15, Oct 2015

Isha Jain,TNN | Oct 15, 2015, 01.06 AM IST
LUCKNOW: At a time when reports about religious intolerance are dominating the headlines, two Muslim youth of Lucknow University set a unique example of communal harmony. Sahaduddin Ahmed alias Sameer, a close relative of Pram Vir Chakra winner Abdul Hamid and his friend Abdul Kalim observed fast on the first day of Navratri. The two will also observe fast on the last day.
On the first day of Navratra, Sameer, who completed his LLB and is now studying Arab Culture at LU, distributed fruits and ‘falahaar’ (food consumed during fast) to his Hindu friends at a university hostel. Not only this, he recited Durga Chalisa and performed ‘aarti’.
“If Hindus and Muslims start celebrating festivals together, there will never be a Dadri. If I keep rozas, I also observe fast on Navratri. In my village, Hindu festivals Holi and Diwali begins from our house. On every Bada Mangal, I organize bhandharas,” said Sameer, whose grandfather Bashir Ahmed and PVC Hamid were brothers. The two families live next door in Ghazipur.