Wednesday 9 December 2015

Ramadhar Singh & Shafique Ahmad

I was in Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, Ranchi, during 1994-1997 for my Masters in Computer Applications (MCA) degree. We MCA students used to stay in Hostel Number 5 (Boy's Hostel) along with students of MBA, BMI (Bio-Medical Instrumentation), B.Pharm and MIS (Masters in Information Science).

                            Institute Building, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra , Ranchi



The BIT, Mesra Campus is spread across a huge area, most of it deeply forested. It is extremely scenic and picturesque. Our hostel was some 2 km from the Institute Main Building.

                                                                  Hostel 5 Building

In the MIS batch of 1994-1996 there were these two guys named Ramadhar Singh and Shafique Ahmad who were in the same hostel as us MCA students.
We would often meet them in the cafeteria (called Mess). 
Over a period of time we got to know them. It seemed that these two were very good friends, though they appeared to be very different personalities. Perhaps they were friends before they joined BIT, Mesra. Ramadhar was tall and upright, a proud Rajput. But he had some problem in one foot due to which he walked with crutches. We saw him on crutches for most of his 2 years in the hostel. Despite the handicap he was an outgoing, friendly and confident guy. If memory serves me right he was able to walk without crutches by the time he completed his course. Shafique kept a very low profile. A very amiable but shy sort of guy.

These two were always together.

After I left BIT Mesra, I never met them or kept in touch with them in the last 18 year. After all they were just acquaintances in the hostel along with so many other boys. But I could never forget them. I will explain why.

Recently I checked regarding them with a few other friends and found their LinkedIn  profiles -


Ramadhar is now VP Technology - Global Wholesale Banking in a top IT company in Hyderabad. 
This is quite expected, in keeping with his extrovert and confident personality.


Shafique's profile says 'Petroleum Data Analyst' with Qatar Petroleum in Qatar.

So happily both seem to be well placed in life.

Now on to why I still remember them, despite just knowing them as acquaintances in the hostel.

As I mentioned earlier Ramadhar had some problem in his foot and he could only walk with crutches. (maybe this was the result of an accident). Our hostel was quite far from the Institute Building where the classes were held. Most of us walked. But there was no way Ramadhar could go that distance on crutches. Everyday Shafique would take him to and fro from the University on his bicycle. It was quite funny to see the tall and lanky Ramadhar riding pillion with his crutches in hand. It was remarkable to see the devotion and care Shafique had for Ramadhar. Sometimes while trying to sit on the bike, Ramadhar would fall down. Shafique would lift him up and help him get back on the bike. Their deep bond of friendship was quite remarkable especially in an environment where everyone wanted to watch their own backs first. It never changed in all the 2 years they were in the hostel.

Now that I think back, it was only incidental that they belonged to two different religions. Their friendship was based on human values. This is in keeping with India's 'Ganga Jamni Tahzeeb (Sanskriti)'....Our great tradition of 'harmony despite diversity'.

There is nothing unique about this story. There are hundreds and thousands of stories like Ramadhar and Shafique's.......I am sure all of you have many. I can recall many as well.
We don't even feel the need to highlight the fact these remarkable friendships and bonds develop despite one being a Hindu and the other, a Muslim. This is so much part of our culture. 
Sometimes we forget how unique this is till a foreigner points it out to us. They marvel at it.

We know that there have been periods of madness and hatred when Hindus and Muslims have killed each other. There have been so many riots.  Many of these were instigated for political reasons.
But largely, when left to their own devices, the common Hindu and the common Muslim in India has chosen to live in harmony.

This is India's great strength and it needs to be further strengthened. Any attempt to force people to follow a particular way of life will destroy this beautiful ethos.

We need an India where more Ramadhars and Shafiques become best friends.


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