Nagpur

While the row against loudspeakers continues to snowball, a village in Nagpur displayed an epitome of brotherhood and peace when on Eid it gifted a loudspeaker to a mosque.

This news is indeed a breath of fresh air from a village in Buldhana district of Maharashtra that has zero Muslim population. The villagers there have not only registered their protest against the on-going loudspeaker row but also set a unique example of Hindu-Muslim unity and brotherhood when they gifted a loudspeaker to the mosque in the adjoining village on the occasion of Eid.

Locals from Kelwad village in Baldhana district took the intiative as they invited their Muslims brethren from Kinhola to recieve the gift. The mosque in Kinhola some 6 km away from Kelwad is the only mosque in this area. Hindus and Muslims have been living together peacefully in this village for centuries.

Umesh Patil, president of the village peace committee, said that the initiative was a symbolic protest. "We believe that the motive behind suddenly raising the loudspeaker issue is to start communal riots in the state. Both Hindus and Muslims are living peacefully in rural Maharashtra. We can't let cheap politicians get away with inciting people and destroying our peaceful coexistence," he said, adding that the initiative is just a symbolic protest.

Social worker Nandu Borbale appealed to rural youths not to join the anti-loudspeaker protest. "Neither politicians nor upper class will send their sons and daughters to sing Hanuman Chalisa in front of mosques. Only Bahujan youths will participate in this protest. We want no more such provocations. Through this event, we want to appeal to the village youths to concentrate on their studies and prepare for competitive examinations," said Borbale.

"We no longer want such provocations, the youth of our village should pay attention to their studies..", he added.

The Imam of the Kinhola Mosque said that the loudspeakers are already installed at the mosque yet this loudspeaker is being accepted as a symbol of mutual harmony and brotherhood between communities. He said that they accepted it as a loving gift.

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