Haji Malang shrine has been a symbol of harmony and tolerance. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is accused of trying to polarise voters along religious lines.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — The revered and iconic Haji Malang dargah (shrine) in the Maharashtra capital of Mumbai has become the centre of a political controversy after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde threatened to convert it into a Hindu temple.
The shrine is believed to be the tomb of an Arab missionary who came to India more than 700 years ago. The chief minister claimed that the shrine was originally a temple that was demolished by Muslim invaders. He vowed to “liberate” it for Hindus at a recent political rally.
Shinde’s statement sparked outrage among Muslims and secular activists, who accused him of stoking communal tensions ahead of the general elections in two to three months from now and state assembly elections later this year. They said that the shrine was a symbol of harmony and tolerance, and that Shinde was trying to polarise voters along religious lines.
They also pointed out that the shrine’s hereditary custodians were from a Hindu Brahmin family, and that both Hindus and Muslims offered prayers and offerings at the tomb.
Shinde and other Hindu groups are now trying to rake up an issue, dormant for centuries with only sporadic stirrings.
Speaking at the annual Malang-gad Harinam Mahotsav in Thane, Shinde, who broke away from the late Bal Thackeray’s Shiv Sena to lead a BJP-backed coalition, said he is “committed to liberate Malang-gad”, adding he would not rest till he had fulfilled the promise.
Malang-gad (‘gad’ means a fort in Marathi) is famous for its 12th-century shrine of Sufi saint Haji Abdul Rahman, popularly known as ‘Haji Malang’. But Hindus believe the place holds the samadhi of Machindranath, a revered deity in Nathpanthi sect, which was later converted into a dargah.
The chief minister’s stance echoes a campaign initiated in the 1980s by his political mentor, Anand Dighe, aimed at ‘reclaiming’ the shrine for Hindus. In 1996, Dighe led 20,000 Shiv Sena party workers into the shrine to perform a Hindu ritual, sparking tensions that persist to this day.
Hardliners have continued the practice of conducting Hindu rituals at the shrine on full moon days. This periodic activity has, on occasion, led to clashes with Muslim devotees and local residents.
Shinde’s announcement raises concerns about the shrinking space for religious minorities in the country, fueling debates about cultural assimilation and the delicate balance between preserving heritage and respecting diverse faiths.
The move adds another layer to the complex tapestry of religious relations in contemporary India, prompting discussions on the importance of religious harmony and tolerance in a diverse and pluralistic society.
