Shaadaab S. Bakht, who worked for famous Indian dailies The Telegraph, The Pioneer, The Sentinel and wrote political commentaries for Tehelka.com, is Gulf Today’s Executive Editor.
Shaadaab S. Bakht, who worked for famous Indian dailies The Telegraph, The Pioneer, The Sentinel and wrote political commentaries for Tehelka.com, is Gulf Today’s Executive Editor.
The Hindus manage a mosque and conduct its regular prayers because the village is now virtually empty of Muslim residents who have all migrated to other parts of the country.
The Hindus manage a mosque and organise its regular prayers because the village is now virtually empty of Muslim residents...
But we mustn’t give up and fight it with all our might. Political autonomy calls for legislation, not emotional. And being a free nation we enjoy a good deal of that autonomy. Therefore, let’s exploit that advantage and take on the corrupt sergeants of political ethics like the villagers of Madhi, Nalanda, Bihar, have done.
The Hindus manage a mosque and conduct its regular prayers because the village is now virtually empty of Muslim residents who have all migrated to other parts of the country. “We (Hindus) don’t know the ‘azaan’, but a pen drive (with a recording of the azaan) is played every day to perform the ritual,” said Hans Kumar, a resident.
Madhi once had a sizeable Muslim population, but people gradually went away for better opportunities.
“There was no one to take care of the mosque, so the Hindus had to come forward,” said one Gautam. “The mosque is cleaned and prayers are offered every morning and evening. Whenever there is a problem, people come here for redressal,” said Janki Pandit, the village priest.
Villagers say that sometimes Durga Puja and Muharram are observed simultaneously. The expenses are shared among the villagers.
Block Development Officer Mohammad Firoze, under whose charge this village falls, says that it is a great example of communal harmony.
Let’s replicate Madhi everywhere. Let’s make the age-old belief, “live and let live,” the anthem of our lives and go on to win absolute freedom, and not parole, from ethnic illiberality.