The incident sent a strong message of communal harmony at time when Karnatak is witnessing communal unrest and is a victim of divisive politics.
Clarion India
NEW DELHI — A group of Muslim youth in Mysuru, Karnataka, came forwarded and helped carrying out the final rites of a 60-year old Hindu woman, living in their neighbourhood, as per the Hindu customs in a full display of communal harmony at time when the state is witnessing communal unrest and is victim of divisive politics.
The woman, Jayakka (60) was a resident of Ghousia Nagar, an area dominated by the Muslim population, for the last four decades. On Friday, she suffered a massive heart attack and was declared dead by doctors. She is survived by her husband and a son, reports The New Indian Express.
Her husband, son and daughter-in-law were with her when she passed away. As the tragedy left them helpless, their Muslim neighbours swung into action and volunteered to ensure a decent funeral.
About 50-60 Muslim youths observing Ramazan fast joined in to shoulder her bier and participated in the final journey. They helped the deceased family in carying out the final rites, sending out a strong message of Hindu-Muslim harmony at a time when the dark clouds of communal divide have engulfed Karntaka.
Tanveer Pasha, a social activist, who led the march to conduct the final rites of the woman said, “Jayakka lived most of her life in this area. Her family was the only Hindu family but we all shared a great bond. We celebrated the festivals, and family occasions together. When we heard about her sudden demise we were shocked and the best we could do at this time was to lend our shoulder to carry bier and give her a dignified farewell and assist the family in their darkest hours,” reports The New Indian Express.
“Several organisations and individuals with their words and actions spew venom among the Hindu and Muslims to spread hatred among these communities or to gain their political mileage and to increase their vote bank. But this incident proves again that Karnataka is ‘Sarva Janangada Shantiya Thota’ (garden where all communities live in harmony),” said Pasha.
Ghousia Nagar is a Muslim population dominated area with only a handful of Hindu families living in the area. “Both the communities have been living in harmony here,” Shantikumari, the local corporator told the media.
