Mohammad Arif is a Sunni Muslim who is in the construction business. He lives with his wife and eight children in Lucknow. Originally, he hails from Sheikhpur, Ward 2, of Unnao. There are about 80% Hindus and 20% Muslims in Sheikhpur.
Three years ago, there was a cemented platform in the locality on which a statue of the deity Sheetla Devi was kept. Rajendra Tiwari’s family, who live next door, had taken responsibility for its upkeep. However, it was not well maintained. Sometimes animals occupied it, and at other times drunkards and gamblers made it their den. A nearby Pal family also claimed ownership of the platform, and the matter went to court.
Mohammad Arif proposed to the two warring sides that if they settled their dispute, he would construct a temple on the platform. Rajendra Tiwari sought some time to deliberate. However, his son said there was no need to ponder and that Mohammad Arif should go ahead with the construction. In no time, a temple was erected. When a plaque was to be placed on the front wall of the temple indicating the name of its creator, Mohammad Arif told Rajendra Tiwari to put his name instead, as some people might not find Arif’s name appropriate. However, Rajendra Tiwari wrote Mohammad Arif’s name below his own, followed by other members of the Tiwari family. The important point is that the plaque bears Mohammad Arif’s name as one of the builders of the temple. The entire locality, however, knows that it was Arif who contributed all the money and materials.
There was a dilapidated mosque some distance away from this temple. Mohammad Arif, with the help of community contributions, also renovated the mosque.
There is another temple in the locality. When people asked him to contribute towards its renovation, Mohammad Arif contributed a trolley each of red sand and pebbles.
Now Mohammad Arif has also constructed a marriage lawn close to his house. This lawn is given free to families—irrespective of religion or caste—for the purpose of conducting marriages. The job of cleaning the garbage after events is done by Mohammad Arif’s family members.
Mohammad Arif has become a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity in his locality. At a time when the politics of hate has taken over and, over the last 11 years, alienation between the two communities has grown, with people no longer participating in each other’s social and religious occasions, he acts as a bridge between Hindus and Muslims.
When asked whether members of the Muslim community, which does not believe in idol worship, question his loyalty to the faith for constructing a Hindu temple with a deity inside, he answered with aplomb that he does not worship the idol, nor does he suggest that Muslims worship it, but he has built the temple for his Hindu brothers and sisters who do believe in idol worship.
Mohammad Arif’s courage is commendable. At a time when the morale of minorities is low as they become targets of communal politics and are almost being reduced to second-grade citizens, Mohammad Arif has unapologetically taken an initiative and driven it to completion. People in this country who believe in communal harmony but have surrendered before the Hindutva brigade must take inspiration from him. The answer to communal politics is to continue working for amity. Earlier, Hindus and Muslims lived together, participated in each other’s festivals, did not discriminate on the basis of religion, respected each other’s ways of living and customs, and did not force others to conform to their own ideas. We must preserve the same syncretic culture. Even now, people who believe in harmony outnumber those who practice hatred. Human beings by nature love harmony, and animosity is artificial and temporary.
We will have to demonstrate the courage exhibited by Mohammad Arif. We should not back down from what is right. If a Muslim or a Christian is being harassed, we must intervene and stand with the innocent victim. What somebody eats, what they wear, how they worship their God—these are personal matters in which neither individuals nor governments have any right to interfere. If a Hindu and a Muslim want to get married, it is their constitutional and legal right. Right-wing Hindus object to a Muslim boy marrying a Hindu girl, but there are also couples where the boy is Hindu and the girl is Muslim. It is the personal decision of two individuals. One of the points in Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia’s seven revolutions is the right to privacy, which must be respected in all circumstances.
Fundamentalist Hindus are taking us away from constitutional ideals, which is dangerous because it threatens democracy itself. The bedrock of our democracy is the Constitution. If we remove the Constitution, then our democracy is crippled. Hence, it is important to protect it. What Mohammad Arif is doing strengthens the constitutional value of fraternity.
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*Associated with the Socialist Party (India)
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