At times when Delhi has seen the worst riots in decades – leading to death of 47 people – the need to protect the secular ethos of India has never been felt more.
While the country has always taken pride in being accommodating and welcoming of all faiths, there is a need to stick together and display that oneness that this country has been synonymous with since independence.
The compassion and respect for all faiths has been the hallmark of our democracy, and now a Muslim man, Abdulkhuda Mohd Hanif Shaikh, has again given us a reason to believe in the beautiful and diverse richness, that this country is all about.
Shaikh, who hails from Paraipatti village of Tamil Nadu, and now a resident of Piraman village in Bharuch district of Gujarat, has collected Rs. 3 Lakh for the construction of a temple in Paraipatti village.
Shaikh took the initiative after his friend from the village, Vijay Kumar, had sought his help.
“They’d told me 4 months ago and came to me 10 days back. From Vapi to Mehsana, there are several Madrasis, even here in the village too. I personally went to them and collected around Rs 3 Lakh,” Shaikh was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Vijay Kumar said that he stayed in Gujarat for ten days and collected Rs 3 lakh with him.
“I had sought help from him. I stayed here in Gujarat for 10 days, and went with him from people to people and collected Rs 3 Lakh. No one lives like Hindus or Muslims in our village, everyone lives like friends,” he said.
Isn’t that what this country stands for? ‘Unity in Diversity’. It is another instance of the great India – people of all faiths living together as one.
