Of interfaith harmony: Believing in unity of religions, Hindu doctor practices fasting
It was out of curiosity that Dr Lekhraj Lalwani observed a fast for the first time in Ramazan. Over the years, it has been become a matter of spirituality that has made him continue the routine. “I am even fasting right now,” he told The Express Tribune over the phone on Friday.
The doctor, a follower of the Hindu faith, claims he was six years old when he observed his first roza.
“Some of my fellow-students were fasting and I wanted to know why they were doing so,” he reminisces. “So I decided not to eat or drink anything just like them,” says the 40-year-old, recalling the childhood days he spent in a government school in Malir Khokhrapar.
The family was shocked to hear about his fast. His father was very angry. “He would try to stop me and would take away my cycle to make me break the fast. I was young and I told him I just wanted to see what it was about.”
As he grew older, fasting in the month of Ramazan became more of a habit. Lalwani came to believe that God was the same for everyone, no matter what religion they followed. “God is everywhere for everyone. All the religions preach the same thing: to do good and stay away from evil.”
With several Muslim friends who celebrate the Hindu festivals of Diwali and Holi with him and his family, Lalwani’s house is home to statues of Hindu deities as well as Islamic literature.
While his family has gradually come to accept his unusual practice of fasting in the holy month of Ramazan, he faced stiff resistance in the beginning. “My parents were afraid that I would convert and would stop practicing my faith. With time, they realised nothing of that sort was going to happen and they never forced me to discontinue the practice.”
Lalwani, who also heads a small organisation called the Pakistan Peace Coalition for Interfaith Harmony, also tries to pray in the Muslim way.
He has memorised some of the Quranic verses used in Namaz and reads out Surah Al Fatiha, but says he won’t pray until and unless he has memorised them properly as meanings can change. “While I am fasting, I often recite Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai’s poetry. It keeps me away from bad things and I don’t lie,” he says.
As a father of five children, Lalwani is making sure his kids study about different religions, saying that his daughter has also observed two fasts this Ramzan.
“I am very fond of eating but as soon as Ramazan starts, I just stop eating,” he said, adding that he likes to break his fast by dates and fruits. Lalwani plans to fast throughout the month of Ramazan and will celebrate Eid with as much fervor as his Muslim neighbours.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 13th, 2014.
COMMENTS (15)
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@prakas: Hinduism, sir is not a religion per say. It is a mythology, a way of life. With 3.3 million deities and so many regional variations in customs it would be rather hard to follow anything. You have Durga in UP in Bengal she is Kali. You are bad yourself when you accuse someone else to be so. Muslims are not radical, their belief system is simplier than yours. It does not permit them to include other beings with God. Ours is just one God and no intermediatories. No avatars That is all. Diwaliis celebration is related to a Hindu ritual when married women fast for their spouses. So it is okay if others do not part in it. There is nothing radical about it.
@KK : Hindus have many festivals in which there is no worship of anyone. How about Muslims celebrating Holi with colors, Raksha Bandhana with a thread on wrist by sister ? We go and take bath in rivers on many festivals. We have festivals in which people dance on mass scale. We have festivals for every possible human mood.
@KK: This whole notion of Muslim vs non-Muslim is the reason why Muslims remain isolated from the rest of the world! But i guess after reading this sentence you will say "Alhamdullillah"!
@Anon: Read the article thoroughly. It clearly states.
"With several Muslim friends who celebrate the Hindu festivals of Diwali and Holi with him and his family, Lalwani’s house is home to statues of Hindu deities as well as Islamic literature".
@S: He is on right path that is why he is trying to promote interfaith harmony . I hope you find right path.
Might as well fast. It wasn't too long ago that a mentally unstable man was beaten black and blue for eating during the day on Ramzan.
I don't think most muslims are ready for inter faith harmony.
will these muslim will celebrate diwali with you lalwani saheb, never , even muslim liberals are also radicals.Some thing wrong in their religious teaching which make such bad human being .
Great gesture by this young man, friends of different faiths do things like this everywhere. Pakistan has a tiny Hindu minority it needs to make sure their right are well protected, tolerance, that is sign of good people we have to respect the views and religious rights of others.
@S: or hope he shows the right path to the blinds
@Anon: Forget Pakistan, most Muslims anywhere wont celebrate Diwali- where you people worship fire. or Christmas where they worship Jesus (as). Both are considered idolatry in Islam.
Interfaith harmony does not mean you start believing what the other believes, otherwise what is faith for?
Imagine if a Muslim had done what Mr.Lalwani did ! Another Mumtaz Qadri would have come to the fore.
lets hope he finds the right path.
Interfaith harmony will only be complete when Muslims start celebrating Diwali, Holi and Christmas. Is it possible in Pakistan ?.......