At a time when West Bengal is witnessing rising communal discord fuelled by temple-mosque politics, the people of Nabadwip in Nadia district have offered a rare and resolute reminder of India’s pluralistic soul.
In a moving act of humanity that transcended religious boundaries, Muslim residents of Nabadwip, known as the town of Vaishnavas, came forward to perform the last rites of an elderly Hindu Brahmin man— strictly in accordance with Hindu customs.
The deceased, Gopal Goswami, a former lawyer originally from Chinsurah in Hooghly district, had been living in Nabadwip for several years. After the death of his mother, Goswami lived alone and, for the past three years, had been staying at the residence of Akhmal Sheikh, deputy head of the Mahishura Panchayat, in the Manipur area of the town. With no immediate family members to care for him, Goswami came to depend entirely on the local community.
On Monday, December 22, Goswami suddenly fell ill and was promptly admitted to the Nabadwip State General Hospital by Akhmal. Despite medical efforts, he passed away on Saturday night. What followed was an extraordinary demonstration of solidarity and compassion.
As Goswami had no relatives to perform his final rites, Akhmal, along with Zilla Parishad member Arjubanu Khatun, took the responsibility to ensure that he received a dignified farewell according to Hindu tradition. On Sunday morning, his body was taken to the Nabadwip crematorium. Muslim villagers carried the bier on their shoulders, while Harinaam Sankirtan echoed through the procession.
At the crematorium, the final rituals were conducted in keeping with Hindu customs, including the lighting of the funeral pyre. The scene stood in stark contrast to the prevailing atmosphere of political polarisation, especially against the backdrop of reports of communal violence in neighbouring Bangladesh and the sharpening of religious rhetoric ahead of the upcoming state elections.
Arjubanu, speaking on the incident, said, “We do not believe in dividing people along religious lines. Hindus and Muslims are brothers. Humanity comes first.” Echoing this sentiment, Akhmal confirmed that every ritual was performed with respect for Hindu traditions.
Local resident Sushanta Ghosh, who participated in the funeral, recounted the events with emotion. “After the lockdown, Gopal Goswami lived near the deputy head’s house. He was cared for, fed, and taken to hospital when he fell ill. When he passed away, the Muslim residents told me they could not perform the rites themselves as per religion, but they assured me they would stand by me throughout. And they did— every step of the way,” said Ghosh.
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