and had left her parents' house of her own will. Besides
ordering protection to the couple, the judges have also asked Bhopal SP to file
a reply to the couple's petition by April 18.
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Readers'
Opinions
When
Rama took a break to offer namaz
Aalok
Karnik, Mountain View, CA, says: why does the media not provide good coverage
to such stuff ! An article worth showing on prime time TV news. However, the
media went bezerk when Sanjay Dutt landed in jail and went just short of
reporting the quality of air that he was breathing! This should be an
eye-opener to overly-religious nuts (from all religions)
[3
Oct, 2008 0428hrs IST]
H S
RAWAT, USA, says: THIS IS BEST PLATFORM FOR UNITING HINDU-MUSLIMS TOGETHER.
[3
Oct, 2008 0412hrs IST]
Aalok
Karnik, Mountain View, CA, says: I like that !
[3
Oct, 2008 0356hrs IST]
TOI
Regular, U.S.A, says: Just a week back I was pondering that there should be a
scoreboard like column that will always stay on the top of this and other news
websites announcing the number dead and injured in blasts, stampedes, communal
riots, floods and umpteen other incidents. I always wondered aren’t there good
things to put on the newspaper, why are there usually negative news on the
paper all the time? If there are about 20% of the population that are into
negative acts the other 80% are people living in peace. Isnt there anything
interesting to write about them? And this article has just answered that. As
you read it, there is a peace within yourself. At turbulent times like this,
TOI should come up with dedicated columns that will promote national
integration and patriotism. TOI has always championed causes like Teach India,
Leaders in India (I know I am not using the correct program titles!), so why
not do a program for integrating the people by coming up with more columns like
this and asking people to contribute to it etc.?
[3
Oct, 2008 0345hrs IST]
Chand
K Sharma, Delhi, says: No doubt certain Muslims like Maestro Naushad, play back
singer Mohammad Rafi and Dr APJ Abdul Kallam have made India proud of their
achievements and projected a real secular image. We wish more Muslims to done
their image and think India as their home and have pride in India's
achievements and culture. The Jehadi outlook and mindset is not going to get
Muslims accepted in India.
[3
Oct, 2008 0344hrs IST]
Parinda,
USA, says: Mazhab nahi sikhata aapas main baer rakhna......
[3
Oct, 2008 0314hrs IST]
SS,
NY, says: I wish these articles to be on the front page of TOI
[3
Oct, 2008 0312hrs IST]
Adeel
Arif, Dubai, says: How wonderful! These are the kinds of articles that need to
be published more often and these are the kinds of stories that need to be
brought forward at a time like today. This shows there is still tolerance for
each other's religions within our community and this is what makes India a
great country that it is!
[3
Oct, 2008 0244hrs IST]
GSShekar,
London, UK, says: Hats off to One and all at BKT Ramlila Samiti. What I am
surprised is no Mulla or Hindu priest has so fad put up a fatwa on these
people. We all must learn to know that Acting and Religion are two diff lines
of earning/services. Keep up your good work Guys...
[3
Oct, 2008 0231hrs IST]
Sunil
Kumar Sharma, Toronto, says: Dear Sir/Madam, Thanks, for bringing up this
article, we are in 21st century, but behaving and living in decade old
centuries, this article should be printed in all the news papers, domestic as
well as international news, so that whole world (including Hindus and Muslims)
can read and feel, what a real religion is. Religions are created by humans,
God only created the universe, with beauty of sun, moon, water, fire and earth,
this the Supreme God has given to every human being free of cost. Everyday, new
religion in being created in the name of god, without knowing the real meaning
of life and every creator of new and old religion claims to be real religion,
and making millions and living lavishly, by the ignorance of innocent people.
By reading this article, I have come to a simple conclusion, that real and pure
religion on this planet is humanity, love and respect for everyone.
[3
Oct, 2008 0224hrs IST]
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/opinions/msid-3553853,curpg-2.cms
Readers'
Opinions
Hindu-Muslim
love gets HC's blessing
rajib,
australia, says: When I read this article, I thought the girl had converted to
Islam because it is rumoured that Muslims cajole Hindu girls into converting to
Islam. Ironically in this story, Umesh (Umer) has converted to Hinduism. This
invalidates the rumours about Muslims.
[12
Apr, 2007 0804hrs IST]
ibrahim,
usa, says: Who the hell is Bajarang Dal to decide what a common man can do in
his life? The Pathan family is also to blame. When they can accept a Hindu girl
converting to Islam, then they should accept their son adopting Hinduism.
[12
Apr, 2007 0751hrs IST]
viv,
usa, says: If two Hindu girls can convert to Islam and live in their house, why
can't the boy's father accept Umer as Hindu?
[12
Apr, 2007 0618hrs IST]
rkpatel,
wellington,nz., says: It is hard to understand that why the Bajarag Dal has to
make the love-affairs of two adult-individuals their business. Who gives them
the moral-policing-authority for such issues? Such demagogues should be put
behind the bars immediately. Love is the matter of heart,it is about how one
feels for the other.
[12
Apr, 2007 0549hrs IST]
Readerspeak:
Bajrang Dal should stop moral policing
12 Apr
2007, 1027 hrs IST
When I
read this article, I thought the girl had converted to Islam because it is
rumoured that Muslims cajole Hindu girls into converting to Islam. Ironically
in this story, Umesh (Umer) has converted to Hinduism. This invalidates the
rumours about Muslims.Rajib
Australia
Who
the hell is Bajarang Dal to decide what a common man can do in his life? The
Pathan family is also to blame. When they can accept a Hindu girl converting to
Islam, then they should accept their son adopting Hinduism.
Ibrahim
U.S
If two
Hindu girls can convert to Islam and live in their house, why can't the boy's
father accept Umer as Hindu?
Viv
U.S
It is
hard to understand that why the Bajrang Dal has to make the love-affairs of two
adult-individuals their business. Who gives them the moral-policing-authority
for such issues? Such demagogues should be put behind the bars immediately.
Love is the matter of heart, it is about how one feels for the other.
R.K
Patel
Wellington,
N.Z