Hindus, Muslims pray together in Rameswaram in final farewell to Kalam
July 30, 2015  10:49
image
Saisuresh Sivaswamy/Rediff.com reports from Rameswaram.


The Mohideen Aandavar mosque in Rameswaram had anticipated a crowd for APJ Abdul Kalam's Alvida Namaaz on Thursday. Still, it could not have expected the thousands of people, Muslim and Hindu, who thronged the narrow mohallas around the mosque.


Clearly, the security agencies did, what with the three service chiefs expected to be at the mosque to receive Kalam's mortal remains after the prayer. And put up barricades to regulate the crowds that had started gathering from early as 8 am.


At one point the situation looked uncontrollable, with the muezzin repeatedly appealing for silence and order.


The sight of so many Muslims in their skull caps, and Hindus with their head covered, offering prayer side by side on the streets best summed up Kalam's syncretic life and times.


All the noise, the melee, quitened down when the muezzin gave his cry to prayer. 'Allah hu Akbar, God is Great,' and the crowd roared back in acknowledgement.


It was a brief prayer, not longer than five minutes at best. The crowd peacefully repeating 'Ameen' after every verse.


Once the namaaz was over came the real problem. How to take Kalam's cortege outside, with crowds spilling out on to the access streets.


Once again the muezzin exhorted the crowds to give way, reminding them it was the house of God and to please disperse peacefully.


As the defence forces stepped out with the cortege, phones were whipped out for photos, the crowds roared 'Allah hu Akbar, 'Dr Kalam ki Jai'.


Finally the funeral procession moved outside, where thousands of people have lined up the road leading up to Kalam's final resting place to catch a final glimpse of the military truck as it rolls out.


Rameswaram has downed shutters today to enable the public to pay their respect to its legendary son. This will be one final farewell India will not see again in a long, long time.


Photograph: Dr Kalam's brother APJ Marakayar offers prayers at the mosque. Saisuresh Sivaswamy/Rediff.com
« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES