Celebrating Diwali in Delhi's Muslim ghetto

By Neyaz Farooquee

One of the most visible festivals in India, Diwali, is packed with food, Diyas, prayer, and above all, happiness and intimacy. There is one locality in Delhi, Jamia Nagar, where Muslims abound, and the people there celebrate Diwali in their own unique way.

Gaurav Yadav, an undergraduate student of Law and a resident of Joga Bai in Jamia Nagar, feels no difference in celebrating the Hindu festival of Diwali, or Holi or Dussehra, in the largely Muslim area. In his words, “There is a huge difference between two persons clapping for you or 100, but still there is no such feeling of ‘others’ here.” He adds, “I was born here and most of my friends are Muslims, we all celebrate Eid, Diwali or Holi ‘together.’ And this is the difference”.

“On Diwali or Holi, guests outnumber hosts; on Eid hosts outnumber guests, and it’s quite unique in its way that in all our festivities most of our guests are Muslims,” he adds. Yadav claims the colony Joga Bai is named after his foremother, Joga Bai, who was one of the courtiers of the Mughals.

The neighbourhood of Jamia Nagar has a central University, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), which was a result of a nationalist movement started by Muslims before India’s independence. JMI has attracted a large number of Muslims in this area from the whole country. Recently it was in the news due to two allegations of terrorists.

Rahul Raja, 21, a graduate of Social Works study and a resident of Okhla village doesn’t find any difference in Diwali celebrations except in the number of Hindus. “Decorations and rush of Diwali is missing here but not the fervor." He adds, "With the influx of Muslims, most of the Hindus have migrated to other colonies. But I was born and brought up here only and I love this place. Simply, I can’t think of going anywhere else.”

But the increasing polarization, he feels, has taken its toll on the psyche of the country. “Last night, wearing Kurta, I was bursting cracker in the middle of the night along with many Kids. One kid came to me and asked, are you a Hindu?” I replied, “Yes.” Kid said, “You don’t look like a Hindu in Kurta.”

Mohan Lal, the priest for the last 11 years at the Okhla village temple in Jamia Nagar, says, “We celebrate Diwali here as we might have in any other place.” Differences apart, says 75 year old resident of Okhla Village, Brijkishore Seth, we live together, we eat together and we celebrate together.

Noble just for hope, So is New Delhi high on hope

By Neyaz Farooquee

New Delhi took a sigh of relief last week when visiting Commonwealth Organising Committee put their stamp of approval over the ongoing preparations for the Commonwealth Games 2010. With scepticism all around, including CWGs Federation president Michael Fennel voicing concern, and given the efficacy and reputation of New Delhi in question, CWG organising Committee’s approval is bound to have its repercussions well beyond CWGs.

While, it can be said that construction of venues and other infrastructural facilities are well on its pace, there is hardly any preparation visible for security and safety of CWGs that is a matter of concern. Just assurances by different ministries are not enough, the highest authorities concerned should lead the way to synchronise a bit too many stakeholders, like Home Ministry, Police Department, Intelligence wings, and different committees.

Out of 12,500 police personnel approved by the Centre, Delhi police plans to recruit almost 6,500 by the end of this year, with less than just one year to go. How early or late this exercise would be is to be contemplated later.

The decision to install CCTVs at only 58 market locations need to be accelerated to examine its adequacy and efficiency well in advance for a vast city like Delhi.

Claim by the Delhi Govt for smooth traffic for Games, keeping in mind the exponential growth of traffic in the city, is well-found, if not extraordinary, but for pedestrians it’s just not enough. New DTC buses, if all plied on road before CWGs, as planned, is bound to change the face of the city along with the world class Metro Rail. And in this case, Delhi seems well on course.

Other smaller concerns, India hopes, Delhi would sort out soon. Yes, Obama won Nobel just for hope, so Indian citizens too hopes for a noble, systemised, secure and entertaining Commonwealth Games. Good luck India!

Spurious Mehndi spoils Eid and Dussehra in parts of India

By Neyaz Farooquee

Every year, monsoon or no monsoon, everything runs the risk of getting ruined by flood in Gopal Ganj, Bihar. But it was a bit different this year. For a change, routine annual floods didn’t come at all. But then came, with the Eid and Dussehra festivities, a new villain—Mehndi.

Decorating hands and feet with Mehndi by girls and women, on special occasions like festivals and weddings, is customary in Indian sub-continent. Earlier people used to pluck leaves from its tree and grind it into semi-solid paste for using it. After drying up, it acts as temporary tattoo that slowly fades away in a few days. Presently, prepared Mehndi is easily available in the local market for just 10 bucks.

20 year old Nahida Perveen of Gopal Ganj uses it on her hands and feet since her childhood as part of her Eid celebrations. But this Eid, she says, she used Mehndi bought from market only to get inflammation, irritation and vomiting.

Samina Khatoon, 33, also from Gopal Ganj, used it on the occasion. “Two or three hours later, I felt irritation on my hands and feet. Soon it started swelling, nausea followed and I fainted,” Says Khatoon. She was rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night. “With the colour of Mehndi still clearly visible on my hands and feet, I celebrated my Eid in hospital bed, in the company of doctors and other Mehndi patients,” adds Khatoon.

Gudiya, 23, a resident of neighbouring district Siwan, is 23 miles from nearest Govt hospital. Just returned from the hospital, she says, “I used Mehndi on every festival and wedding but for the first time something like this has happened.” She adds further, “I will never use it again.”

More than 500 girls were treated for Mehndi reactions, said Dr. Bipin Bihari Chandra, a physician at Gopal Ganj Hospital. Hundreds of similar cases were reported from different parts of Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa and Jharkhand.

In some places rumours of death due to Mehndi reaction, that eventually turned out to be false, made the situation worse. According to Dr. Shambhunath Singh of Gopal Ganj Government Hospital, “... a large influx of patients was not only due to Mehndi reactions, but psychological effects as well.”

Another doctor at the Govt hospital, Shayam Saran observed, “The Mehndi, it seems, were contaminated with PPD to get sharp and lasting color.” PPD (para-Phenylenediamine) is used in dyes and pigments and its use in hair dye is controversial as it is allergic to skin.

Same week, for Dussehra festivals, buying and selling continued, grand Pandals erected, sound of hymns of Prayer reverberated but young girls were less than being happy as they were instructed not to use Mehndi this Dussehra. So, virtually, a Jewellery was missing from their embellishment.

“Mehndi used by patients has been collected and sent to laboratories for testing. Two doctors have been suspended for showing negligence in treating Mehndi patients,” said Upender Singh, a Police officer from Gopal Ganj. Singh confirmed there has been no arrest in the case so far.

While, apparently contaminated Mehndi has been sent for testing, residents here are not optimistic if any action would be taken against the manufacturer. Nishat Alam, a resident of Gopal Ganj says, “It will meet same dead-end like any other case in Bihar.”