Muslims perform last rites of Hindu neighbour
MEERUT: Setting a wonderful example of communal harmony, Muslims in Bulandshahr performed last rites of a Hindu neighbour who died of cancer after the relatives of the deceased failed to reach for the last rites due to the countrywide lockdown. The refreshingly welcome gesture was noticed in Gaddha colony of Saatha locality in Bulandshahar on Friday.
Muslims carried the bier (arthi) of Ravishankar when his relatives and friends expressed their helplessness in joining the last rites due to lockdown as also due to the fear of contracting the dreaded and highly contagious novel coronavirus.
Zahid Ali, a social activist and son of Afroji Begum, the village pradhan of Imliya claimed that Muslims carried that along with lending shoulder to the bier of Ravishankar they even chanted ‘Ram Naam Satya Hai’ (Lord is the only truth) during the funeral procession.
“The poor Ravishankar was suffering from cancer and died on Friday. His family members telephoned their relatives and friends for last rites but they expressed their helplessness due to lockdown, Ali said.
“Seeing their problem, we gathered at his home and called a local seer to perform the rituals at home and thereafter carried the bier, chanting what the Hindus do. We also arranged for pyre and other requirements for his last rites at cremation ground on the banks of Kali River,” he added.
MUSLIMS CARRIED THE BIER (ARTHI) OF RAVISHANKAR WHEN HIS RELATIVES AND FRIENDS EXPRESSED THEIR HELPLESSNESS IN JOINING THE LAST RITES