“No Muslim family left Bhatner to go to Pakistan because the elders convinced them of peaceful co-existence”
Unlike other parts of Nation, Unity still prevails in Jewar and residents still recall their common ancestral roots which remained firm even at the at the time when Hindu-Muslim partition era was at its peak. Bulandshahr and Gautam Budh Nagar are live examples of religious tolerance.
Jewar MLA Thakur Dhirendra Singh, for example, claims at least 10,000 Muslims must have voted for him in a constituency where the citizens recall with fondness their common ancestral roots – they were and are Gurjars – that didn’t get severed even at the height of Partition-era hostility between Hindus and Muslims.
Even lynching of Akhlaq in Dadri Bisada, allegedly for possessing beef, could not break the ties as the opposition spiced up the issue to divert the minds of voters in Bihar that was about to face its Assembly election around the time.
Dadri MLA Tejpal Nagar said, “One sad incident has tried to malign the image of our region, but the facts on the ground are very different. India is a secular country and we all should help in maintaining harmony of the country.”
The two villages of this region – Til Begumpur in Bulandshahr and Ghodi Bacchheda in Gautam Budh Nagar – one Muslim dominated and the other Hindu dominated are live examples of religious tolerance.
“No Muslim family left Bhatner to go to Pakistan because the elders convinced them of peaceful co-existence,” said Balbir Singh Arya, social activist and Manager of Janta Inter College, Tilpata.
“Hindus and Muslims are two arms of this country and only by being together can they develop this nation,” added Dhirendra Singh.
“All villages of Bhatner respect Til Begumpur as its big brother. There is no place of hatred between Hindus and Muslims despite incidents like Bisada,” said Naseem Khan Bhati, resident of Til Begumpur.
“It was portrayed in the media that as if Hindus and Muslims are baying for the blood of one another. When both communities live together, it is obvious that sometimes they will fight with each other. People should visit the area to understand the relationship between people of Ghodi Bacchheda and Til Begumpur,” said Arya.