Bareilly

Shikharpur Chaudhary, a small village in Uttar Pradesh, was the scene of conflict resolution through negotiations held between villagers and officers of the administration; it ended with two large-hearted villagers offering their land for the public good.

Ismail Khan and Rashid Khan, residents of a village in Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh have donated their fertile land for the construction of a pathway for the Kanvariyas, Hindu pilgrims who walk to the River Ganga from all corners of north India for 15 days beginning Thursday to fetch water for their local temple, to smoothen their passage.

For others, it may be a piece of land, but for the Shikarpur Chaudhary villagers, it is a land of harmony. The proposed road to be built on this land – donated by Ismail and Rashid - will be crossed by groups of Shiv devotees chanting slogans like 'Bum Bum Bhole” in praise of Lord Shiva.

Recently, the Khans donated a part of their field and asked the administration to build a paved road that can also be used by the villagers. Some villagers offered money to Ismail and Rashid to compensate for their loss of land for public welfare, but they refused to accept it. Both of them told the villagers they are happy with their lives and have enough and they have no need for money.

One of the said, “This village has everything. Let the villagers be happy, there is no greater wealth than that.” Shikarpur Chaudhary village with a population of 2,500 is a Muslim-majority habitation with Hindus only 20 percent of its population.

The Khans made this generous offer to avert possible tension given the experience. As there is no road there, the groups of Kawarians would pass through the fields of the villagers.

This went on for years but in 2019 some people objected to the kanwaria’s movement through the village. It led to tension between the two groups.

The tension was resolved at the police station where both the parties reached. However, the villagers were keen to have a permanent resolution to this annual problem.

The next two years were spent in the Covid pandemic and the resultant ban on all pilgrimages including the Kanwar pilgrimage.

Everyone seemed to have forgotten about it except for Ismail and Rashid, who were keen to resolve this cause of a possible clash for good and did the noble deed.

This time as the administration was making preparations for the pilgrimage, the police had to rethink the possible clash in the village.

Inspector Sanjay Kumar of the local police station was asked to submit his report on the threat perception in the village. 

Based on his report, the administration sent the team to the village. On Tuesday, ADM City Dr. RD Pandey and SP Traffic Ram Mohan Singh spoke to both parties.

The police officials asked the villagers to come up with a solution. They told villagers that everyone has to coexist in this village and they must try to hammer out a solution to this problem. The conversation between the representatives of the administration and the villagers went on for three hours and in a cordial manner. Meanwhile, Ismail and Rashid Khan said that their fields are adjacent to the main road and asked the DM how much land is needed for building the road. The officers told that a six feet wide and 62 meters long has to be built.

Ismail and Rashid replied, “Take this path through our fields. Kanwars will pass through it and so would the villagers. We don't mind.”

They said they are donating the land and will not accept any money from people gathered.

Shikarpur Chowdhury village falls under Municipal Corporation limits. From the main road, one has to walk on a dirt road for about one kilometer.

The dirt trail leading to the village can be crossed on two-wheelers but cars have to stop at the entrance to the village.

 Now that the road is paved, part of the trail will be removed and it will be easier for passengers to cross through the village without entering it.