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Life
Goes On In Gujarat Relief Camps
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gujarat-muslim women |
By
IOL South Asia correspondent
NEW
DELHI, June 1 (IslamOnline) - Life goes on even under the worst
conditions. Palestinians in refugee camps for the last fifty years
testify to this resilience of the humankind. Now the refugees in the
relief camps dotting cities and towns across Gujarat are demonstrating
that they too can take up the challenges of survival.
Teachers
have opened make-shift schools for the children in the camps. Lawyers,
doctors, midwives and other professionals are doing their bit to bring
relief to their co-sufferers. People with leadership qualities are
managing the affairs of the camps and dealing with the outside world.
Last
Thursday witnessed a samuh-nikaah, mass marriage ceremony of 25
riot-affected couples at the Sonal relief camp. The camp wore a
festive look with colourful flower decorations.
The
idea was the brainchild of Nasir Vohra, the camp's organiser who
wanted to bring some relief and change from the macabre scenes
haunting the camp dwellers who suffered from many mental disorders as
a result of the carnage they survived, while many of their close
relatives were burnt alive in front of their eyes.
For
the 25 couples, though, this was a dream come true. Most of them had
lost their homes in the riots and had been living in various relief
camps for the last three months. Rendered penniless, marriage was a
distant dream for them.
Shabana
Mansuri of Juhapura camp in Ahmedabad, who took part in the ceremony
said, "My fiancé has lost everything in the riots. We wanted to
get married but it was impossible to meet the expenses. So when
Nasirbhai suggested a mass marriage ceremony we agreed."
Arif
Mansuri, one of the 25 grooms said, "My wife's family requested
me to take part in the mass marriage and I readily agreed. How could
they arrange for a proper marriage ceremony when they are living in a
relief camp?"
Farida
and her sister Ruksana sat side by side for their nikaah. Farida said,
"Our nikaah is a simple but a happy affair. Now that both of us
are married, my parents are tension-free."
Mushtaq
Bhikabhai lost his home in the Naroda-Patia, site of the worst
massacre. He says, "Everyone has a dream about how he will get
married. Though this nikaah is well-organised, it is not what I had
dreamt of all my life. But then what happened in Ahmedabad was
unimaginable too." He adds, "I can never think of returning
to Naroda-Patia. The place holds haunting memories for me."
Abdul
Hamid was Mushtaq's neighbour at Naroda-Patia. "I have mixed
feelings today. My happiness is weighed down by the worry about
finding a home after the relief camp is shut down," he said.
Hussain
Siraaj Noor Mohammed of the Gomtipur camp shares the same anxiety. He
said, "My first priority is to find a home for us. For how long
can we live in a relief camp?"
The
nikaah took place in the Sonal cinema hall with the invitees sitting
in the balcony and the upper stalls of the hall, while the couples
made themselves comfortable on the stage. The brides looked
resplendent in red shararas, while the grooms were dressed in white
sherwanis, long Indian coats, and laced caps.
Five
Muslim clerics solemnised the nikaah of the couples and each bride was
given a mehar of rupees 846.
After
the nikaah, each couple was gifted wrist-watches, household utensils,
some furniture, a desert cooler, jewellery and clothes.
Urmilaben
Patel, head of the Gujarat branch of Bharat Ekta Andolan, was present
at the nikaah ceremony. She said, "For this mass marriage, Hindus
and Muslims have worked shoulder to shoulder.
Nasir
Vohra made all the arrangements while Minesh Patel, a Hindu who owns
Sonal cinema, has given his cinema hall for the wedding. This is how
it should be everywhere."
Nazir
Akhtar, one of the clerics who solemnised the nikaah was of a similar
opinion. "Everyone has come together so that the couples could
realise their dreams. There has been a outpouring of generosity. This
gives me great happiness.". 
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