ABDUL HAKKIM portrays how people of Coimbatore, the second largest city in Tamil Nadu, have moved closer irrespective of religious differences despite a divisive plot played by the communal forces for their petty political gains.
India, a country of more than 110-crore population which constitutes different states, languages, religions, ethnicities, etc., has a unique culture that instils better understanding of one and other and a sense of coexistence. This sense of coexistence is commonly known as “Unity in Diversity.”
Though, as a country, India has developed by leaps and bounds throughout the 70 years of its Independence, the Achilles heel of its socio-political fabric still remains the conflicts and riots between Hindus and Muslims. This conflicting scenario has touched a new height since the inception of Mr. Modi’s Government and the Government is turning its eyes away from this ever boiling issue.
As a stark contrast, the southern states of India wherein peaceful coexistence and harmony can be sighted, have a more tolerant people. This may be due to the educational and economic development as well as the peace-loving nature of the people in these states.
The ideal example is the city of Coimbatore, the second largest city in the state of Tamil Nadu. The city, which suffered the brunt of a day-long riot in September last, is now a peaceful city, where people have moved closer irrespective of religious differences and had neglected the communal forces, who tried to play a divisive plot for their petty political gains.
Seven months have passed since the riot was orchestrated following the murmur of Sasikumar, a Hindutva-affiliated functionary, which created losses in hundreds of crores in four districts, majority of which belonged to the Muslims. Yet, the Muslims acted wisely and put forward a united effort to limit the damage caused due to this communal riot and also protect the peace and harmony in the city.
The end-result of the acts of wisdom by the Muslim community were evident when Jamaat-e-Islami Hind’s senior leader and Editor-in-Chief of Radiance Viewsweekly, Professor Ejaz Ahmed Aslam visited the city on a two-day tour on May 1 and 2, 2017. He met with various religious leaders of Hinduism and interacted with them.
Prof. Aslam visited Siravai Aadheenam of Koumara Mutt in the city and met its leader Thavathiru Kumaragurupara Swamigal. The saint applauded the valiant efforts taken by the Muslim community after the riots in upholding peace and harmony in the city. He also pointed out the role played by the Jamaat in promoting communal harmony and creating social awareness. He also mentioned the need of upbringing and educating youths in a more proactive manner so that the city could move towards the new heights of development.
The Jamaat leader also visited Thavathiru Marudhachala Adigalaar, Aadheeman of the prominent Perur Mutt, who also gave similar views and appreciated the works of Jamaat towards building a peaceful society. Prof. Aslam said to them that South India is in the better hands of peace-loving people like them who work tirelessly towards maintaining a sense of brotherhood and the situation in Northern India is just the opposite, where people react violently to the smallest of false propaganda. He also further mentioned then ongoing Muslim Personal Law Campaign and gave away books elaborating it.
He visited Shanti Ashram in the foothills of Kovaipudur, an NGO which is working towards educating the youths about their social duty and also instilling a sense of social service. He met with Dr. Vinu Aram, President of Shanti Ashram and discussed various ideas of using the younger generation in a very constructive manner.
On the second day of his visit, he visited prominent schools in the city that were run by the Muslim community. He visited Crescent Matriculation Higher Secondary School, where he met with its correspondent Haji A. Hyder Ali and the school’s Principal. He also visited Noor Sait Matriculation School and met with its Correspondent and Principal.
The motto of this visit was to entertain cooperation between the educational institutions run by the Muslim community as well as existence of healthy competition between those institutions in the light of quality of education, low fees, accessibility of education to downtrodden in the community, as well as providing service for the community. He underlined that the community should reap the benefits of quality education at affordable fees and thus bringing in more youths towards education which will help in developing themselves socially as well as financially.
These meetings by one of the prominent Islamic leaders in this country with religious leaders and educationalists concluded in a more fruitful way. The exchange of thoughts and ideas have led to better understanding between the leaderships of both communities as well as stressed the necessity of spreading awareness about education among the Muslim community, both of which would directly impact the future of the Muslim community in the city. The leaders unanimously quoted that the need of the hour is to spread the message of love and brotherhood throughout the country and work towards the betterment of the human society as a whole.