Visakhapatnam, ANDHRA PRADESH :

Visakhapatnam:

A seat of secularism, Ishaq Madina Dargah is known to celebrate Ramzan and Ram Navami in the same premises.

Also referred to as the Sheikh Ali Ishaq Madina Rehmatullah Dargah, this place of worship is named after a Muslim sufi saint who arrived in Visakhapatnam from Madina in Arabia along with his followers. Though the exact date of the dargah is not known, it gained prominence during the Mughul rule and was granted the Inam (land) of Yerrada and Devada villages and other properties in Vizag in 1706. Locals, however, claim that the Dargah is much older and has been observing the holy month of Ramzan for more than four centuries.

According to Mohiddin Basha, a dargah trustee, “Ramzan has been observed for at least four hundred years now. Recently, archaeological experts declared that the dargah could actually date back further to another two centuries at least”

“Hindus and Muslims alike come to pay their respects to the sufi saint Sheikh Ali Rehmatullah. In fact, the first Sepoy Mutiny to take place in India in 1780s was launched after the sepoys took their blessings from the dargah before going to battle against the British,” Basha said. During Ramzan, the dargah keeps the kitchen open to people from all faiths.

Hindu festivals such as Sri Ram Navami and Janmashtami are also celebrated at the dargah with great pomp. K Ramana Murthy, a resident of Sivalayam Stree, said, “The dargah symbolises the unity in the concept of God and because of it’s presence, there has never been a case of Hindu-Muslim rivalry in this city. We live as brothers and respect each others traditions.”

History buff BS Mahesh said, “The reason why Hindus and Muslims had no conflict of interests in Visakhapatnam is partly because most of the Muslims here were traders and sea farers, while the Hindus were ship builders and metal smiths. The give and take relationship between the two communities was harmosnised by the presence of the dargah. Many trustees of the dargah and some of the famous 19th century Muslim scholars from Vizag such as Chisti Saheb were scholars in Sanskrit and Telugu as well.”

In a bid to bring the dargah to the notice of the people, the trustees intend to request the state government to release some of its properties that were forcible occupied and be recognised as one of the oldest places in AP where Ramzan has been celebrated by both Muslims and Hindus.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / July 06th, 2016