Communal tensions have reached alarming levels in the village, located 15 kilometres from Ahmednagar
MUMBAI — Guha village in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar District, home to approximately 4,000 people, features a Muslim community of around 400 individuals who have long coexisted peacefully alongside their Hindu neighbours. However, this harmony has drastically deteriorated in recent years, with communal forces tightening their grip, escalating hostility, and imposing a boycott on the Muslim residents.
The centre of the dispute is the shrine of Hazrat Ramzan Shah Baba, also known as Kanobha Ramzan Shah Baba Dargah, which has been a place of worship for over five centuries. Historical records, including the British Gazette of 1854, acknowledge the shrine’s existence and significance to the Muslim community. Despite this, certain Hindu groups have attempted to rebrand the shrine as the Kanif Nath temple, igniting conflict in the village.
The turning point came in 2010 and 2015, when two smaller dargahs nearby were converted into temples, and tensions heightened further in December 2023 after an idol of Kanif Nath was installed at the main dargah. Since then, communal unrest has intensified, forcing Muslims into their homes under police orders and provoking a ‘Hindu Jan Aakrosh’ Morcha to express Hindu anger publicly.
Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, who visited the village recently with social activists, described the situation as deeply troubling. “The situation has been similar for the last 15 years, but in the last two years, communal tension has increased considerably in this village. Muslims are being systematically wronged in this village,” he said.
“Historically, Hindus and Muslims lived here like a family, with strong bonds of brotherhood. But this has been destroyed by sectarianism and a forced dargah versus temple dispute,” he added.
According to Gandhi, the social fabric in Guha village has almost completely broken down. The shrine of Hazrat Ramzan Shah Baba was once a centre for unity and peace, but now it has become a symbol of division. “The shrine has existed for more than 500 years and is legally registered with the Ahmedabad Waqf Board,” he explained. “Yet, despite this, the shrine is being forcibly taken over as a temple by some Hindu groups.”
The land adjacent to the shrine, about 40 acres including a mosque, is also a major source of conflict. Local Muslims allege that illegal religious rituals, including ‘aarti’, are performed here by Hindu groups, and that Muslims face intimidation and are not allowed to enter or work on their land.
One resident shared, “We cannot even pluck leaves from the tamarind and neem trees we planted ourselves. We have been completely boycotted socially and economically. The dominant groups fine any Hindu who supports Muslims or breaks the boycott Rs. 2,500.”
The consequences of this hostile environment are severe. Out of approximately 140 Muslim families, 10 have already left the village, forced out by constant harassment and fear.
Despite the ongoing injustice, the authorities have been slow to act. Muslims, with the support of a local Dalit organisation, have protested for over 520 days outside the Tehsildar’s office, demanding protection and justice. However, no meaningful action has been taken against the communal offenders.
Maulana Syed Moinuddin Ashraf, who presided over a recent meeting to discuss the crisis, said, “We congratulate the people of India and those raising awareness for providing extremely important and eye-opening information. There is undoubtedly a need to urgently work on bridging the growing gap of hatred.”
The meeting, held at Islam Gymkhana and organised by ‘Hum Bharat Ke Log’, was attended by Tushar Gandhi, Arif Naseem Khan, former MLA Waris Pathan, and other prominent Muslim leaders and activists.
Waris Pathan expressed his concern: “This boycott and communal hostility threaten the very existence of the Muslim community here. It is heartbreaking to see how long-standing friendships have been broken, and Muslims forced to live under fear in their own homes.”
Local Muslim voices echoed the same message of despair and resilience. One woman said, “We pray for peace and justice. We want to live like we used to, without fear or hatred.”
The village of Guha stands as a troubling example of how communalism and sectarian politics have destroyed the bonds of brotherhood once shared between communities. The silence of authorities and the lack of legal protection for minorities have only encouraged further violations.
