Thisrefers to the recent Jammu crisis and an exemplary story of fellow feelingdisplayed at Makkah masjid Bathindi. After Pulwama attack, Kashmirisparticularly students were harassed throughout the length and breadth ofcountry. In that hour of crisis, Sikh community came to forefront and savedtheir Kashmiri brothers. I have a very great regard for this community. Wheneveryone criticised and condemned the Kashmiri people they opened not onlytheir Gurduwaras but their hearts as well to save Kashmiri brothers.
In Jammu it was heart-warming to see people in distress being helped at Bathindi, the Muslim dominated area of Jammu city. Thousands of people were transported by government authorities from railway station, airport and bus stand to Bathindi.
At par with Gurdawaras which always serve ‘langar’ to people, mosques in Jammu also made arrangements for Kashmiris. Makkah masjid committee of Bathindi decided to offer food for those people who were rescued from different parts of Jammu city and for the people who fled from other states. In this chaotic condition the committee managed everything, provided every facility to people. The management served selflessly to the distressed people of jammu and kashmir.
This mosque is spacious and has a capacity to accommodate thousands of people. Besides masjid committee, local people also came forward in this noble mission. For the benefit of common people this langar needs to function for long.
But they get only limited money. How come it is possible to manage such a big thing with meagre income. People are reluctant to deposit money in committee’s account. They get little money in comparison to what they provide. It’s a collective responsibility. All must contribute their bit so that any abnormal situation can be dealt with.
The author is a Research Scholar Kashmir University