#CelebratingUnity Hindu, Sikh And Muslim Inmates Of A Ludhiana Jail Unite To Fast During Ramadan

Shariq Majeed,TNN
Shariq Majeed,TNN
Updated on Jul 07, 2015, 15:45 IST-4.8 K Shares
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Atul Singh had never thought he would one day fast during Ramzan. Belonging to a Punjabi Hindu family, he had very few Muslims friends. But today, as an inmate of the Ludhiana Central Jail, he has shunned food from dawn to dusk, to show solidarity with the Muslim friends he made behind bars.

Atul, who is a resident of Khanna and an undertrial in a theft case, is part of a motley group of five inmates here that is fasting with Muslim inmates. "Since our Muslim friends celebrate Diwali and Gurpurab with us, we reciprocated the gesture by fasting," Atul says. "Fasting also helps cleanse the body."

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Non-Muslim inmates, including Hindus and Sikhs, say apart from sending a strong message for communal harmony, fasting has brought them closer to the Muslim prisoners.

"During the day, we chat with each other and have meals together in the evening. Apart for praying for themselves and their families, they also pray for us and our families," adds Karan Singh, a murder convict from Khanna and a Sikh.

Another murder convict Bhim, who is a migrant from Jharkhand recites poet Jigar Muradabadi's verse - "Unka jo kaam hai woh ahl-ey-siyasat jane/mera paigham mohabbat hai jahan tak pahunche (Let politicians of the world do their job/my message is one of love, may it spread far)".

Muslim prisoners say they were surprised when some Hindus and Sikhs joined in the fasting. Says Muhammad Aqeel, a murder convict from Khanna and an elder in the jail, "We are proud of setting an example of communal harmony behind bars when there is so much strife outside it. For the past 13 days, we have been fasting in the company of our non-Muslim friends. They pray with us for peace and tranquillity in the world and in India."

The jail authorities are pleased too. Says jail superintendent Surinderpal Khanna, "There is a message in it for all citizens -- spread the word of communal harmony."

Suneel Kumar, a prisoner from Tandhari Kalan who is convicted in a fraud case, says he has been observing the fast since the start of Ramzan. He befriended some Muslim inmates and fasting was a way on building on the camaraderie.

(Originally published in The Times of India; Image for representative purpose only