Revolt in Banswada
Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 6:15 pm
After Udaipur the Rajput Blood Shows colours in Banswada again
Exploitative Amil and Jamat Members Warned and Beaten up by Furious Dawoodi Bohra Women
On 10th Dec. 2007 Suturday, it was a situation like Udaipur in Banswada. The Dawoodi Bohra men, women and youngsters came out in very large number in traditional dresses demonstrating against the atrocities, harassment and loot of Amil, Mansoor Bhabrawala and Jamat members, who are his partners in crime.
The Amil and the Jamat members have made Raza compulsory and have imposed taxes on all the activities of the community members in the name Sayedna's farman. Demonstrating Bohra women said to the newspaper reporters that for long the Amil is blackmailing us in the name of Sayedna Burhanuddin.
The resentment against Amil and his henchmen surfaced with the notice on Jamat Secretary, Shabbir Behrainwala by Municipal Corporation for installing a hand-pump illegally. One Jamat member, Abbas Pattharwala blamed Fakhruddin Gheewala for this notice. Mr. Gheewala is a corporator in the corporation. Soon the Amil's henchmen went and threatened Mr. Gheewala to kill him.
Latter on Amil realised his mistake and phoned Fakhruddin Gheewala requesting him to come to Jamat office for a settlement. He promised him that he would call those who have threatened him and make them apologise. The general Bohras came to know of this and decided that they will not allow Mr. Gheewala to go to Amil alone. He may come under pressure and compromise.
So the Bohras of almost entire town went to Jamat office with Mr. Gheewala. The moment the Amil saw them coming in such a large number he escaped from the back door. This flared up the anger of agitating Bohras especially that of women.
Then the crowd went to Amil's resident near Bohra mosque in the new settlement area. But they found the house locked from outside. This outraged the anger further. They were sure that though the house is locked the Amil is very much inside. They shouted and challenge the Amil come out and face them.
They were furious as Amil used to abuse and curse them time and again saying that your elders are buried wrongly in graveyard and you will all go to hell. You will suffer deadly deases.
They remained there for more than 4 hours till midnight shouting slogan "Amil hai hai" "Amil Murdabad". During this protest the corporator Fakhruddin Gheewala fainted and the police arrived on the scene.
A signature campaign was launched on a statement listing down Amil's and Jamat committee's incidents of harassment and loot.
Then on Wednesday, 12th Dec. 2007 two representatives of Amil of Galiakot came to Banswada for settlement. But the protesting Bohra mob said that one of these two is a bully who had run away after he was thoroughly beaten up at Ratlam.
On oneside the meeting of Banswada Amil, Jamat members and Fakhruddin Gheewala with these representatives was going on in a closed room. On the other side the angry mob was resenting openly outside.
The Bohra women were openly expressing their sufferings telling press reporters letting out their anger. One Bohra woman said that now-a-days we are not allowed to do "Gaud bharai" at home and the Jamat charges Rs. 1000 per Thal. Like this we are looted at the time misaq. For Misaq earlier Amil used to charge Rs. 252. Now that amount has been raised to Rs. 752. For performing nikah the Amil charges Rs. 1452 minimum. We have remained silent till now due to fear of social-boycott and our own safety.
We are paying them by taking money on high interest. On one side our Sayedna Saheb say that interest is prohibited. On the other side his Amil compels us to take money on interest to pay the demanded Zakat and vajebat amount. More than 100 Bohras are caught in interest-bearing transaction and are in trouble.
One Bohra gentleman said with obvious pain in his voice, that this December he is going to loose his house as he had mortgaged the house in order to raise money to pay Jamat's taxes. Many times he went to Amil and Jamat for help from Qarze-Hasnat but each time he was insulted and thrown out.
Bohras complained that all crooks have got together as Jamat's life members and there is no change in their post since last 8 years. Most Bohras complained against the Jamat secretary Shaikh Shabbir Behrainwala.
They complained that even for the mass-marrages in the name of Rasme-Saifee an exorbitant amount of Rs. 30,000 per couple is charged.
they said that the Sayedna Saheb had sent Rs. two crore 15 lakh for the Bohras of Banswada but there is no account of that amount.
Meanwhile Fakhruddin Gheewala once opened the widow of meeting room and said "Please keep passion. the final agreement will be according to the people. If that does not happen you can walk on my dead body."
Soon after the members and Galiakot representatives came out of the closed room and announced that the settlement has been reached as per people's wishes. But the angry mob said in one voice that "You are playing dirty politics with us and we are not going to believe you."
Then suddenly Bohra women jumped on them and beat them up with their footwares. The police had to intervene. But still these women did not stop hitting fatty Jamat members, who were unable to run because of their over-weights. These women were shouting "Haramkhoro! You have become so fatty by enjoying on our money that you ca'nt even run whereas we are compelled to remained hungry."
The crowd was so furious and uncontrollable that the police had closed down the main road.
The representatives who came for settlement from Partappur, Sagwada and Galiakot were shocked as they had never witnessed such resentment of loyal Bohras before. They refused to comment on camera of press. But said we will convey the feelings of the Banswada Bohras to the concerned people in Bombay and it is for them to decide to bring about any change in Amil and Jamat.
(Based on the news in the local Rajasthan newspapers which has given colour photographs showing Bohras protesting in large numbers and Bohra women beating with their chappals. Free translation by me from Hindi.)
Exploitative Amil and Jamat Members Warned and Beaten up by Furious Dawoodi Bohra Women
On 10th Dec. 2007 Suturday, it was a situation like Udaipur in Banswada. The Dawoodi Bohra men, women and youngsters came out in very large number in traditional dresses demonstrating against the atrocities, harassment and loot of Amil, Mansoor Bhabrawala and Jamat members, who are his partners in crime.
The Amil and the Jamat members have made Raza compulsory and have imposed taxes on all the activities of the community members in the name Sayedna's farman. Demonstrating Bohra women said to the newspaper reporters that for long the Amil is blackmailing us in the name of Sayedna Burhanuddin.
The resentment against Amil and his henchmen surfaced with the notice on Jamat Secretary, Shabbir Behrainwala by Municipal Corporation for installing a hand-pump illegally. One Jamat member, Abbas Pattharwala blamed Fakhruddin Gheewala for this notice. Mr. Gheewala is a corporator in the corporation. Soon the Amil's henchmen went and threatened Mr. Gheewala to kill him.
Latter on Amil realised his mistake and phoned Fakhruddin Gheewala requesting him to come to Jamat office for a settlement. He promised him that he would call those who have threatened him and make them apologise. The general Bohras came to know of this and decided that they will not allow Mr. Gheewala to go to Amil alone. He may come under pressure and compromise.
So the Bohras of almost entire town went to Jamat office with Mr. Gheewala. The moment the Amil saw them coming in such a large number he escaped from the back door. This flared up the anger of agitating Bohras especially that of women.
Then the crowd went to Amil's resident near Bohra mosque in the new settlement area. But they found the house locked from outside. This outraged the anger further. They were sure that though the house is locked the Amil is very much inside. They shouted and challenge the Amil come out and face them.
They were furious as Amil used to abuse and curse them time and again saying that your elders are buried wrongly in graveyard and you will all go to hell. You will suffer deadly deases.
They remained there for more than 4 hours till midnight shouting slogan "Amil hai hai" "Amil Murdabad". During this protest the corporator Fakhruddin Gheewala fainted and the police arrived on the scene.
A signature campaign was launched on a statement listing down Amil's and Jamat committee's incidents of harassment and loot.
Then on Wednesday, 12th Dec. 2007 two representatives of Amil of Galiakot came to Banswada for settlement. But the protesting Bohra mob said that one of these two is a bully who had run away after he was thoroughly beaten up at Ratlam.
On oneside the meeting of Banswada Amil, Jamat members and Fakhruddin Gheewala with these representatives was going on in a closed room. On the other side the angry mob was resenting openly outside.
The Bohra women were openly expressing their sufferings telling press reporters letting out their anger. One Bohra woman said that now-a-days we are not allowed to do "Gaud bharai" at home and the Jamat charges Rs. 1000 per Thal. Like this we are looted at the time misaq. For Misaq earlier Amil used to charge Rs. 252. Now that amount has been raised to Rs. 752. For performing nikah the Amil charges Rs. 1452 minimum. We have remained silent till now due to fear of social-boycott and our own safety.
We are paying them by taking money on high interest. On one side our Sayedna Saheb say that interest is prohibited. On the other side his Amil compels us to take money on interest to pay the demanded Zakat and vajebat amount. More than 100 Bohras are caught in interest-bearing transaction and are in trouble.
One Bohra gentleman said with obvious pain in his voice, that this December he is going to loose his house as he had mortgaged the house in order to raise money to pay Jamat's taxes. Many times he went to Amil and Jamat for help from Qarze-Hasnat but each time he was insulted and thrown out.
Bohras complained that all crooks have got together as Jamat's life members and there is no change in their post since last 8 years. Most Bohras complained against the Jamat secretary Shaikh Shabbir Behrainwala.
They complained that even for the mass-marrages in the name of Rasme-Saifee an exorbitant amount of Rs. 30,000 per couple is charged.
they said that the Sayedna Saheb had sent Rs. two crore 15 lakh for the Bohras of Banswada but there is no account of that amount.
Meanwhile Fakhruddin Gheewala once opened the widow of meeting room and said "Please keep passion. the final agreement will be according to the people. If that does not happen you can walk on my dead body."
Soon after the members and Galiakot representatives came out of the closed room and announced that the settlement has been reached as per people's wishes. But the angry mob said in one voice that "You are playing dirty politics with us and we are not going to believe you."
Then suddenly Bohra women jumped on them and beat them up with their footwares. The police had to intervene. But still these women did not stop hitting fatty Jamat members, who were unable to run because of their over-weights. These women were shouting "Haramkhoro! You have become so fatty by enjoying on our money that you ca'nt even run whereas we are compelled to remained hungry."
The crowd was so furious and uncontrollable that the police had closed down the main road.
The representatives who came for settlement from Partappur, Sagwada and Galiakot were shocked as they had never witnessed such resentment of loyal Bohras before. They refused to comment on camera of press. But said we will convey the feelings of the Banswada Bohras to the concerned people in Bombay and it is for them to decide to bring about any change in Amil and Jamat.
(Based on the news in the local Rajasthan newspapers which has given colour photographs showing Bohras protesting in large numbers and Bohra women beating with their chappals. Free translation by me from Hindi.)