When there was a stampede at the 150-year old Chamunda Devi temple inside the Mehrangadh Fort at Jodhpur killing 150 and injuring as many around 6am on the first day of Navaratri on Tuesday, the Muslims of Jodhpur turned up in large numbers to help their Hindu brethren who were victims of the stampede. The Muslims were among the first to activate relief measures by ferrying the victims to hospitals and staying with them till their relatives arrived, donating blood and collecting and contributing Rs 1 lakh to a relief fund meant for the victims of the worst tragedy in Jodhpur.

While there are several versions as to how the stampede happened, district officials claim that the stampede was triggered when a few devotees slipped and fell in a narrow passage leading to the main temple where about 300 people had gathered. The fort security personnel contend that a group of 50 youths tried to jump the queue triggering the stampede. According to another story, someone talked of a bomb and that spread panic amongst the devotees. A fourth source attributed the stampede to the visit of a VIP.
Whatever the cause, it is a tragedy of unimaginable proportion particularly in the festive season.

The Muslim community not only stood by their Hindu brethren in this dark hour but also vowed not to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with the usual gaiety and fanfare. As a result, the Eid celebration in Jodhpur was muted. This gesture together with the help and assistance the Muslim community has provided to the victims of the stampede has touched the hearts of the Hindus of Jodhpur who said that this meant much more to them than the visits of VIPs.

In Malegaon, the site of a low intensity blast on September 30 where four Muslims lost their lives, Hindus were selling bangles which is one of the main items that is purchased during Eid celebrations along with new clothes and perfumes. And, Muslims were selling saffron and turmeric powder as also holy threads which are purchased for Navaratri. In spite of this tragedy, Malegaon presented a perfect picture of communal harmony and amity.

It is this kind of communal harmony that raises hopes for the secular fabric of our great nation amidst attempts by communal forces to vitiate the atmosphere by spreading terror, hatred and suspicion. It is this kind of friendship, love and amity that bring the nation together through a common thread.

It is instances like this that holds a nation of 28 states, 7 union territories, 1,618 languages, 6,400 castes, 6 ethnic groups and 29 major festivals, together. There never was another nation like India. There never will be any other. This is the dream of the father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi, come true. Jai Hind!