This Muslim Couple Braving the Srinagar Curfew to Deliver Food to a Pandit Family Is the Real India

A Muslim couple walked miles on deserted roads to deliver food to a Hindu family that had run out of supplies during the Srinagar curfew.

By Nishi Malhotra

July 13, 2016

The tension in Kashmir, triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, continues unabated. The death toll has risen to 32 and curfew has been imposed in most of the valley.

In this dark scenario, the humanitarian gesture of a Muslim couple, who braved the curfew to walk miles and deliver food to a Hindu family, is moving to say the least.

Image for representation purposes only

Srinagar residents Zubeda Begum and her husband received a call from the family of Diwanchand Pandit who live across the Jhelum in Jawahar Nagar. They were told that the Pandit family had run out of food because of the restriction on public movement and the impact of the curfew on the supply of essential commodities in the region.

Zubeda and Pandit’s wife are friends and teach in the same school.

“She called me in the morning, saying her family needed food supplies…They have an ailing grandmother staying with them. I am taking the food to them. It is difficult but we are trying to reach them,” Zubeda told India Today.

Shops and other business establishments in the area are closed and there is no transport on the roads. With the curfew, the police have restricted movement of people and security forces in riot gear are patrolling the roads.

However, undeterred by this tense situation, Zubeda and her husband put together a sackful of food and started walking towards Jawahar Nagar. They received a warm welcome when they reached Diwanchand Pandit’s home.

“Everyone is suffering here. We are so glad that these people came here. This is where humanity lies,” Pandit said.

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