By Omar Rashid
New Delhi: Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal have outlawed an age-old fair – the Neja Mela – held by the Muslim community to commemorate Saiyad Salar Masud Ghazi, a semi-legendary military figure from the 11th century popularly believed to be a nephew of Ghaznavid ruler Mahmud of Ghazni. A senior police officer, while denying permission for the fair this year, said an event to honour an “invader,” “plunderer” and “murderer” would not be allowed to be held even if it had been traditionally organised year after year.
The official stand, while banning the event, was in tune with the long-held views of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its affiliates who have concertedly tried to superimpose the fable of Ghazi Mian, as he is popularly known, into current politics and project him as a villainous character, who was slayed by a backward caste Hindu warrior Suheldev.
Muslims in some parts of Uttar Pradesh venerate Ghazi Mian as a saint and in the Neja Mela – held every year in Sambhal after the festival of Holi – recite Islamic verses to honour his legacy.
However, Ghazi, whose alleged mausoleum in Bahraich district is visited by both Hindus and Muslims, has long been used as a polarising figure by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other associated groups to pit backward caste and Dalit Hindus against Muslims. The BJP and RSS have for many decades tried to project Maharaja Suheldev, a legendary Bhar chieftain, as a Hindutva warrior and national hero who stopped Ghazi Mian’s march in Bahraich and temporarily halted the Islamisation of the region.
In 2021, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Adityanath had famously asked, can the “followers” of Maharaja Suheldev and Salar Masood join hands, as he tried to portray the opposition Samajwadi Party as pro-Muslim and rule that its alliance with other smaller backward caste-based parties was incompatible.
“Will the followers of Maharaja Suheldev join hands with the followers of Salar Masood? Can they join hands? A true ‘rasthra bhakt’ can never bow in front of invaders. He will not budge, retreat or bow,” Adityanath said at a rally weeks before the 2022 Assembly election.
This story was originally published in thewire.in. Read the full story here.
