Author: Atul Sethi
Publication: The Times of India
Date: July 8, 2007
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2185320.cms
Introduction: The Muslims in the Gautamana
community of Uttar Pradesh take pride in their Rajput origins and are staunchly
loyal to the Hindus in the community, with whom they share a common lineage
Dusk is slowly enveloping the small village
of Missi in the Bidinki sub-division of Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh.
Hasan Ahmed, a Muslim, is getting ready to attend a Hindu marriage ceremony,
which he says, won't start without his arrival.
The occasion is the marriage ceremony of the
son of one of the members of his biradari - the Gautamanas
The Gautamanas are a unique community, consisting
of both Hindus and Muslims, whose common ancestry binds them together. Descendants
of Raja Bahrawat Singh, a Rajput king, who converted to Islam, the Gautamanas
are fiercely proud of their lineage, with both Hindus and Muslims of the community
preferring to call themselves Gautam Thakurs, to highlight their Rajput ancestry.
Hasan Ahmed, for instance, says that he considers
himself a Gautam Thakur first and a Muslim later. "It's not that I don't
value my religion. It's just that my ties with my community are deeper,"
he says matter-of-factly.
In an area where caste and religion hold sway,
the Gautam Thakurs epitomize communal tolerance. "Whenever any youngster
from our community - either Hindu or Muslim meets me, he makes it a point
to touch my feet," proudly proclaims Pratap Bhan Singh of Naraicha village,
another Gautam Thakur stronghold. Communal tension within the community has
never happened, says Ahmed.
"In fact, such has been the bhai-chara
between us that during the communal riots in 1947 after Partition, not even
a single Muslim from our community was harmed, since our Hindu brothers took
up arms to protect us," he says.
The Muslims too have responded by being staunchly
loyal to the Hindus in the community. "If in an election, a Gautam Hindu
is pitted against an outside Muslim, we will vote for the Hindu," says
Rasool, Ahmed's cousin.
There has, however, been a price to pay for
this solidarity. Muslims outside the community treat the Gautam Muslims, with
suspicion. "They feel that we have compromised our religion. However,
we know in our hearts, that this is not the case. So, we don't care what they
say," says Ahmed with a shrug.
The Gautam Muslims themselves make up over
one lakh of the population in the district. The combined strength of the Gautamanas
is much more, which makes them an important vote bank in Fatehpur. Since the
community votes enmasse for a particular candidate, their vote is a crucial
one, that can make or mar political fortunes.
This is a fact realised by successive politicians,
who have contested from here, including two- time Fatehpur MP - former Prime
Minister VP Singh. "He got the vote of the Gautamanas, because he was
a fellow Thakur", says Ahmed. This quest for a Rajput identity amongst
the Gautam Muslims may seem paradoxical, but it has now become a way of life
for them.
In their marriages too, Rajput customs are
followed, like bursting of fire crackers and sending specially made laddoos
to community members, which form part of marriage celebrations. "Why
shouldn't we be proud of our Thakur lineage?" reiterates Ahmed.
"After all, our ancestors' warrior blood
still runs in our veins," he says. To prove his point, he cites the example
of his grandson, Major Salman Khan, who died while fighting insurgents during
the Kargil war in 1999. "Woh sachhe Rajput ki tarah shaheed hua"
(He died like a true Rajput), says the proud grandfather.
In fact, the Gautam Thakurs have always been
known for their patriotism, says Anang Pal Singh of Naraicha village. In 1857,
fifty-two Gautam Thakurs were hanged by the British for their role in the
uprising. The tamarind tree from which they were hanged, says Singh, stopped
growing after the hanging.
This tree, known as the Bawani Imli, still
exists near Missi village and is somewhat of a local tourist spot.
Although the Government has built a park around
it and is maintaining it, the Gautam Thakurs want a memorial to Raja Bahrawat
Singh also built nearby.
Along with it, they are petitioning for a
degree college built in the memory of their ancestor. Although there are a
few other communities like the Bais and the Dikhits, who converted to Islam,
and which include both Hindus and Muslims, the Gautamanas are the biggest
such community in the region - a fact which they want to highlight, in order
to make their presence felt.
It's a feeling that is now growing within
the community, as many of its members are now in well placed jobs in cities.
Anang Pal Singh, for instance, recounts how the District Magistrate from the
nearby district, who was a Gautam Thakur, came to their village, to trace
his roots.
"We now want to showcase our unique lineage,"
says Ahmed. "For long, we have been used by politicians for their own
gains. Now, we want to better our lot."
Perhaps, for the Gautamanas, their unique
past may just hold the key to an improved future.
atul.sethi@timesgroup.com
