Anwesha Madhukalya - Hindus And Muslims Join Forces To Save A Mosque - A lesson in brotherhood from Gujarat
After communal riots
broke out in Ahmedabad's Kalupur neighbourhood 30 years ago, the area's Muslim
residents began to avoid the prayer hall located in the predominantly Hindu
area. When riots broke out again after the demolition of Babri Masjid in
December 1992, devotees stopped going to the mosque altogether. According to a report
in the Times Of India, the mosque, which is nearly 100 years
old, is located near three temples. After it was abandoned, it fell into
disrepair, with weeds and foliage taking over the prayer hall. However, in March
2016, azaan was heard from within the mosque for the first time
in three decades.
The communal riots of
2002, set forth an unlikely but not unprecedented chain of events. Residents
near the mosque volunteered and came together to save the mosque. Hindus
reached out to the Muslim community and people from both the communities set
forth to protect and save the mosque.
They cleared the
vegetation and contributed resources for the mosque's renovation. The efforts
led to solidifying the bond between the two communities and an atmosphere of
peace prevailed. In fact, a set of keys
to the mosque have been given to flower sellers Poonam Parekh and Kaushik Rami,
who set up shop near the mosque. As reported in Times Of India, the
priest of one of the temples in the vicinity said that after the rehabilitation
of the mosque, Muslim youths do not have to go to another locality to pray
anymore.
As they say, the way
to bring in love and peace is by love and peace.
