Every year, a few days before or after the arrival of the holy month of Ramzan, we receive a pack of the best quality dates from one of our friends. A special friend, a friend across communities. He has been doing this continuously for many years now. He ensures that no delay is done. These dates are of high quality both in colour and size. The quality is further added by the respect and love with which they are covered, carried and presented. The interesting thing is that he spares his precious time and ensures that he personally drops and delivers the dates at our residence with his own hands. He could send them by some other person or by other service readily available today. But he comes personally, wishes us happy and rewarding Ramzan and has a long and diverse chat with us.
He talks on contemporary issues and shares his likes and dislikes. He earnestly requests us to remember him, his family and all humanity in the special prayers during this special month. The dates that he brings are full of nutrients, fiber and antioxidants. More important is that they contain the energy of warmth, care and concern; the latter being more precious. For us this packet of dates is priceless. It cannot be quantified in currency notes, rupees, pounds or dollars. It is definitely above these metals and material considerations.
This piece of writing is a tribute to this person and this practice. It is tribute to his love and respect for interfaith sensitivities. It encourages in promoting a healthy tradition of communal harmony that is crucially important for human development. It is also a tribute to the like minded people who in one way or the other help to develop such healthy traditions for respectful coexistence. As a matter of fact harmony among communities is created by such positive practical efforts not by long & dry speeches & sermons.
As a matter of fact communal harmony is a hallmark of social life in the valley of seers and saints. This is an attested fact well corroborated by many routine norms witnessed from Khanabal to Khadinyar day in and day out. Wishing other communities on festive occasions and religious celebrations is well known to the people living in the valley of spiritual plurality. A shining dimension of this coexistence (milchar) is that all communities live harmoniously, hand in hand, believing in the fundamental oneness of all religions and humanity as a beautiful family.
The mutual concern for the brethren of other communities is reflected at other levels as well. There are occasions where one serves as ‘sahirkhan’ awakening the other for sahri. And the others serve at the funeral or cremation in return. In this way supporting each other in the ups and downs of life is a cherished norm. These are the inspiring examples of communal love and interfaith respect.
Apparently these practices may look insignificant and unimportant. But the fact remains that they carry a lot of meaning. They carry tremendous significance. These goodwill gestures are a must for strong social foundations. It is these good will gestures that inspire the common masses, bring them close to each other and detoxify the reactionary rogue forces.
Such actions are crucially needed for a harmonious relationship in society. And this is what Lal Ded and Nund Rishi has taught in their teachings. Their life lessons revolve around the principle that all humanity is like a family; various cultures are its beautiful components. Claiming specialty just by virtue of skin, creed or birth is not valid. Piety and purity matters. It is the need of the hour to preserve and promote their legacy for coming generations.
[The author is Assistant Professor History at GDC Khansahib Budgam. He can be reached at: [email protected])
