For them,bonds of friendship are stronger than religion
On tense Thursday afternoon,when the entire nation was glued to the television waiting for the news on high courts verdict on the Ayodhya dispute,65-year-old Izhar Siddiqui was busy talking to Mohan Swarup Sharma.Unfazed as to what the verdict would be,the two elderly residents of Dugawan,a small mohalla,in Lucknows Naka Hindola area,were into a serious discussion planning how Ram Barat would to be taken out this year.
Izhar and Mohan are best buddies since childhood and hold key positions in Sri Ramleela Raniganj Samiti,established by their ancestors in 1875,10 years before the first petition on Babri Masjid-Ramjanmabhoomi dispute was filed in Faizabad by a mahant.For the last 135 years,the samiti has been taking out Ram Barat (marriage procession of lord Ram) and conducing Ram Leela every year.Izhar is associated with the samiti for over 20 years now.He has served the samiti with utmost dedication and we never felt that he is a Muslim, said Samitis general secretary,Mohan.Izhar laughed when asked how come he is associated with Ram Leela samiti.Go into the spiritual content of every religion and you will find nothing but love and peace,hence whatever may be the Ayodhya judgment,its not going to affect us.The Ram Barat as usual will be taken out in the city on the sixth day of Navratris which fall in winters, he said.
Similarly,Muslims at Bakshi-Ka-Talab are planning to organise Ramlila before Dussehra.Masood Ahmad is the manager of the Ramlila Samiti.His father,Muzaffar Hussain,started the tradition along with his best friend,Maikulaal Yadav,in 1972.
Ive read Ram Charitmanas several times and particularly like Rams character, says Khan.The tradition continues even if Ramzan or Moharram coincides with it.The cast takes time out to offer namaz and break roza.
Lucknow is full of such examples.Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb cemented here during the period of Nawabs in the 19th century.Hindu and Muslims of Lucknow led the 1857 revolt.Wajid Ali Shah,the last Nawab of Awadh,used to perform the Krishna leela with Kathak dancers and celebrate Hindu festivals.Once Holi fell during Moharram and Hindus decided to drop the celebrations.Knowing this,the nawab organised Holi at his palace in the afternoon and mourned in the evening.
Prakash Chandra Trivedi
Engineer, BHEL
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