Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Rasheed Vitla

Mangaluru, Jul 10: Even as the city and surrounding places are in the grip of communal unrest with incidents like stabbing, murder, stone pelting and assault being reported here and there, and police are on tenterhooks to manage the situation, five incidents that are listed below have held high the eternal truth that humanitarian aid and communal harmony have the potential of becoming the paramount elixir that can heal everything and soothe the agitated nerves.

In first such incident, Bhavani Shetty (55), residing at Saripalla Road in Alape in the city, is very sick. She lives alone as her husband and only son are no more. Her thatched hut does not have power supply or toilet facility. A team of volunteers visited her home and promised to provide the old lady toilet to provide her relief from daily struggle.

Aithappa (44), a member of Koraga community living behind Divyajyothi school at Vamanjoor here, has been bedridden since the last seven years. He cannot do anything including moving about on his own. A family member has been taking care of him. kind-hearted souls who met him assured him that it would be their responsibility to provide medicines as long as he needs them.

The third incident pertains to Mohini, resident of Kettikal, Iruvail. Mohini lives with mother and four sisters, and life has not been kind to her. She has been facing lot of difficulties. Three of the sisters are suffering from ill health and all the family members are under constant worry about their future. The team which met the family has conveyed to them their decision to supply provisions needed by the family every month for a year.

Veronica D'Silva lives at Shivanagara in Moodushedde with her husband. The couple does not have children. Their small hut has no power connection. The volunteers met them and decided to arrange for power supply to the family.

Piad Crasta from Vamanjur Adarshanagara is a widow. Her only son, who is 40, is ill. The team has decided to supply food items to the family which lives in a small shed, every month.

The team comprising Muslim members of Hidaya Foundation visited three Hindu and two Christian families on a single day as above and responded on the spot to their needs. The city team of Hidaya Foundation is led by its president, Muhammed Haneef Haji Goltamajalu, with Asif Deals Jubail, Basheer T K Farangipet and Abdul Razack Anantady as members. Lilly Mary of Dharmajyoti Social organization, Vamajur had informed the team about the travails if these five families and thus becoming a part of their social service initiative.

A team of Muslims, by extending hand of help to Hindu and Christian families with the support of a Christian woman has heralded a new era of hope in the communally sensitive Karnataka coast.

Hidaya Foundation team, which has been extending help to families facing problems since the last six to seven years without considering the religious affiliation of the concerned, has Hidaya Colony at Kavalakatte. In a five-acre colony, the foundation has provided houses to 60 widows and helped them to become self reliant. It also has opened school for physically challenged children and helped thousands of people suffering from ill health. It has been providing ration items every month to 285 families belonging to Islam and other religions.

Hidaya Foundation is being run by people backed by a conscience throbbing for social harmony and humanitarian values. It is drawing support from Muslim non-resident Indians from the coast. Under the banner of Hidaya Foundation, they are working to win over hearts. Hidaya has been driving a sense of despair away from the lives of people. We hope it will continue to do so forever.