A novel protest of Sanjay Mitra by observing Roja for 21 years
Amitabh Bhattashalee/ BBC Bangla, Kolkata
Last update: Sunday, 27th [2014]
A 71 year old Hindu in Kolkata, Mr Sanjay Mitra, has been observing roza
for 21years during the month of Ramzan. This is his protest as an individual
against the demolition of Babri Masjid, and an expression of shame on
behalf of the majority (Hindu) community.
July
Mr Mitra belongs to a family whose household has been conducting Durga
Puja for 125 years.
I went along with Mr Mitra one Ramzan evening through the lanes of Raja
Bazaar, just before the maghrib namaz (the prayer after sunset) was due
to begin. Mr Mitra left his house in jeans and khadi kurta, and we crossed
the Hindu mohalla to enter the Muslim-dominated area of Raja Bazaar. We
entered a medium-sized hotel and exchanged greetings with everyone there.
As we seated ourselves at a table, Mr Mitra said that he would generally do
his iftaar (the evening meal, with which Muslims break their fast) at home.
Sometimes, he would visit this hotel.
“I’ve been visiting this shop for 55 years. A lot has changed. I remember it
was here that I ate beef for the first time. Since then I’ve been eating beef
regularly,” Mr Mitra says with a laugh.
Just as we were talking, the maghrib namaz started. Mr Mitra did his iftaar
and broke his fast in the company of people he has known for many years.
He broke his fast along with hotel owner Mohd Naimuddin and employee
Mohd Zamiruddin, eating from the same plate – banana, ripe papaya,
cucumber, dates and melon (kharbuja).
Naimuddin is surprised and touched to see a Hindu observe roza. “When I
first learnt that Mr Mitra observes roza I was very happy; that like a Muslim
he too observes roza. There is no such thing that only Muslims can observe
roza. Everyone can. Hindus observe fast during many pujas. Ours is a
month-long fast. It’s the same thing,” he said.
At times Mr Mitra eats fruit or roti to break his fast, and at times haleem.
This is how Mr Mitra has been breaking his fast for 21 years.
Before we left for the hotel, Mr Mitra said that after the Babri Masjid
demolition he began to observe the Ramzan fast as an expression of protest.
“When the demolition of Babri Masjid took place on December 6, I was in
Delhi. There were major riots in North India. I felt helpless as a Hindu. As a
person belonging to the majority religion I was unwilling to accept what had
happened. At that time I decided to protest on my own,” Mr Mitra said.
Mr Mitra does not perform puja on a regular basis. His wife questioned him
on observing only a Muslim rite. That’s why, apart from roza, he observes
another fast during the hot month of chaitra (March-April), coinciding
with the gajan festival. (This is a festival in rural Bengal, when prayers are
offered to Shiva and the sun God for spells of rain.)
Mr Mitra said: “After many years of observing roza my wife said ‘you
observe roza for Muslims but nothing for your religion.’ To which I
said ‘Namashudras are generally landless peasants. There is nothing to eat
during the month of chaitra. In the name of gajan, they ask for alms and
eat just once in the evening. This I can do. I cannot ask for alms but I can
observe gajan fast on a regular basis.’ So I observe fast during Ramzan and
gajan.”
He continued: “Since I do not perform puja or rituals regularly, I do not
visit a temple. In the same way, I don’t read namaaz five times a day during
Ramzan.”
At one time a Communist Party member and a human rights activist, Mr
Mitra’s companions are books and music during these two (fasting) months.
When he was active in the Left movement, he, along with all others would
keep watch all night in a Muslim area in the event of a riot.
But when Babri Masjid was demolished, Mr Mitra decided to protest in a
more personal sort of way.
The reason being that his childhood memory of coming face to face with
death during Hindu – Muslim a riot is also a very personal one.
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SEE ALSO: http://www.aa.com.tr/en/news/362284--a-21st-ramadan-fast-for-an-indian-hindu
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