Will Ramlilas Rid Uttar Pradesh of Its Communal Shadows?

Ramlilas in Uttar Pradesh are known to bring Hindus and Muslims together, writes Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar.

Hindus and Muslims partaking in each other’s festivities has been a part of the Ganga-Jamuna culture of western Uttar Pradesh. Unfortunately, this Doab region has been witnessing a lot of politically orchestrated communal strife over the past couple of years.

First, it was in the form of the Muzaffarnagar riots and more recently the lynching of a resident of Bisada village, Mohammad Aqhlaq, following rumours of cow-slaughter and beef consumption. In what can be described as a whiff of change, members of both the communities are now taking extra measures to send across a message of peace. And the latest in this endeavour is the huge participation of Muslims in the Ramlila processions which are taking place in various parts of the state.

Message of Communal Harmony

So, when the Shri Ramlila Samiti Trans Hindon carried out a Bhavya Shobha Yatra, residents of several colonies in Ghaziabad were left literally rubbing their eyes. They could hardly comprehend what they were seeing. In the procession, that had Ram, Sita, Laxman, Ravan and other characters of the Ramlila riding in separate chariots and a large number of volunteers and citizens riding atop tractor trolleys, the participation of both Muslim men and women was considerably large and heart-warming.

Over a score of burqa-clad women sat along with other women while anywhere between 70 to 100 Muslim men, wearing their skull caps, shared the space on various trolleys with other men. There was also a sprinkling of Sikhs in colourful turbans which sent out a reminder that all was well among the general citizenry provided politicians did not vitiate the atmosphere. It is another matter though that this Ramlila has as its patron the Bahujan Samaj Party politician from Ghaziabad, Amar Pal Sharma.

Spreading the Message of Peace

• Western UP marred by communal violence, from Muzaffarnagar riots in 2013 to the recent Dadri lynching incident
• A Ramlila in Ghaziabad witnessed Muslims participating in the procession
• Organisers admit how crucial it was to spread a message of peace and harmony
• Ramlila in Uttar Pradesh, as well as other states, known to bring together Hindus and Muslims
• Despite such occasional displays of unity, shadows loom over this year’s festivities

Noble Intentions

Though the exercise appeared a bit overdone, the organisers could not be blamed as they have been trying hard to send across a message of peace and harmony in these troubled times. According to an organiser, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, with the lynching in Bisada village having taken place just about a fortnight ago on September 28 and the political slugfest over it still ongoing, it had become imperative for all social-religious organisations to do their bit to maintain tranquillity and peace.

No one wants any kind of untoward incident. I hail from Bulandshahr and all our lives we have lived along with Muslims in our village. What has happened over the past couple of years is unfortunate. By bringing out a large number of Muslims for Ramlila, we are just trying to tell everyone in the region that for every one person who believes in violence, there are a hundred others who want peace and progress.
— Shri Ramlila Samiti Trans Hindon Procession Organiser

Forging Close Ties

The Ramlila is known to bring Hindus and Muslims closer together in several parts of Uttar Pradesh and also other states. But while everyone recently heard about actor Asrani being roped in to play the role of Narada by the Luv Kush Ramlila Committee, which stages the event opposite the historic Red Fort in Delhi, few know that in Uttar Pradesh there are Ramlilas which are organised by Muslims.

One such old Ramlila is of a Muslim-dominated Mumtaz Nagar village in Faizabad which has been running for the last 47 years. Here, a number of Muslims come together under the banner of Ramlila Ramayana Samiti every year to host the festivities, which they believe help forge stronger ties among the two communities.

But while such stories of communal harmony abound in Uttar Pradesh, the killing of Akhlaq by men from his own village at the instigation of others, and that too soon after Id-ul-Zuha celebrations, has not only brought into question the strength of the bonds being forged through such efforts, they have also cast a long shadow on this year’s festivities.

(The writer is a Delhi-based freelance journalist.)