Celebration of Diwali at Mahdi Bagh |
Media Watch
The latest edition of The
Week brings us a delightful article titled ‘Harmony has a home’ written
by Sravani Sarkar. It tells us about “India’s smallest known religious sect
(that) has set a unique example of peaceful, disciplined living.” The Mahdi
Bagh Institution is a tiny community
of progressive Muslims who belong to the Atba-e-Malak Badar, the
smallest known religious sect in India. The Week focuses on the Nagpur
settlement of this community though they have branches in Ujjain, Visakhapatnam,
Hyderabad as well as California and Sharjah. They are essentially Muslims but
with some differences. They believe that salvation is possible only through the
daee, the community’s infallible spiritual master.
The Mahdi Bagh Institution in Nagpur
is spread over 25 acres. Each family has a separate residence. But there are no
boundary walls between them. The houses are never locked. It is like a private
township with its own traffic system, water and power supply, rainwater
harvesting facility, dispensary and a community hall. They have a swimming
pool, a fishing pond, golf course, cricket and football grounds, tennis court,
volleyball and badminton courts and indoor games facilities. The entire campus
is maintained meticulously and it is a kind of paradise on earth. A newly wed couple
The people
are guided by the
principles of peace, simplicity, love, brotherhood, gender equality and
respect for all faiths. Not every child born to the members automatically
becomes a member of this community. The child has to grow up and make a choice
as an adult, a choice made on the basis of understanding and accepting the
community’s fundamental spiritual beliefs and principles.
The community
is neither exclusivist nor expansionist. They accept individuals from outside
through marriage. But once again the individual has to make a personal choice,
a commitment. Maulana Amiruddin Malak Saheb, present spiritual head
I have always
believed that if the systems are good the individuals will be good too. In
other words, if our socio-political setup encourages compassion and generosity,
there will be compassion and generosity around. People like to be good. But
they need the support of the systems. Why is there so much evil around? My firm
conviction is that our systems foster evils. Just look at the present India. Isn’t
it founded on hatred and mutual distrust? Aren’t we told and taught to hate
rather than love? Aren’t we taught to dig up ancient hatreds and hug the blood-hungry
ghosts?
Institutions
like the one highlighted above show us that goodness is not necessarily a
dream.
PS. All pictures above are from The Week.
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteAn intriguing example of how to live life differently. YAM xx
PS - my comment yesterday has not appeared - do check your spam comments folder; Blogger has been playing some tricks with everyone's comments this past couple of months. Yxx
DeleteIt's good to know that such communities exist. They give us hope.
DeleteThis is interesting and informative. I never knew about this sect.The best part is ..... the child has to grow up and make a choice as an adult....... All said and done, The Week always comes out with unique articles.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't aware of this sect too. Communities like this offer hope for a better world.
DeleteI think I heard about bohra muslims but not this...sounds cool specially the act of leaving the choice to kids till they grow .
ReplyDelete......before they choose a religion....wish they had an option to not choose at all...they must be having ....but what if even normal muslims are just as open as this and keep religion very personal....u think they are very minimal and exceptional group ?? :( Among many I kno there r ignorant but mostly submissive sect who keep religion inside doors but ya I kno there r some frenzy folks...however good to kno that some people are called *progressive muslims* specifically :) this is afshan
..unable to comment with my profile
Religion should have become defunct long ago. That's my personal view. Religion does more harm than good whether Islam, Hinduism or Christianity. In such a world where gods are pernicious, sects like this Mahdi Bagh become significant. They show that religion needn't be so abhorrent.
DeleteThat's true! I agree
DeleteGood to know about this progressive community...
ReplyDeleteIf only we had more such communities!
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