Of Patna’s strong cultural bonding that has traversed through the ages

Bihar has remained largely unaffected by the wave of hate politics but some Patna traders are apprehensive that the situation might change in the future

By Dheeraj Sinha (From Patna)

The first impression, they say, is the last impression. This is an old adage that may not necessarily hold water. But if you are on your maiden journey to Patna by a train, chances are that your first impression about the city is going to be shaped right after you move out of the junction.

Yes, there’ll obviously be the usual hustle-bustle and the motley crowd of passengers jostling to get past you at the railway station. But the surprise element – a pleasant one – bares open upon you as soon as you step out of the railway station. You find a majestic temple and a big mosque located at a short distance to each other greeting you. The canopy of the temple and the minaret of the mosque are in the same alignment, creating an impression that both structures are greeting each other.

Members of both majority and minority communities have their shops sitting in close vicinity of the temple and mosque eking out their business footfalls peacefully. Cultural bonding in this part of the country has traversed ages – before and after the “Azimabad” days. The capital city of Bihar has generally been an epitome of communal harmony over the course of history barring odd events.

However, recent incidents in some parts of the country are making shopkeepers in the Patna station area a wee bit wary. Mohammad Mustafa, a poultry seller in the railway station locality is uncertain if his business would continue to be safe in the future. His apprehensions emanate from recent controversies over issues like hijab, sale of meat during Navratri, halal vs jhatka etc, and the more recent incidents that have left a trail of controversies.

“Bihar has remained unaffected by such issues but nobody can say if the situation will remain the same in future too. Sometimes, I wonder if my poultry business will suffer if the halal issue is blown out of proportion in Bihar too,” he remarked.

Even as Mustafa’s apprehensions may sound a remote possibility, and nothing more, shopkeepers in the area say politicians “should stop playing with fire as it will create unnecessary tension in the society”.

However, another Muslim youth, Ismail, who sells dry fruits, chipped in in the conversation, rubbishing Mustafa’s apprehensions: “This [tensions] will never happen in Bihar until Nitish Kumar is at the helm as the chief minister.”

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had earlier been reported saying that the Bihar government would not take down loudspeakers from religious places and would not interfere with any religious practice. “Yeh fizul ki baat hai. Bihar me humlog kisi bhi dharm ke maamle mein hastakshep nahi karte hain. Sabhi ko apna dharm maanne ka pura adhikar hai (This is nonsense. In Bihar, we do not interfere in matters of anyone’s religion. One is free to profess and follow one’s religion),” Nitish Kumar had said.

Not shaken but tremors felt  

The hijab controversy of Karnataka has had its repercussions in Bihar too when a number of girl students and women took out a procession in Araria district to protest against the ban on hijab in educational institutions in that state.

[Also read by the same author: Bihar may witness a surge of Hindutva politics as BJP’s poll juggernaut rolls on – THE NEWS PORTER]

Similarly, National Students Union of India (NSUI) activists took out a procession in Kishanganj in support of pro-hijab protesters in Karnataka.

Araria and Kishanganj are part of the Seemanchal region comprising Araria, Katihar, Purnea and Kishanganj. The region has a sizable population of the minority community.

Apprehensive but not panicking

Mohammed Asif, a shopkeeper in the state capital’s Muslim-dominated Sabzi Bagh locality, said there is no impact of growing right-wing politics at least in Patna. Even where there is a mixed population of Hindus and Muslims, people are living peacefully in the state capital as they avoid talking politics and religion.

“My frame-making and box-making business has not suffered due to the emergence of so-called hard-line politics and my Hindu friends continue to do business with me without any squirm,” he asserted.

Asif also appreciated Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his government for “not discriminating against any particular community”. Even the BJP MLA from Bankipur, Nitin Navin, takes care that development work is done in Muslim-dominated areas under his constituency as well, he pointed out.

A book seller, Imtiyaz Anwar, said there is no hard-line politics in Bihar but there is a risk that the controversy over the use of loudspeakers for prayers could reach Bihar too. The BJP, said Anwar, has started exerting pressure on Nitish “but he should remain the chief minister of Bihar as communal harmony is maintained in the state under his rule”.

“We Muslims have full trust in Nitish and know very well there will be no difficulty for us under his regime,” he added.

Mohammad Anjum, a bank employee, said the BJP has been able to drive a wedge between Hindus and Muslims in Bihar too but unlike in some other states, the Hindu-Muslim divide has not posed a serious challenge in the state so far. “I have a firm belief that our society is prudent enough to not allow any sort of violence erupting in Bihar in the name of religion,” he said.

Bihar shows the way

Social activist Mokhtarul Haque said a majority of the majority community does not approve of communal propaganda. The situation in Bihar is still very different and not impacted by what is happening in neighbouring state. “The credit for this should go to chief minister Nitish Kumar as he always emphasises on communal harmony, national unity and integrity.”

Senior journalist Imran Khan said attempts are being made to polarise the society on different issues. “In Bihar, there is a strong Opposition. Left parties are also getting stronger in the state,” he said.

[https://www.thequint.com/voices/blogs/a-bit-too-late-but-thank-you-pm-modi-for-calling-a-spade-a-spade}

India Today special correspondent Pushya Mitra said serious efforts are being made to polarise the society by raising controversial issues but it remains to be seen how much they succeed in Bihar.

A political analyst said on the condition of anonymity that many youths aspiring to shine in politics resort to communal tactics for improving their ‘political CVs’. Jobless youths, he noted, are “indulging in such activities for money, political opportunities and even thrill”.

If there is a ‘friendly’ government in the state, youths find it easier to do away with such activities, he noted, adding that situation in Bihar is different as Nitish is yet to be ‘saffronised’ in a manner a section of the politicians wanted.

Firebrand leaders

Senior Bihar BJP leader and minister Janak Ram had created a flutter when he contended that the use of loudspeakers during azaan in mosques should be banned across the country by citing the Constitution. He said that restrictions are imposed on the use of loudspeakers and speeding vehicles during Hindu festivals like Holi, Diwali and Chhath but there is no such ban on the use of loudspeakers during azaan in mosques, which causes disturbance to other people.

Union minister Giriraj Singh, known for making controversial statements against the minority community off and on, supported Bihar minister Janak Ram’s demand for a ban on the use of loudspeaker during azaan.

Bihar BJP MLA Hari Bhushan Thakur too had created a political storm by demanding that the government should “take away the right to vote from Muslims”. He argued that the country’s partition took place on the basis of religion and a separate country was carved out for Muslims. “If they are living here, then I demand from the government that their voting rights be withdrawn. They [Muslims] can live in India as second-class citizens,” BJP MLA Thakur had contended.

Also read by the same author: In a first-of-its-kind heist in Bihar, thieves coolly decamp with a 60-feet bridge – THE NEWS PORTER

The views are the author’s own and The News Porter bears no responsibility for the same