Among many challenges and hurdles marking the Indian Muslims in 2013 like a beacon of hope comes across for Indian Muslims in 2013 is the story of Mira Road.
By Sameer Khan for TwoCircles.net
Mira Road is city in Thane district has long been the distance cousin for Bombay Muslims. This place which once boasted of nothing but salt panes started to grow in early 90’s real estate prices were affordable for those Muslims of Bombay who could not afford a decent place in Mumbai either due to the high property prices of south Mumbai localities such as Mohammad Ali Road, Kurla or unavailability to find home in non Muslim localities of Mumbai.
Mira Road was an attractive and affordable alternative. The trickle towards Mira Road was slow and in fact Muslims of Mumbai would treat Mira Road with disdain and would often scoff at those who travelled for more than an hour by train to work in Mumbai yet the population flow towards it picked up post 2001 and kept growing.
Mira Road of 2013 is full of hope and optimism.
Mira Road is not a completely Muslim dominated enclave. It is divided into two sections. As one gets down at Mira Road station the Muslim section lies towards the first gate northern of the platform that is predominately Naya Nagar and the southern part towards the end of the Platform is the predominately Hindu part of Mira Road.
The First time I visited Mira Road was in 2009 and there was a palpable difference between the 2 Mira Roads, The Muslim Part Primarily had lot of new construction activity and the most impressive edifice was the blue Shams mosque which stood with its tall minarets. Some of the better buildings were inhabited by affluent Muslims but the roads were squalid, there was unclean garbage on the streets, open sewage lines which were a breeding ground for mosquitoes. There was no proper drinking water in many of the old building. The business too was not too bustling; shops were available for a paltry rent and would shut their shutters early. There were a number of beggars on the streets and Muslim boys would loiter on the streets or waste their time playing a game of Carom or Pool.
Sharp contrast to the Non Muslim section of Mira Road which had clean roads, better planned residential complexes, proper street lights with water supply and bustling shopping markets completely antithesis to the chaos apathy and anarchy of Naya Nagar. This part of Mira Road was full of promise and hope, unlike the Muslim section.
I had the fortune of visiting Mira Road in first week of February 2013 and I was amazed with the marked difference that I felt at Nayar Nagar from 2009. There was a huge turnaround I was Impressed to see that the Muslim quarter of Mira Road was no longer the story of dejection that I had felt earlier, property prices have zoomed up a lot of newly constructed residential complexes with better amenities had spruced up. The streets were cleaner, there is hardly any litter on the roads and the open sewage which was an eye soar now has been covered.
A Muslim woman shopkeeper selling gol-gappe
I asked a local shop keeper about the huge difference and he answered “Bhai, it’s a mix of factors after the civic elections we have new young leaders who are performing a good job. The civic authorities have improved but more importantly the Muslims themselves have realized that instead of waiting or help to arrive they need to get out and get their act together”. It is not that Mira Road Naya Nagar is all of a very affluent or a posh locality of Muslims. There are people of middle income groups along with some poorer sections of Muslims living there along with the affluent ones yet Naya Nagar is today a positive place of hope for Muslim residents of Mira Road. The younger Generation is almost 100% literate and are seeking higher education. Majority of women wear hijab yet that has not stopped them from seeking better education or work to support their families.
As I sauntered through the streets in evening I was amazed to see unique spectacle on the streets a Muslim woman was selling Paani Puri (Gol Gappay) on the street. I walked a few paces to see another woman selling crockery. I could not resist but speak to these resolute women. One of them said with a smile, “We are not literate but we decided to help our families and we expect that our children will get better education and jobs.”
Chacha selling khichda
I reached the main bazaar and I found a Chacha selling Khichda. I could not help and resist trying the delicious Khichda. Chacha was more than happy to see me take pictures and smiled He showed great alacrity to tell me that his Khichda was well known not just in Mira Road but all over Mumbai. I could not ignore the lady assisting Chacha and he smiled this is my daughter again corrected himself “No actually she is my son. She assists me every day with preparations and selling this Khichda. She is more than any son I could have asked for” concluded Chacha with a Grin.
The story of Naya Nagar Mira Road success could be a unique story that I have stumbled upon or I really don’t know if there could be many other such success stories all over India or it is just rare case but Mira Road today stands as an oasis of hope and a great story of accomplishment for the Muslims of India and We can hope and pray that such stories are replicated in other places in India for a better future for Indian Muslims.
—
Sameer Khan is a Freelance writer and Playwright and can be reached at: [email protected]. All photos by Sameer Khan.