You may have come across several instances of communal harmony but few as singularly striking as this one. Iqbalsinh Vasava, a resident of Gangtha village in Nizar taluka of Tapi district, is both a Hindu and a Muslim. His family has followed the culture and traditions of both the religions for the past five generations.
Vasava’s story exemplifies the adage that faith has no barriers. A descendent of the erstwhile king of the region, Vasava (who belong to the Bhil tribe) says he and his family have equal respect for the tenets of both the religions. And it doesn’t end at that — Vasava, his wife and five children celebrate both Hindu and Muslim festivals without any distinction.
His ancestors began following both religions smetime around 1890 when a Sufi saint named, Bhindrashah Baba, arrived in Gangtha from Saudi Arabia. The king of the region, Gomansinh Vasava, was impressed by his teachings. The king did not convert to Islam but decided to observe the tenets of that faith as well.
The king asked Bhindrashah Baba to stay at Gangtha and took care of all his needs.
“Baba stayed here all his life, preached to the people here, and died in this village itself,” said Iqbalsinh Vasava. “When the saint died, Gomansinh built a mausoleum over his tomb. The mausoleum is now a place of worship for us and the villagers.”
