Abu Dhabi: As Muslims across the world find spiritual solace in Ramadan, the month also offers glimpses of non-Muslims who are drawn to the essence of the month. Expressing solidarity with their fasting friends and fellow human beings, these individuals follow the same regime of fasting in Ramadan. In doing so, they add another layer of amity and cohesiveness to UAE’s multilayered cultural richness.
Gulf News speaks to some non-Muslims on their reasons for participating wholeheartedly in Ramadan fasting.
Raveena Valsalan, 33, from India
Valsalan, a Hindu, who works as a customer service executive at a health care trading company, has been observing Ramadan fasts for the past 19 years.
She recalls with fondness her childhood moments of prayer with her classmates at their school in India. “We all — Hindus, Muslims and Christians — used to pray together before going for exams.”
These early influences of amity in diversity made her want to join her Muslim schoolmates to fast during Ramadan. The sharing of the Ramadan spirit at the age of 14 strengthened her relationship with her schoolmates. One among them — Reema Backer, who lives in Dubai now — even helps her wake up for suhour these days. (Reema was a neighbourhood friend during her Kannur days).
Brought up in Abu Dhabi, her early memories of Ramadan are rooted in the years where her family shared a flat with a Muslim family in Abu Dhabi.
As a child she was not in a position to fast, although she wanted to. That interest was revived when she went back to India to join a convent high school in Kanuur District in Kerala.
She is still in touch with around 13 schoolmates with whom she would fast during Ramadan. Even after parting ways with them after school, Valsalan continued with her Ramadan fasts. “I went in for a B.Sc in IT and later got a job in Abu Dhabi.” No matter her geographical footprint, she made sure she was in touch with her 13 friends from school. “We were always communicating our Ramadan experiences [to each other],” she said.
When people come to know that as a non-Muslim, she keeps a Ramadan fast, they ask her to pray for them. “And I do so because my mother always tells me that if you pray for others, God will accept it.”
Her mother, a homemaker, prepares special meals for Valsalan’s iftar and suhour. Her father, a foreman at a construction company, always bring her favourite fruits during Ramadan. “They are very supportive and they taught me to respect all religions.”
Her younger sister, husband and eight-year-old daughter also support her fasting.
Apart from physical benefits, fasting gives her mental strength. “It helps me become more determined. I was not good at saying ‘no’ to others, even if the situation demanded so, especially at work. Now, I have learned to develop such strengths,” Valsalan said.
Anandavalli Natarajan, 59, homemaker, from India
When she was living in a housing colony in Trichi in Tamil Nadu in India, she had a chance to celebrate festivals of her Muslim and Christian neighbours. “As a Hindu, I was fascinated by the stories behind Christmas, Eid, etc. We used to cook together and eat together with all friends on those occasions.”
Natarajan was happy to experience the same when she reached Abu Dhabi 19 years ago to join her husband, who has many Muslim and Christian friends. “I made many more Muslim friends and had a closer experience about Ramadan in Abu Dhabi. They fast for almost 16 hours without even drinking water. I wondered how they could do it for a whole month. That prompted me to observe Ramadan fasting three years ago,” she said.
“Initially, I found it to be difficult, but with time, I found myself undergoing positive changes physically and mentally. More than that, we start realising the pain of hunger and [the plight] of hungry people across the world and feel the need to do something for them.”
Her husband, children and grandchildren, were all very supportive [of her decision to fast]. “I think we all should participate in the practices of other faiths. The feeling of brotherhood will then reach new heights,” she said.
Kapil Singh, 35, banking professional, from Uttar Pradesh, India
Kapil Singh began fasting during Ramadan two years ago. This has helped him strengthen his relationship with his Muslim colleagues and friends.
Singh sees the value of such bonding particularly in the context of his memories as a young boy of the communal tensions back home in the town of Meerut.
“If we [learn to] appreciate and respect the practices of other faiths, this creates a special bond among people. I have seen a small change in my neighbourhood in Meerut.” [He left his hometown for a job after completing his college education].
Singh recalls the distress of witnessing a communal riot in his hometown when he was 17 or 18. “As usual, the reason was silly. But it was painful to see human suffering [as a result of it].”
Subsequent to the flare-up, the situation improved thanks to the progressiveness of the town youth who began to celebrate all religious occasions to send home the message of solidarity and harmony.
When he reached Abu Dhabi eight years ago, he felt a similar sense of harmony. His wife, a homemaker, and his two sons aged 3 and 5, supported his decision to observe fasting during Ramadan.
Though his family returned to India last year and he now lives alone, Singh said, “I don’t find [fasting] difficult, thanks to the support of colleagues and friends.”
Vysakh Subramanian, 28, storekeeper
While doing his schooling at a monastery in Thrissur in Kerala, the Hindu monks taught him the basics of Quran and Bible. “My mother got me admitted in the ashram as she wanted me to have high spiritual values. She believed that spirituality will help me respect all human beings and become a better individual and I was happy to grow up in an environment as she wished.”
Along with Hindu scriptures, the teachings of Quran also attracted him. “When I reached Abu Dhabi eight years ago, I could learn more from my three Muslim roommates.”
Their friendship was not restricted to discussing spiritual matters. “I started joining them in Ramadan fasts in 2013.”
His mother was happy to know about it. “But she is no longer there to encourage me. She passed way last March.”
When Subramanian got married, his wife too supported his decision to fast.
Rajendran Venjaramood, 50, employed with a cargo company.
Twenty-five years ago when he came to Abu Dhabi, when he saw his Muslim friends fasting during Ramadan, Venjaramood began to realise what it takes to do without food and water for long hours.
Having come from a financial background that usually placed immense challenges ahead of him, his condition improved when he began working in Abu Dhabi.
Thanks to his job, his family’s financial situation improved back home. “I felt I have to be thankful and should not forget the past. Joining my Muslim friends in observing fasting during Ramadan was my commitment towards that promise [I made to myself]. And I have been keeping that commitment for 17 years,” said Venjaramood. He says he feels fortunate to have worked with the same company for 25 years.
At his bachelor accommodation some years back, where he lived with around 13 other bachelors, “the oldest one in the group was like a grandfather and took the initiative to cook delicious food for iftar and suhour. He lovingly checked whether everyone had enough food,”
All those people parted ways and are now living in different places. “But all of them call me up to ask about my Ramadan experience every year.” This concern, he said, renews the bond he has been sharing with them down the years.
