Glimmer of stars in the dark forest
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This is a time when the Sangh Parivar's fascist plans to transform the world's largest secular, egalitarian, democratic republic into a religiously based totalitarian state are unfolding one after another at a rapid pace. Important among them are the efforts to alienate and demonize the country's minority communities, and push the largest minority group among them, the Muslim community into extremes of fear and despair through violence and unjust legislation. The communal right-wing groups and chief ministers have taken highly reprehensible steps that are against the values of the country, such as pelting stones at people going to prayer, imprisoning a cleric for using a loudspeaker, establishing dominance over historically important places of worship, dictating how to pray, and making their social life unsafe even during the holy month of Ramadan. It is in such a situation that it was even ordered to cover mosques with tarpaulins when Friday and Holi coincided. It is no coincidence that a bill, which aims to encroach on the waqf properties of the community, was introduced in Parliament just after Ramadan, just as the community was in the midst of Eid celebrations. As Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra pointed out, through the Waqf Amendment Bill, the government is telling every Indian Muslim that they are not equal citizens of this country and that they do not have the same rights as others.
At a time when minority communities and the secular human rights collective that sympathizes with them are worried about the future of our country, a few short video clips from some cities that claim to have been taken over by the Hindutva right are shedding a ray of comfort. A clip shows a group of Hindu brothers under the banner of Hindu-Muslim Ekta Manch showering rose petals on the devotees returning from Eid prayers at Delhi Road Eidgah in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Another visual shows them distributing cold drinks from the side of the mosque to their brothers, who had fasted for a month, abstaining from food and water. A similar flower shower and distribution of sweets took place in Amroha in UP, ruled by Adityanath, who is always eager to maintain the top position in anti-minority policies and hate speeches. Hindu and Sikh brothers were literally competing to hug them and extend their Eid greetings. In another city, a brother who participated in the shower of flowers responded that he had wanted to make amends to those going to Eid prayers ever since he heard that stones were thrown at those going to pray during the fasting period. Another well-wisher who joined this solidarity said that those who say that mosques that have been opened with all facilities for the believers who have come to the Kumbh Mela should be taken over and that brothers who serve water and food to Kavadi pilgrims should be exiled, are not insulting Muslims, but God.
Such solidarity is much stronger and more meaningful than the faceless assurances of some leaders who mysteriously disappear or remain silent sessions of legislative houses after promising to stand by to protect rights. There is heartwarming news not only from North India but also from the Malayalam land of North Kerala. While the entire country was busy with the preparations for the festival after completing the fast, the women of Kettinakkam, Muzhappilangad, Kannur were busy with something else. The Kettinakkam Ladies Unit workers were struggling to find money to provide relief to Vineetha and her children, who were facing foreclosure of property after their husband was unable to repay the loan taken from the bank. They saw the glow of the Shavval crescent in the smile on Vineetha's face as they handed over the property documents to her after depositing the money they had raised by holding the Iftar Challenge, collecting charity, zakat, and donations in the bank.
Just like the liver, which, even when ravaged by cancer, expels all the waste and regenerates from a single piece and protects the body, these pieces of liver from every corner of the country are giving strength to the idea of India, overcoming all the efforts of hate preachers and communal governments. No matter how big and well-equipped the gang of lawlessness and atrocities is, a secular, pluralistic India will survive by fighting them. That is the strength of our unity, rich in love.