26, Apr 2022 | CJP Team

In yet another example of India remaining united despite the communal agenda of divisive forces, a Muslim family in Alwal locality of Telangana’s Hyderabad district offered their house for the wedding ceremony of their neighbour, a Hindu girl, who lost her father in the first wave of Covid-19.

According to Indian Express, the family opened their house in the month of Ramzan, welcomed the marriage procession and even participated in the merry-making with the bride Pooja’s relatives. Her family was struggling to find a hall for the occasion. However, when all else failed, their neighbour Parvez offered his courtyard as the marriage venue.

Thanks to this, Pooja could have her wedding on the predetermined date of April 22. Her uncle Rajesh Chaurasia recalled how readily Parvez offered his place when the bride’s family was suffering from lack of funds and space at home. According to the newspaper, Parvez’s wife Nadira and Pooja’s mother often used to visit each other and treated each other as family.

Amidst the systematic hate leading to growing anger and despair, it is important to showcase a lived reality of camaraderie, equality and sharing which is the bedrock of the Indian Constitution and secularism. That way we not only hold on to every thread of hope, but effectively project these narratives, lest we lose our will to fight the good fight. As part of our #EverydayHarmony series, CJP brings you instances where Indians share and care, every single day… our food, our businesses, our homes and our friendships. This instances show how we Indians continue to reject hateful and divisive agendas even while street violence and social media are used as part of a sinister, hate-filled political agenda to tell us otherwise. Let’s reinforce India’s everyday lived reality, and through that collectively and aggressively, uphold and defend a unique pluralism, a diverse culture and truly secular values. Donate now to help us combat hate and prejudice!

“When we came to know about her [Pooja’s] wedding, we tried to do whatever little we could, as family members. It’s also the holy month of Ramzan and what can be better than organising the marriage of a daughter,” said Nadira.

This is heartening news at a time when vested interests are trying to divide Indian society along communal lines to cultivate and nurture vote-banks. When asked about the religious difference in these two families, Nadira said that the families may be of different faiths and have different gods, but “as humans it’s our duty to ensure happiness of our daughters, that comes before everything.”

Reports filed by multiple news outlets reported how the men of the Muslim family stood side by side greeting guests, while the women sang wedding songs with other women. The family also hosted a traditional meal and offered gifts to the guests. According to Chaurasia, Parvez even gifted a gold chain to the groom before the marriage procession returned.

Image : Representational/ vakilsearch.com

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