Muslims and Kumbh Mela

By Justice Markandey KatjuThe Kumbh Mela commenced in Allahabad, India, from 13th January, 2025, and will last till 26th February. It is estimated that 400 million people from all over the world (mostly Hindus) are taking a dip in the Sangam (the confluence of the Ganga and Jamuna rivers).

Muslims of Allahabad were told to keep away from the Kumbh Mela area, but by a queer turn of events, the Kumbh Mela came to the Allahabad Muslims for help.
What happened was that on the morning of 29th January there was a stampede (some say there were 3 stampedes) resulting in deaths of unknown number of Hindu pilgrims, and countless still missing.
At this moment the Muslims of Allahabad came forward, opened their mosques, Dargahs, and Imaam Bargahs, where thousands of Hindus fleeing from the scene (scenes) of the tragedy were given shelter, food, and medical care.

Allahabad Muslims have shown that the Ganga-Jamuna tehzeeb and spirit of compassion and humanitarianism taught to us by our sufis and saints can never die out, despite the attempts of polarisation and inciting caste and communal hatred by our politicians to get votes.

For many years atrocities of various kinds were committed on Indian Muslims. Many were lynched for allegedly (though falsely) eating beef, many brutally beaten for not saying Jai Shri Ram, the houses of many bulldozed, and many incarcerated in jail for years on false and frivolous charges (e.g. Umar Khalid).

Allahabad Muslims were told to keep away from the  Kumbh Mela.

However, what was the reaction of the Muslims of Allahabad ?

Far from gloating over the misfortunes of the Hindu stampede victims, the Allahabad Muslims returned good for evil, and gave a shining example of human brotherhood and solidarity, the teachings of our sufis and saints

This shows that despite all attempts by our political leaders of inciting and organising hatred against minorities, the spirit of human camaraderie and compassion will never die out.

Long live the great Allahabad Muslims! The example they have set is a resounding slap on the face of those nefarious communal elements who seek to divide us and sow hatred in our society for their selfish objectives

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