Ajmer, RAJASTHAN :

If I tell you that the Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer, Rajasthan, played a role in the war against China when India was invaded in 1962, will you believe it?

In October 1962, the Chinese Army invaded India which had gained freedom 5 years ago. Such national crises test the character of a country. Indians of all creeds, castes, races, and social groups joined hands to fight the mighty enemy.

After 200 years of British colonialism, the Indian economy was in shambles when the colonial rulers left in 1947. When China invaded, India was not as big an economy as it is now. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru appealed to his compatriots to donate gold and money to the defence funds.

Responding to the call, Dargah at Ajmer opened its vaults for the country’s defence forces. The management of the shrine of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti believed that national service comes before any other service. The administrator of the committee handed over 2 kilograms of gold and invested Rupees one lakh in Defence Saving Certificates to the Union Minister of Irrigation and Power at a meeting held at the Dargah. It also announced holding special prayers for the success of the Indian Army daily.

The administrator who handed over the gold, to the minister was Aley Mohammad Shah. His elder son Zameruddin Shah rose to become the Deputy Chief of Army Staff in India while his other son Naseeruddin Shah is a popular film actor.

The episode is a testimony to the fact that for Indian Muslims following Islam and serving the nation are not contradictory. 

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Culture / by Saquib Salim / December 14th, 2022