Generations of Muslim employees, engineers, caretakers and traders have maintained a long-standing association with the Gorakhnath Temple
NEW DELHI/GORAKHPUR — At a time when communal tensions, hate speeches, targeting of mosques and madrasas, bulldozer actions and incidents of mob violence frequently dominate political discussions in India, questions about relations between religious communities remain at the centre of public debate.
Yet inside the Gorakhnath Temple in Gorakhpur, the institution closely associated with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a different reality has existed for decades. Muslim families have long been entrusted with important responsibilities within the temple complex, working in administration, construction, cattle care and business activities alongside Hindu religious authorities.
Among the most prominent figures is Yasin Ansari, who has been associated with the temple for nearly five decades.
Ansari served as the temple’s cashier from 1977 to 1983 and continues to oversee major construction and development projects. His responsibilities include monitoring expenditure, maintaining records and overseeing infrastructure work within the temple complex.
People familiar with the temple administration say Ansari has been entrusted with significant responsibilities over the years and continues to play a central role in the institution’s day-to-day functioning.
Speaking about his work, Ansari said he regularly discusses ongoing projects with temple authorities.
“Whenever Maharaj Ji (Yogi Adityanath) is in the temple, he calls me and asks for updates about all ongoing works,” he said.
Ansari also described a long personal association between his family and the temple.
“He attends our family functions, weddings and celebrations. He spends time with family members and asks about their well-being,” Ansari said.
The connection between the Ansari family and the temple spans three generations.
According to Ansari, his uncle joined the institution during the tenure of Mahant Digvijaynath and worked in the temple kitchen. Later, his mother-in-law, Hamida Begum, served as a supervisor in the community kitchen, while his father-in-law maintained the temple gardens.
The temple’s gaushala offers another example of this relationship.
Thirty-year-old Man Mohammad has spent most of his life caring for cattle at the facility. He began working there at the age of ten and is now responsible for around 400 cows. His father also worked at the same gaushala before him.
Every day begins before dawn for Man Mohammad, who oversees feeding, milking and caring for the animals.
“This temple is like my home, “he said.” I have spent most of my life here and want to continue serving here.”
Muslim professionals have also contributed to the physical development of the temple complex.
Engineer Nisar Ahmad, who later retired as principal of Maharana Pratap Polytechnic, served as the institution’s first official engineer. He was involved in planning and supervising several major construction projects.
According to Ahmad, buildings such as Sadhana Bhavan, Yatri Niwas, Hindu Seva Ashram, and various commercial establishments were developed under his supervision. He also oversaw the construction of the new Gorakhnath Hospital building, Sanskriti Vidyalaya and several temples within the complex.
Beyond religious activities, the temple serves as an economic centre for many local families.
Several Muslim-owned businesses operate within and around the temple premises. Among them is Mohammad Mutaqim, who has run a bangle shop inside the complex for nearly two decades.
“There are Muslim families here who have been working and living peacefully for years,” he said.
Another trader, Altaf Ahmad, who has operated a shop near the temple for 16 years, said the institution has helped support many local livelihoods.
The areas surrounding the temple also have a significant Muslim population.
Faiyaz Ahmad, a local, said interactions between communities have generally remained peaceful.
“There has always been a sense of coexistence here. Muslims have never faced any difficulty because of their faith,” he said.
Irfan Ahmad, a local BJP Minority Morcha leader, said his family has been associated with the temple for generations.
“In personal matters, Yogi Ji helps people irrespective of caste or religion. I have never seen him discriminate against anyone because of their faith,” he said.
Yasin Ansari also addressed criticism often directed at the chief minister.
“People may say many things in politics, but that has never affected the atmosphere inside the temple,” he said.
The experience of the Gorakhnath Temple does not settle wider political debates about communal relations in India. However, it presents a local example where Muslim employees, engineers, shopkeepers and caretakers have remained part of a Hindu religious institution across several generations.
For many residents, the story highlights the difference that can sometimes exist between national political narratives and everyday life at the local level, where people of different faiths continue to work together, share responsibilities and maintain long-standing social relationships.
