Author: Kishore Rathod
Publication: Mid-Day
Date: September 18, 2002
URL: http://www.mid-day.com/news/city/2002/september/31687.htm
Abdul Sattar (45) and Rafiq Khan
(21), both born Muslims, will convert to Hinduism at a public function
tomorrow evening. After participating in the yagna at Thane's Hindu Jagruti
Ganpati Mandal tomorrow, Abdul will become Avinash Sardesai, while
Rafiq's new name will be Raju Sharma.
"It will be a new birth, a new identity
for me," said Rabodi resident Abdul, who owns a flourishing security business.
Abdul, who left his village near Sholapur in 1975, has been associated
with Hindu Maharashtrians ever since he came to Mumbai as a teenager.
"I have been using the Hindu name
(Avinash) for almost five years, since most of my business associates are
Hindu Brahmins. If I use my Muslim name, I may lose all my business," said
Abdul.
However, the employer of over 1,000
security guards and owner of a spacious house and a fleet of cars, maintains
the change of religion is not for official, but personal reasons.
"I don't like certain practices
of Muslims, like being obsessed with religion, killing animals, etc," said
Abdul. And when asked if he is a vegetarian, he replied, "No, I eat only
chicken. And I plan to give up even that soon." Explaining his decision
to become a Hindu, Abdul said, "Since I have always been among Hindus and
consider myself one of them, I have decided to officially change my religion."
Abdul's Hindu leanings are evident
from his faith in Hindu deities. He claims that while he never read the
Koran or gave a namaaz even on Id, he has always been celebrating Hindu
festivals and visiting Hindu shrines. "I have been to Pandharpur, but never
to Ajmer," he said.
However, his wife Ameena (40) and
two daughters, Aafreen (14) and (Rukhsar), will continue following Islam.
Said Abdul, "They can give namaaz, go to the masjid and I will go to the
temple. While Islamic strictures adorn the walls of my house, my office
is full of idols of Hindu gods."
While converting to Hinduism is
a matter of choice for Abdul, for Rafiq it is a case of lack of options.
One among nine siblings, the immigrant from Jhunjhunu village of Rajasthan,
found the going tough in Mumbai ever since he came here nine months ago,
till he became associated with Thane Bajrang Dal activists.
Said Rafiq, "They gave me shelter,
they got me a job, they have made my life. While the Muslims cannot see
to the betterment of their brother, Hindus are more helping and co-operative,
so I have decided to become one myself."
Rafiq works as an office assistant
in a private firm in Thane, which employs only Hindus.
Rafiq's family members back home
in Rajasthan are unaware of his decision to become a Hindu. Said Rafiq,
"I know they will be upset when they hear about it, but then I have to
live my own life."
Following the rituals, Bajrang Dal
activists will facilitate the necessary documentation to change their names
in the government gazette.
Said Vikram Bhoir, vice president
of Thane Unit of the Bajrang Dal, "It is their choice to become Hindus,
and seeing their eagerness we are admitting them as Hindus."
When told about the two Muslims'
decision to convert, Ashfaq Syed, a middle-aged resident of Thane's Muslim-dominated
Rabodi area, reacted, "Inn dono ka to imaan hi nahi hain. Aur jiska imaan
nahi, woh Hindu kya, Mussalmaan kya, insaan hi nahi hain." (These two don't
have honour. And those who don't have honour, how can they be Hindus or
Muslims? They are not even human beings.)
