Muslim neighbours help Hindu man’s funeral

Hyderabad (Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The funeral procession of 60-year-old P. Bala Raju caught the attention of many a people as it passed through the lanes of Indirammanagar and Rasoolpura at Police Lines on Tuesday.The deceased was not a famous personality. What caught the attention was the large number of Muslims who participated in the funeral procession as it proceeded with the beating of drums and shower of rose petals.Enquiries revealed that neighbours of Bala Raju, who are mostly Muslims, contributed money for the cremation of the 60-year-old man with full Hindu rites.Residents of Indirammanagar and Rasoolpura came together to help the family of a neighbour. P.Bala Raju used to work as an electrician and died after an illness. He is survived by his wife Subhadramma and 18-year-old daughter Revathi. Revathi had been adopted by Subhadramma and Bala Raju. She performed the last rites of her father.Fathima, a family friend and neighbour, said Subhadramma found her husband dead when she returned from work on Monday evening.“She called me and said her husband’s body had turned cold. I asked Subhadramma if she needed any help and the she said that she did not have money to perform even the last rites. That is how it all began and we all contributed money,” Fathima said.When communal tensions often run high in many parts of the country, fanned by selfish leaders of all kinds, here is an incident that underlines our common humanity. /129