Malerkotla Unity: Sikhs and Hindus Host Iftar Events for Muslims in Punjab

Sikhs and Hindus Host Iftar Events for Muslims in Punjab: During Ramzan, Hindu and Sikh neighbours in Punjab's Malerkotla district are inviting members of the Muslim community for Roza Iftar, the evening meal that breaks fast during Ramzan.

The month-long Ramzan observance and fast-breaking festivities in Malerkotla are unique as they are not confined to the Muslim community. There is iftar in Hindu temples and Gurdwaras too. Muslims have also been inviting Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, and other members of other religious communities to join them in special Ramzan prayers.

Formerly a princely state, Malerkotla was founded in 1454 by Sheikh Sadruddin-i-Jahan, a ruler from modern-day Afghanistan.

Mahant Swaroop Bihari Sharma, president of the All India Brahmin Front, said they have been celebrating Roza Iftar and Eid here for several years.

The Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians have lived together in Malerkotla for ages without caring about the communal ideology of politicians, nor would we allow them to preach to us. Politicians try to incite violence, but no religion teaches hatred. Nobody wants to fight. Before we discuss religion, we need to be human first. All festivals should be celebrated together,” he said.

According to locals, the Laxmi Narayan Mandir and the Aqsa Mosque share a common wall in the Hindu-majority Somsons Colony at Malerkotla.

Taking pride in Malerkotla's rich culture, the chairman of the Shree Ram Mandir Committee at Ahmedgarh, Deepak Sharma, told The Wire, "We are hosting Roza Iftar at the Ram Mandir, Ahmedgarh, next week, and have invited all of our Muslim friends." For Eid-ul-Fitr, our committee members will also celebrate with Muslim brothers. Previously, we provided dry ration to financially disadvantaged Muslim families for iftar, but now we organize special iftar programs."

At Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Malerkotla, Muslims offer Namaz and take Iftar. Photo: By arrangement.

As a matter of fact, one of our temple priests, Raju Sharma Pandit, even hosted iftar at his home last year as part of Kanjak Pujan and special prayers at Shri Naina Devi Temple. "Why should we stay away from such events?" he asked.

"We are not bothered" by those who oppose Hindu-Muslim unity, Sharma said.

"Hindu-Muslim politics might work in Uttar Pradesh. Punjab is different from UP," he said.

During the reign of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb, the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, waged a religious war against the forced conversion of non-Muslims in Malerkotla.

The Nawab of Sirhind, Wazir Khan, had captured and executed Guru Gobind Singh's two younger sons, nine-year-old Zorawar Singh and seven-year-old Fateh Singh.

In spite of being a supporter of Aurangzeb, Shah Mohammad Khan fought with Wazir Khan, citing the Quran's prohibition against killing children.

To honor the rallying cry for justice raised by Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan, the Sikhs built Gurdwara Haa Da Naara in Malerkotla, one of the most revered and iconic places of worship for the Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus, and other communities.

Because of Guru Gobind Singh and Sher Mohammad Khan's legacy, Malerkotla has remained untouched by communal violence.

It was Adnan Ali Khan of Malerkotla's royal family who told The Wire that they were continuing Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan's legacy. “Whether it is Gurdwara Haa Da Naara, where Gurbani Kirtan and Namaz are performed simultaneously during Ramzan or inviting Muslims for iftar, Malerkotla’s history is unique. Malerkotla remained unaffected by religious hatred even during Partition of 1947. "We are proud that the youngsters are following in step," he added.

A prominent community leader, Naseer Khan, who runs the Sikh-Muslim Sanjhan Foundation in Malerkotla, says that inclusive iftar invitations are not limited to urban areas.

“In the villages, iftar invitations were generally from the Sikh families including the gurdwara managements. Just recently, we went for iftar to Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Jainpur, where people from seven villages like Lohar Majra, Kheri Jattan, Amargarh, to name a few, were also present. Earlier we went to Kalain in Malerkotla and Kuthala villages in Sangrur district too. The list is long,” he said.

Occasionally, he and members of the Muslim community receive so many invitations from in and around Malerkotla that they cannot attend them all.

Naseer said Hindus and Sikhs have even participated in Namaz with them, a rare occasion in the country. "Malerkotla has set a precedent for communal harmony in the country," he said.

As Naseer pointed out, such stories are not covered by the media.

In the same way that they took part in the farmers' protest in 2020, Muslims from Malerkotla have joined the current farmers' protest at Shambu border. Additionally, they contributed to relief efforts during the devastating Punjab floods of 2023, as well as aid during the COVID pandemic, donating 330 quintals of wheat to the Golden Temple langar in Amritsar.

He maintains an arm's length from politicians because people are being fooled in the name of religion, according to Amar Singh Sarao, who runs the Guru Nanak Mission Sewa Society at Ahmedgarh in Malerkotla.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) circle president Amar Sarao says they invite Muslim brothers for iftar every year. "This year too, we are planning an enjoyable gathering," he says.

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