KOLKATA/HOWRAH/MALDA: From Kidderpore to Pilkhana and from Malda to Bhangar, Kolkata and the rest of Bengal witnessed vignettes of communal amity on Sunday, with Muslims showering flower petals and providing water and food packets to Ram Navami rallyists, helping them tide over the heat.
At Kidderpore’s Remount Road, a group of Muslim locals stood ready with crates of mango juice and chilled drinking water as the rally from BNR Garden Reach passed through. “This is our way of showing love and respect. Religion should bring people together and not divide us,” said Md Younus of Junction Welfare Society Club near Coal Berth Road, Kidderpore.
Flower petals rained down along the road from the dais as Muslims welcomed the passing procession with smiles and folded hands. “The rallyists got delayed en route but we waited patiently to welcome them. It’s our small contribution to peace and unity,” said Latifur Rahman, another resident, who works at a private firm and was seen preparing a sharbat with other volunteers.
Rallyists expressed appreciation for the gesture. “I was surprised and deeply touched. As the sun blazed overhead, we were tired and thirsty because of the winding rally route. But the simple gesture of kindness from our Muslim friends won us over,” said Navin Singh, one of the rally organisers of Sri Ram Navami Udyapan Samity.
As the Ram Navami procession organised by the Howrah Khatik Samaj moved through the busy Pilkhana in north Howrah, members of the Muslim community greeted the rallyists with sharbat and water. “If we have respect for each others’ religion, there is harmony between two communities. In Pilkhana, 90% of the residents are Muslims and we have been supporting these Ram Navami celebrations since their inception. This is how communities should live together,” said Anwar Ali, a resident who waited for the procession’s arrival at Pilkhana Chowmatha along with others, such as Mohammad Irshad Yakub, Ali Raza and Asif Bhati.
In at least six stoppages, Muslim residents set up tables decked with sharbat, water and snacks for rallyists. There were elders like Zakir Ahemed and Mohammad Irshad, who were sitting by the roadside to greet rallyists. In addition to serving refreshments, they also greeted their Hindu brethren with warm embraces. “In similar fashion, Hindus also organise iftar parties and serve our Muslim brethren food during festivals like Ramzan and Eid. This is a mini-India, where the two communities dwell in peace and respect,” said Jeet Lal Sonkar, general secretary, Howrah Khatik Samaj. “This should be a message to people who try to plant seeds of hatred between the two communities: we will not allow their manipulation in our locality,” said Syed Alam.
But it was Malda that grabbed most eyeballs. The district, ravaged by communal clashes in Mothabari, presented an image in contrast. Amidst tight security along Elslish Bazar’s Rabindra Sarani, as hundreds of rallyists approached with chants of “Jai Sri Ram”, a group of Muslim youths approached the rally at the Post Office Crossing and showered flower petals on them, offering drinking water and laddus to the rallyists. Atkoshi Anjumaria Akbaria Islamia, a Muslim body, even set up a tent by the road.
Nurul Islam, Asif Hossain, Kiran Sk and others were busy distributing sweets and drinking water to those who took part in the Ram Navami rally. Khagen Murmu, BJP MP of North Malda, and Kajal Goswami, from VHP, among others, were among the hundreds taking part in the rally. They were hugged and greeted by the Muslim youths.