BELAGAVI – In an extraordinary act of compassion and interfaith solidarity, a Muslim couple in the Bastwada village in the Raybag taluk of Karnataka’s Belagavi (Belgaum) district has set an inspiring example for the nation. Mehboob Hasan Naikwadi, a retired KSRTC driver, and his wife Noor Jahan Naikwadi, have raised two Hindu orphan brothers, fulfilling a promise made to the boys’ late mother, and recently conducted the elder son’s marriage according to Hindu rituals.
The story dates back nearly 20 years. Shivanand Kadaya, belonging to the Lingayat community, passed away due to illness, leaving behind two young children. His wife, Sheela, also passed away shortly afterwards. At that time, the elder son, Somsekhar, was only four, and his younger brother Vasant was even younger.
In the final days of her life, Sheela entrusted her children to Noor Jahan. “I had promised her that she should not worry, your children would be like our children,” Noor Jahan recalled emotionally. True to her word, the couple raised both boys alongside their own five children, providing them with good education, moral guidance, and care to prepare them for independent life.
Today, both Somsekhar and Vasant are employed in the private sector. Somsekhar expressed his gratitude, saying, “We never felt that we were not part of this family. They took care of our education, needs and every step of the way, just like they would their own children.”
The story of love, trust, and devotion reached a memorable milestone recently when Somsekhar married Poonam at the village’s Kadasadheeshwar temple. Mehboob Hasan and Noor Jahan performed the role of parents, participating fully in the wedding rituals. Noor Jahan, her voice full of emotion, said, “They are both my own children. I have fulfilled my responsibility as a mother.”
She further added, “Our family celebrates both Hindu and Muslim festivals together. Love and mutual respect are the real bond, not religion.” Somsekhar echoed this sentiment, noting, “In today’s era, when incidents of hatred keep appearing, society should learn from Noor Jahan’s family that people of different religions can live as one family.”
This story has inspired villagers and visitors alike, showing that compassion, humanity, and cross-religious love can transcend social divisions. In a time when religious intolerance often dominates headlines, the actions of Mehboob Hasan and Noor Jahan stand as a testament to India’s true spirit of unity in diversity.
