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Mosque harmony
Basu family of Barasat, West Bengal — originally hailing from Khulna, present day Bangladesh. Following the 1964 communal tension in erstwhile East Pakistan, the Basu family swapped their family land in Khulna with that of a Muslim family in Barasat to find an old forsaken mosque in the purchased land. But far from demolishing the mosque, the Basus instead renovated it and has been nurturing it with much love for as many as 60 years!
Today this Amanati mosque (named after Shah Amanat, an 18th-century ascetic in Chittagong) is a happy pilgrimage and place of worship for people of all religions with a board announcing the name of the mosque and carrying three words … “Prabhuke Pranam Koro” (Pray to the Lord)! Prabhu is usually used in church and Pranam being a Hindu tradition and the phrase got suggested by the first imam of the mosque Abubakkar Siddiqui because he wanted this place to be a refuge for all upholding the all-embracing religious spirit and harmony of Bengal!
The first stop of a new bride stepping into the Basu family is invariably this mosque. And after death in the family, the body must stop at the mosque on its way to the crematorium. The head of the family Dipak Kumar Basu, now aged 73, used to open the doors of the mosque every day in the morning and swept the floors himself even until four years ago! No wonder why Mr.Basu asserts “I have preserved religious harmony with a broom day after day. We cannot afford to let this go”! Recently Mr. Basu has received an award of Rs. 35,000/- for his role in preserving communal harmony, the entire amount obviously spent for renovation of the mosque! No, Bengal simply cannot afford to fail the Basus – – epitome of communal harmony, humanity and love.
KAJAL CHATTERJEE
Kolkata, India
Monopoly of sweepers
Professions are neither inferior nor superior. In our societal fabric, every profession holds its intrinsic value, irrespective of societal perceptions. One such profession often stigmatized is that of sweepers, predominantly undertaken by non-Muslims in our country. However, their role in maintaining a clean environment is indispensable. Despite this, a concerning trend emerges where sweepers establish a monopoly over their services, wielding undue influence and exploiting their position. Consider the situation in Sector-8, North Karachi, where choked sewerage lines plague residents despite repeated complaints to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB). When KWSB officials dispatch sweepers to address the issue, they often approach the task half-heartedly, compelled by the obligation to provide free services. Consequently, the problem persists, leading to continuous inconvenience for the residents.
Sweepers from other areas exploit the situation by charging exorbitant fees to clear choked lines, often yielding temporary relief. This underscores their monopoly and enables them to extract substantial financial gains. Additionally, their collusion perpetuates exploitation, leaving both KWSB officials and residents powerless to address the root cause.
Breaking this cycle requires a concerted effort from both KWSB officials and the community. While sweepers play a vital role in maintaining cleanliness, their monopoly over services must be dismantled. KWSB officials need to ensure that sweepers fulfil their duties diligently, without succumbing to the allure of personal gain. Simultaneously, residents must advocate for transparency and fairness, refusing to acquiesce to exploitative practices. By fostering an environment of accountability and integrity, we can mitigate prevalence of monopolistic behaviour among sweepers, ultimately fostering a cleaner and more equitable society for all.
FAISAL ANSAR
Karachi
Subsidiary conundrum
In many countries, like Pakistan, the government supports people who work in farming and raising animals by giving them subsidies. These subsidies are like extra help to make sure there’s enough food and farming stays a good job. But sometimes, these subsidies don’t reach the right people, leaving small farmers behind.
Subsidies are important because they help farmers and animal raisers make enough money to keep going. For example, in Europe, farmers who raise animals like cows and horses get subsidies to help them stay in business and make sure there’s enough food for everyone.
In Pakistan, farmers who grow crops like wheat also get help from the government. This help keeps the prices stable, so farmers can keep growing wheat without worrying too much about money. But sometimes, big farmers get more help than small ones, which isn’t fair. Let’s talk about fertilizer. Fertilizer is something farmers use to help their plants grow better.
GULAB UMID
Turbat
Box letter
Polls: Backbone of democracy
Election can be termed as a decision or opinion making process which is used to elect candidates for a specific position. Election plays a pivotal role in a political system, especially in a democratic form of government in a country. It is a tool which is used to choose the representatives of public to be sent to the governing bodies. It could also be termed as the backbone of democracy as this is the way through which the citizen of a country directly participate in framing the government which works for their welfare.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
