Bhilwara and Thiruvananthapuram: In a moment of quiet courage, two Muslim youths performed the final rites of abandoned Hindu women, demonstrating that humanity transcends religion.
In Bhilwara, Rajasthan, 67-year-old Shanti Devi lived alone after losing her children. She rented a room in the house of Salim Qureshi and was regarded by neighbours as a motherly figure. She fell ill and was admitted to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, where Asgar Ali, a young Muslim man, took care of her. After she passed away on September 14, 2025, Ali ensured her last rites were performed with respect and dignity.
Thousands of kilometres away, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, T. Safeer performed similar duties for another abandoned Hindu woman. Both incidents highlight acts of compassion and solidarity that go beyond religious boundaries, reminding communities of the importance of empathy and shared humanity.
These actions stand out at a time when reports of division dominate headlines. They reaffirm that ordinary citizens can uphold values of care and respect in daily life. By stepping forward, Ali and Safeer not only honoured the deceased but also set a precedent for communal harmony, showing that social responsibility and human decency are stronger than prejudice.
Such stories reinforce the lived reality of India’s pluralism, where people from different faiths coexist and support each other. They provide practical examples of how individuals can act in solidarity to preserve dignity, respect, and the secular spirit of society.
