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A story of harmony in Madanpura

Ask anyone with a passing knowledge of current events what images the words Ramallah, Gaza, and Beirut conjure and the reply you'd probably get is "war".

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In the Middle East they may be warring, but in Mumbai, Jews and Muslims live in an atmosphere of peace and mutual respect

Ask anyone with a passing knowledge of current events what images the words Ramallah, Gaza, and Beirut conjure and the reply you'd probably get is "war". And not just any war: All three have played host to the titanic struggle between the Jewish state of Israel and its Muslim neighbours of Palestine and Lebanon (the Syrian backed Islamic section). Judaism and Islam have been locked in battle, in the Middle East, for over six decades. But in Mumbai, not only do Muslims and Jews live in harmony, but some city synagogues even have Muslim caretakers.

If anyone ever requires proof that the gunmen, who went on the rampage at the Nariman House last week, do not reflect the city's sentiments, then all they have to do is walk down Madanpura lane. The 104-year-old Magen Hassdim Synagogue lies nestled in this predominantly Muslim area, and has the largest Jewish congregation in the city.
And although the street's Muslim residents are well aware of the bloody events taking place in the Middle East, here they live in peace and harmony.

"We see a lot of Jews coming here for marriages and prayer meetings. Their culture is very fascinating. Irrespective of the global scenario, we have no animosity against any community," says Shabana, a 34-year-old Madanpura resident.  Shabana has lived here all her life, and now, a mother of two, she admits that the recent attacks, especially the one at Nariman House, worries her: "Sometimes I do feel jittery about my family's safety when I hear such news," she says. 

Mohammed Shaukat, who owns a dairy store on the street, claims that there has never been any tension between the two communities. "We supply milk to the synagogue. At times, Jews also drop in to have a glass of Lassi. Sometimes they also come and ask for change to pay their taxis," he says, adding that even after the attacks, religion plays no role in the relationship between the two communities.

Electrician, Shaikh Jamaluddin, is often called to the synagogue to fix electrical faults, and says that he has never felt any tension.

The Jamaa't-e-Islami Hind, an Islamic organisation that is housed close to the synagogue has reached out to victims of the Mumbai attacks. "This ghastly attack is not directed at a particular community, but on India as a whole. Many Muslims have also died. Terrorists are terrorists, they don't have any religion," says Hamid Hussain, joint secretary, Jamaa't-e-Islami Hind.

One Muslim caretaker of a prominent city synagogue, says, "The fact that they want me to continue, even though I have crossed my retirememt age, shows that we live in utmost harmony."

Madanpura may only be one street in a city riddled with them, but it is in this street that Mumbai, India, and maybe even the world, can find a glimmer of the harmony that is proving so elusive in these dark times. 
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