HINDU AND MOSLEM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21278, 3 September 1932, Page 1 (Supplement)

HINDU AND MOSLEM

RELEGIOUS FESTIVALS

BT SAEDAB JANG

Two of the greatest religious festivals still observed in British India are the Mohammedan festival of Mohurrum and the Hindu festival of the Holi. It is only by constant vigilance on the part of the police and military that the authorities are able to maintain law and order and prevent rioting and bloodshed between Moslem and Hindu. Unfortunately, at the time of which I write the Mohurrum fell at the same time as the Holi. Now, as the Mohurrum is a time of deepest mourning for the Mohammedans and the Holi the Hindus' one festival of unbridled license in rejoicing, it was hardly possible that the latter's celebrations should not jar on the feelings of their Moslem compatriots.

Some years ago the writer was doing duty with a detachment of troops stationed at a small town in the United Provinces. It was the last night of the Mohurrum, and religious feeling ran high. Not that there was much religion at the bottom of it all, but tense excitement prevailed in the district, and as things had not been prosperous for months past, Hindu and Mussulman, having little else to do, set to work to quarrel. Grievances were not far to seek. Party and communal spirit with the multitude, and popularity-hunting with their leaders, eager to stand forth as the champions of the faith, did the rest. So far, however, constant vigilance had kept things fairly quiet.

To-night the " tazias " (small paper models of mosques carried during this festival) were making their last round of the town. If they could be got past the Hindu temple of Shiva without disturbance there was little more to fear. It had been agreed that the Hindus, assembled in the temple for chanting and tom-tom music, were to keep silence until they had passed. The sound of festive music at such a time would be a spark to the magazine. This was the danger point, and here, therefore, our detachment was to be posted. By evening the troops were posted in two narrow lanes commanding the main street, while we stood on the temple steps comparing the situation with oui preconceived ideas of riots. The Mohurrom Procession Not long after the dull roar in the distance showed that the " tazias " had begun their round of the town. It was a good two hours before they came, so se-ntries were posted, the men sitting at ease, while the police inspector stood by the side of the temple with us, thankful that we had not to march with the procession like policemen. Gradually the sound of the shouting swelled, sometimes fading a little as the procession, winding through the streets, receded for a space, but coming nearer, step by step. At last the air seemed full of it—" Ya Hassan! Ya Hussein! Ya Hassan! Ya Hussein!" Five thousand throats were shouting in unison, and the clash, dash of their " lathis " (sticks) added its note to the chorus. A breathless messenger ran up with a pencilled note for i.he police inspector. " What's this ? They say every Hindu must clear out of the temple before they take the 'tazias.' past.- : We'll stop at the corner as -usual, and the Moulana (the preacher at the mosque) will try to talk with them, but I don't think he can hold them. So if the Hindus won't go, it means trouble." The missive was signed by the head constable.

" This looks like business. Where's the temple priest? Here, Panditji," turning to the saffron-robed figure. " They want you all to turn out of the temple." " Your honour knows we will keep our promise to be silent, and we are obedient to you, whatever you order, but—"

" But you won't go, eh ? Well, I'm not going to order you out. Yon've every right to stay, as long as you are quiet." As the Hindu priest salaamed and disappeared into the inner darkness, the hum of voices within took suddenly a louder note. "And now, stretched far into the distance, filling the whole breadth of the road, could be seen a sea of heads, with the long line of " tazias " rocking above them, like ships in a heavy swell. The scene was weirdly impressive in the light of the flaring torches. Leaping, shouting, beating their breasts, wound up to the highest pitch of frenzied enthusiasm, the mass pressed slowly forward. The spirit of the fanatic warriors who had offered Islam or the sword to half the world seemed to have come upon them for the time. The detachment was now lined up across the road. The Mob Assaults Out there, at the head of the crowd, it was an anxious moment for the Moulana. The Mohammedans of the town and the outlying districts hung on his lips and revered him as their spiritual guide. But he had gone too far in his exhortations to uphold the against the idol worshippers. He had stirred up an unwonted enthusiasm. As the line stopped at the corner, he sprang to the front, his tall figure in his long robe of green, and held up his hand for silence. For a moment, in one of those strange impulses that come upon a crowd, the roar died down. But it was only for the moment. With his first words the cries broke out again. The word had passed that the Hindus were in their temple and, mingling with the lament for Hassan and Hussein, broke in the ominous cry, "Din! Din! Futteh Mohammed," ever the Islamic signal for strife and assault. " I cannot hold them," he cried. By now the shout for battle, "Din! Din! Futteh Mohammed!" was in all men's mouths. The crowd swayed back and forward. It was only waiting for a leader. The " tazias " sank to the ground as their bearers prepared to join, the fray. The detachment still stretched across the lanes and the main street. It was its duty to hold back the mob as long as it could without opening fire. Every man in the crowd was ready to charge. But the final impulse had been long in coming. They knew the leaders went to their death, and even in their madness none dared to be the first. The Mob Repulsed Now, the pressure from behind was doing what no one man's courage could attain. Involuntarily the front rank moved on a step, and at the run the yelling mass poured forward. The volley rang out. The wave passed on, but its force was spent. The crash of the volley and those hit had cooled the ardour of the maddest. The heaving mass surged back upon itself. A moment more they stood, and then they broke in flight. All was over. We formed up to take a turn round the town, leaving the police inspector and his constables to remove the wounded. When the dawn came and we marched past the temple after our patrol, seeing the bazaars waking to their daily life, I could hardly believe the experience of the night had not been a fevered dream. But the signs of strife, hardly yet defaced from the main street, reminded me that there were those to whom it had been a stern reality.