Amid communal tensions, AMU student recites Hanuman Chalisa
AGRA: Amidst the ongoing controversies related to use of loudspeakers in religious places and ‘azaan versus Hanuman Chalisa’ raging in Aligarh, a student of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) set an example for others to follow by reciting ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ and ‘Gayatri Mantra’ at the gate of AMU premises.
Fareed Mirza, a student of BA second year at AMU, took the initiative to dampen the communal overtones plaguing the city of Aligarh and other cities of the nation. The video of Fareed Mirza reciting Hanuman Chalisa and Gayatri Mantra has gone viral in social media.
“My only intention is to convey a message of brotherhood
between different communities. I have not learnt Hanuman Chalisa, but have grown up hearing it since my childhood and so is the case with ‘azaan’, which I have been listening to since my childhood,’ Mirza said. “What objection can a Muslim have with Hanuman Chalisa or Gayatri Mantra and similar tolerance should be amongst Hindus for ‘azaan’ from a mosque. We welcome recital of Hanuman Chalisa at temples, and so should Hindu brothers give away their opposition to ‘azaan’, Mirza added. Mirza welcomed the recent decision by CM Yogi Adityanath asking loudspeakers to be used in such a way so that no inconvenience is caused to others. “What we expect is the uniformity in compliance of directives with no difference made between different communities,” cautioned Mirza, who was of the view that the issue of the loudspeaker is being raised to create a divide, and people should be alert and aware of such designs.
The video was recorded on Monday evening after students of AMU lodged a protest march against ‘Islamophobia’ and offered ‘namaz’ and held ‘iftar’ at Bab-e-Syed gate of AMU.