Pakistani Hindu fasts in Ramadan to express solidarity with Muslims

Islamabad: A Pakistani Hindu in Sindh province has been observing the fast since the beginning of Ramadan in solidarity with the Muslims of the country in general, and his district Tharparkar in particular.

Sushil Kumar Malani, 38, like many other Hindus, has been observing the fast since his early days. But what is different this year is that he is doing it for the entire month. This is in response to a similar gesture of warmth and friendship shown by the Muslims during Hindu festivals such as Holi and Diwali, he said.

Tharparkar district is a haven of interfaith harmony; Muslims and the Hindus live in peace here. The district headquarters, Mithi, has 50:50 Hindu to Muslim population ratio, and is the only district in Pakistan where a non-Muslim Member of the National Assembly (MNA) - Mahesh Kumar Malani - has been elected on the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) ticket in the general elections of 2018.

Sushil Kumar, who is Mahesh Kumar’s nephew, said he enjoyed observing fast since when he was young and neither his family nor Hindu friends ever objected to that. “I often break my fasting with my Muslim friends at the time of iftar,” he said.

“We are like one family. The Hindus of Tharparkar attend Muharram processions, greet Muslims on Eid and hold religious gatherings during Ramadan,” he said. “Likewise, Muslims too take care of the Hindus’ sensitivities. There is no cow slaughter in the entire district and they (Muslims) also participate and greet us in our religious and cultural festivals,” he added.

Kumar is the District President of the PPP Tharparkar and looks after his uncle Malani’s affairs, who mostly remains in Islamabad or Karachi.

“In the absence of my uncle, local people approach me for resolution of their problems, which I do my best to resolve,” he said.

History of peaceful co-existence

Kapil Dev, a Sindhi Human Rights (HR) activist, said Tharparkar district had a history of interfaith harmony and the people of the area are proud custodians of these rich values.

“Hindus fast in the month of Ramadan while the Muslims participate in Holi and Diwali with their Hindu friends,” said Kapil Dev.

At a time when we see so many divisions in society in the name of religion, language and political affiliation, Tharparkar serves as an oasis of peace and interfaith harmony and welcomes everyone with open arms, said Kapil Dev.

Tharparkar Kapil said, reflected the Founder of the country Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s vision of a country where “Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and Hindus will be free to go to their mosques, churches, gurdwaras and temples and practise their faith freely.”