Hindus are caretakers of Lalbaug dargah

Sayed Chand Sha Vali Baba Qadri dargah at Lalbaug has been managed by a Hindu family for over 200 years

The Sayed Chand Sha Vali Baba Qadri dargah at Lalbaug has stood as a nearly 700-year-old testament to the country's secular credentials.


EXEMPLARY FAMILY: The Gaikwads carry out the daily rituals in the
mosque, including the morning fateha. PIC/SAYED SAMEER ABEDI
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Demolished during the 1992-93 riots by some miscreants, it came up again soon after with both Hindus and Muslims playing a prominent part in its reconstruction.

Based in a predominantly Marathi part of the city, the Dargah has had a Hindu family as its caretakers for nearly 200 years.
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The Gaikwads, who reside within the dargah complex, sing the fateha every morning and are the first to perform the daily rituals at the dargah. Paresh Gaikwad, who takes care of the dargah, said, "This dargah is the symbol of secular India. We, a Hindu family, have been guarding the gates of the dargah and performing all the rituals here for many, many years. People who destroy temples and mosques are those who do not understand
religion."

Day off
Paresh's mother, Hira, had taken a day off yesterday fearing a mob attack after the verdict.

"Last time, our home was reduced to rubble before our very eyes. This time, even though the atmosphere was less charged, I didn't want to take any chances and stayed at the dargah all day," she said.

"There is no use fighting over such issues and everyone seems to have understood that. We have to maintain our secular identity at any cost," she added.