Kharagpur Muslims Cancel Muharram Procession To HELP Their Hindu Neighbour Fighting Cancer

In a world where there is so much hatred and discord being spewed, stories of solidarity between two religious communities are the need of the hour.

One such story is that of the Samaj Sangha Club of Kharagpur, West Bengal. The Club organises Muharram processions in Puratan Bazaar every year. However, this year, they have a completely different agenda on their minds.

In an amazing gesture that will restore your faith in humanity, the Muslim community has decided to give up this year’s Muharram procession and donate that money towards the treatment of a cancer patient, who is a Hindu.

The patient, 35-year-old Abir Bhunia, owns a mobile recharge shop in the neighbourhood. He is suffering from Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system, the treatment for which includes undergoing a bone marrow transplantation and comes with a price tag of Rs. 12 lakh.

Bhunia is currently undergoing chemotherapy at the Saroj Gupta Cancer Centre in south Kolkata.

The Sangh has already donated Rs. 6000 towards Bhunia’s treatment and plans to raise Rs. 50,000 more for this benevolent cause.

When asked about the Sangh’s generous decision, Secretary Amjad Khan said the following to Hindustan Times:

“Muharram processions can be organised every year. But we have to save the life first.”

Another member of the Muharram Committee, Mohammad Bilal believes that God would be satisfied if they are able to serve the people.

“He is suffering from cancer and fighting with death. We should stand by him.”

The Sangh’s act of benevolence has motivated many others to support the cause too.

The Chairman of Kharagpur Municipality, Pradip Sarkar, has pledged support for Bhunia. At this rate, chances are that the Sangh could surpass their intended budget and collect a larger sum, or so hopes the Sangh’s secretary, Khan.

“We have started raising money. On Friday, after the namaz, we will ask the imam in the mosque to announce a donation drive for Abir. We hope to raise a bigger amount than the budget for our procession.”

The recipient of this tremendous generosity is over the moon with gratitude.

Bhunia has been through two major tragedies recently, having lost his grandparents and both his parents last year.

But happiness seems to be knocking on Bhunia’s door already. He and his homemaker wife are expecting their first child. And the prospect of a donation has given Bhunia some much needed hope.

“I don’t know whether I will be cured finally. But what my neighbours did for me have touched my heart.”

But this isn’t the first time the Muslim community in Kharagpur has proved that their hearts are big enough to accommodate other religions too.

A local councillor from Trinamool Congress, Tushar Chowdhury, lauded the gesture and revealed that the Muslim Community has previously raised money to build a gate for a temple for goddess Sitala in the vicinity. The prashad offered to the goddess is then distributed amongst these Muslims.

Incidents like these touch your hearts and make you believe that even amidst all this enmity, the supreme religion that will always reign in our hearts is humanity.

Kudos to these folks! Keep spreading the message of love!