A team of 20 who want to promote ‘true Islam’

Honnatugi, who owns Xerox shop in Kalyan, also tries to leverage the popularity that Bollywood personalities have on society and takes their appointment to make them understand the true meaning of religion. Honnatugi claims that he approaches Bollywood personalities because they have ‘greater influence’ on the youth.

Another volunteer, Sajid Anwar, an engineer with a glass company, uses Facebook and few other social networking sites to post videos and “literature on peace”. “Our approach to people is through literature. I give them ayats (verses) from Quran that deal with the notion of peace,” he said.

The group uses social media sites such as WhatsApp and Facebook to spread their message, besides visiting colleges and cultural events. The group includes mostly working professionals as well as students. Following the news of four Kalyan youths who had joined the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in May last year, after reportedly getting influenced through Internet, the volunteers feel the only way to kill their misplaced ideology is by replacing it with another ideology, that of peace and non-violence. While they have been visiting people of all age groups in the last few years, the “shocking radicalisation” has forced them to turn their attention towards young Muslim boys, said Honnutagi.

“We stand at stations to talk to people, irrespective of their religion, or we go to book fairs or college events to attract their attention. Youngsters have a lot of doubts and it is necessary to clear them,” said Thane-based Dr Junaid Shaikh, who volunteers in his free time.

He further said, “Terror outfits like ISIS or Taliban are not dying because they convey a different meaning of religion. We are trying to convey the right meaning to bring back those who have strayed.”

Shaikh said that recently he tried teaching the concept of peace to a 24-year-old engineer, who after initial apprehensions, started responding to the Whatsapp texts and videos that Shaikh sent his way.

The group also distributes commentary on Quran written by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, an Islamic scholar and peace activist. In the past one year, the volunteers have visited nine cities across Maharashtra to create more networks. They are now attempting to expand and reach out to other states, starting Kolkata next week. According to Anwar, they distribute literary work on peace in Urdu to Muslims and in Hindi or English to non-Muslims. “Several people get back to us, their feedback is always positive,” said Anwar.