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Amid communal violence in neighbouring Bangladesh, in addition to clashes in Tripura’s Kadamtala that left one useless and 17 injured, the Jubak Sangha from the state’s Border Golchakkar space is championing messages of peace and concord—one thing it has accomplished for the previous 65 years.
Border Golchakkar, positioned close to the Indo-Bangladesh worldwide border and the Akhaura worldwide checkpost, encompasses a number of blended localities, together with the South Ramnagar slum, Qazi Para, Policepara, Biswas Para, Kalikapur and Joydurgapara, the place Hindu and Muslim households have coexisted for over three generations. The realm is lower than 500 m from the Bangladesh border, past which there have been hostilities in opposition to Hindus, Buddhists, tribals and different minorities.
Approach again in 1959, a bunch of schoolchildren and younger adults—Md Malek Miah, Sahadeb Bhowmik, Shyamlal Das, Nandulal Chouhan, Saruj Khan—based the membership. Right this moment, Nandulal and Shyamlal are the final surviving founders, each of their late eighties however nonetheless actively engaged in neighborhood efforts.
“We aimed to create a physique the place we might keep collectively, contribute to the event of our space and the nation. So, why not do our half? And who doesn’t know charity begins at dwelling!” Chouhan defined how they got here to discovered the membership.
The membership’s inaugural Durga Puja was held a 12 months after its formation, funded by a collective effort to catch and promote fish from an area pond.
Sabita Akhter and locals in puja pandal. (Specific photograph by Debraj Deb)
“We raised Rs 2,500 for the puja, with the idol offered by a pal who constructed it free of charge, and obtained some funds from brick fields from the following time onwards. Subscription charges had been initially set at eight anna or a rupee,” he recalled. Right this moment, the membership nonetheless accepts contributions as little as Rs 20.
“Individuals donate what they will. We hear of points with subscriptions elsewhere, however not right here. We wish everybody to stay collectively and contribute to the nation. Our faith teaches peace, not hatred,” Nandulal Chouhan said.
Arghyajit Das, a younger entrepreneur from Joydurgapara, stated the membership’s finances this 12 months is Rs 6 lakh, considerably diminished from final 12 months’s Rs 10 lakh due to contributions made for flood aid. “We rescued 250 folks affected by the floods and offered them with necessities. We intention to maintain the finances low to keep away from placing stress on contributors,” he stated.
Invoking the phrases of medieval Bengali poet Boruchandidas, the membership secretary highlighted the spirit of unity, “This membership was shaped in 1959 by Hindus and Muslims. We have fun festivals collectively, with Hindus invited to Eid and iftar events and Muslims collaborating in Durga Puja festivities.”
Pradip Das condemned latest incidents of communal stress in Bangladesh. “We stay in India. Our space shouldn’t expertise such incidents. Each communities are vigilant to stop any incitement,” he stated.
Bappajit Khan, grandson of founding member Saruj Khan, emphasised the longstanding custom of communal concord throughout festivals. “There’s a qazi basti of 150 minority households. They offer us full assist for our puja. Dakshin Ramnagar is solely a slum space. Our membership is correct subsequent to the border. Muslim brethren in our space stay right here essentially the most. We have fun Eid and Durga Puja collectively in the identical method,” he stated.
Native residents, together with Qazi Shamim Miah, have made public appeals to keep away from rumour-mongering and preserve peace. Md Vishaluddin, the membership’s workplace secretary and a key functionary within the puja festivities, reiterated the dedication to concord. “We are not looking for communal disharmony imported from Bangladesh. We urge folks to chorus from rumours and keep united at all times,” he stated.
Even when components of Tripura together with Jirania and Kadamtala have skilled communal stress, Border Golchakkar was peaceable, he added.
Regardless of its modest finances, the Jubak Sangha focuses on supporting native residents with weddings, dwelling repairs, and different help. This 12 months, important funds have additionally been allotted for flood aid efforts, which have grow to be essential following devastating floods that left 36 useless and over 150,000 homeless throughout the state.
Girls from each the Hindu and Muslim communities actively participated within the puja preparations.
Sabita Akhter, a housewife and joint secretary of the puja committee, referred to as for unity, “Our minority members are equally concerned within the puja. We urge everybody to remain collectively and keep away from agitation.”
She stated some miscreants had tried to incite communal stress within the space when the puja committee was shaped, however the area people efficiently thwarted their designs.
Regardless of the rise in vandalism and assaults on non secular minorities in Bangladesh for the reason that fall of the Sheikh Hasina authorities, Border Golchakkar stays a beacon of hope for communal concord.
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