British edict stops Muslims from using pond

Varanasi, May 17 (UNI) Even as the country is celebrating its 60th anniversary of Independence from British rule in August, an edict by the erstwhile colonial masters still prevents Muslims of Lohta village from using a pond reserved for Hindus here.

''If we are thirsty we cannot dare to use the 'Sahua Ka Pokhra' located near the Hanuman temple, owing to the June 1947 edict of a British official, prohibiting Muslims of the village from using the pond,'' said Abdul Qayum, a handloom weaver.

The stone pillar painted in saffron on the edge of pond reads the edict large ''Hakim Pargana Sahib ka hukum hai ki kisi bhi musalman ko is talab mein nahana dhona sakht mana hai. tarikh 08-06-1947'' (use of pond by Muslims is prohibited by Pargana Officer).

''We cannot dare to violate the edict even now though India is a flourishing democracy,'' said Haji Mohd Salim, the pradhan of the village, where 75 per cent of population is Muslim, especially weavers.

The genesis of the edict dates back to 1946 when the pond furnished to the village by a Hindu trader Makhhan Lal Sav was used by both Muslims and Hindus.

''My father told me that one day there was a quarrel between women from both communities while bathing in the pond. The petty quarrel soon turned violent resulting in full-fledged communal riot in the religiously sensitive village,'' claimed Jagannath Shastri (61), a resident of the village.

Following the loss of lives in the riot the British rulers, two months before the Independence, passed an order prohibiting the use of pond by Muslims. ''The order still reads large on the pillar and no one from the Muslim community dares to violate it,'' Mr Shastri said.

The Brahmin family, that claims to be the custodian of the pond, keeps round the clock vigil to ensure that none of the Muslims dare to use the pond. ''We keep a close watch on the pond to ensure that the edict is not violated,'' said Bhagwati Mishra who is also the caretaker of the Hanuman temple.

''The villagers, both Hindus and Muslims, have unanimously fixed a fine of Rs 500 if any Muslim violates the edict. It is not subservience to the edict, but fear of reoccuring communal tension in the village, had stopped Muslims from using the pond,'' the village pradhan added.

''Efforts were made three month ago to break the six-decade-old deadlock between the two communities in the name of beautification of the concerned pond. But village elders asked me and the tehsil officials to stay away from the pond following which the beautification exercise was done at another pond used by all in the same village,'' he said.

''The Lohta village located on the outskirts of the holy city is now more an urban locality which witnessed riots following demolition of Babri mosque in 1992. Now we cannot risk another riot only for getting the Muslims to use the pond reserved for Hindus,'' he added.

While elders of the village still go by the edict engraved on the saffron-coloured stone, youth from both communities are hopeful of resolving the matter amicably one day.

''The day is not far when the youth power will succeed in ending the deadlock which has made the village a part of pre-Independence era even today,'' said Mukesh and Mohd Akram, two youngsters.

UNI