- Zakir as Jagdish… Sabeera as Savitri
- All Muslim names of family members changed
- Claimed Hindu ancestry until the Mughal era
- Allegedly converted to Islam under pressure then
- Now voluntarily embraced Hinduism
- Conversion facilitated by Hindu Yuva Vahini
- Incident creates a sensation in Uttar Pradesh
Article Today, Mathura:
In a remarkable incident in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, a Muslim family of eight members converted to Hinduism. The conversion took place in a special religious ceremony at an ashram in Vrindavan.
The family members, clad in saffron robes, claimed that they had taken the decision voluntarily, believing that their ancestors were Hindus. The family head, 50-year-old Zakir, who will now be known as Jagdish, said that their ancestors were Hindus until the Mughal era and were forced to convert to Islam due to pressure.
“We were Muslims in name, but in our hearts, we were always Hindus,” Jagdish said. “We have been worshipping Kali Mata for years, and the villagers call me Bhagat Ji.” His wife, Guddi, has been renamed Gudiya.
The family members have adopted new Hindu names. Jagdish’s son Anwar is now Sumit, his younger son Runwar is now Rameshwar, and his daughter-in-law Sabira is now Savitri. The grandchildren have also been renamed – Sabir is now Shatrughan, Joya is now Saraswati, and Neha is now Sneha.
The conversion ceremony was organized by Hindu Yuva Vahini at Bhagwat Dham Ashram in Vrindavan. The family members participated in the havan-yajna ceremony, where priests recited Vedic mantras.
Jagdish, who belongs to the Gurjar community, said that the thought of returning to Hinduism had been brewing in their minds for three years. “We took this step with complete faith and without any pressure or inducement,” he said.
The police official in charge of Vrindavan Kotwali, Prashant Kapil, said that the conversion was voluntary and peaceful, and no action was required from the police.
The incident has sparked debate in Uttar Pradesh, where laws are in place to prevent forced conversions. While the family members and officials claim that the conversion was voluntary, critics argue that the family was pressurized into converting.
The incident has drawn attention to the complex issue of religious conversions and the need for a nuanced approach to address the concerns of different communities.
