Woman who saved Muslim family ro be felicitated

Tulja Bai, who had stirred many a conscience by single-handedly fighting a mob and rescuing a Muslim family from getting burnt alive in the communal riot-hit Bhainsa town of Adilabad district earlier this month, will be rewarded for her pluck and bravery.

Sixty-five-year-old Tulja Bai, a woman of Maharashtrian descent but settled in Bhainsa for several generations, who had put her life in danger to save a Muslim family in her neighbourhood, will be felicitated by Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy on November 1 at the official parade to mark the state formation day.

The district administration of Adilabad district as well as several prominent people, including ministers had recommended her name for an award after it came to light how she had saved the wife and three children of one Syed Osman on October 10.

District Collector Ahmad Nadeem and the District Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar had written to the state government and they have received a letter from the government saying Tulja Bai will be given a suitable award.

Tulja Bai, her son Thakur Ramesh Singh and other family members, including women had fought against the mob which had attacked the house of Syed Osman soon after the communal violence flared up in front of Panjeshah mosque during the Durga procession.

The families of Tulja Bai and Syed Osman have lived opposite to each other behind the mosque for several generations.

Osman and his brother S M Pasha, who respectfully addressed Tulja Bai as khala (aunt), said that if their family survived the attack by a mob, it was thanks to their neighbours.

After looting the property, the mob had set the house on fire with the woman and three children inside.

Recalling the Friday, October 10, Tulja Bai told this correspondent, "My family was watching the goings on from our window. The mob was rushing into our lane and attacking houses, breaking down doors and looting. When we saw smoke coming out of the house of Osman, we rushed out. When I saw a small child running out of the burning house, we realised that there were people inside."

Even as the mob threatened and abused Tulja Bai to prevent her from going inside, she and other family members rushed into the house and rescued the lives of Safia Begum, wife of Osman, and her three children.

"We took them inside our house and ensured their safety. Then we returned with water to put out the fire. Some people in the mob tried to snatch away the buckets from our hand, but we pushed them back. I told them this is the matter of our locality and these people were like our family members and nobody should stop us from helping our neighbours," she said.

Tulja Bai used the water stocked in her home to put out the fire in her Muslim neighbour's house.

"At the time no male member was at home as I was out to report the procession and the trouble," said Pasha, who works as a reporter for a Hyderabad-based daily.

"My brother had also gone out along with other family members. We had not expected any trouble as the Durga procession has become an annual affair for the last three-four years," he said.

Though the four members of the family survived, the house and the lifelong savings of the family were looted or burnt.

All the belongings kept in two rooms were turned into ashes. The TV was crushed to pieces and the iron almriah was reduced to mangled steel.

"The assailants took away Rs 1.3 lakh in cash, 19 tolas of gold and 40 tolas of silver. The clothes and other items kept for the marriage of our girls were also taken away or burnt. The furniture was broken into pieces," Pasha said.

Both Tulja Bai and Pasha said that while the Hindus and Muslims in these parts of Bhainsa were living together for centuries without any trouble, it was the people from other parts and outside who indulged in violence and attacks on houses and shops.

"I told the mob that they should do what they want to do in their own areas and not come to our area," said Tulja Bai.

"Both our families have been living together for centuries. Osman calls me khala and they are like our children," she said.

Tulja Bai was of the view that the communal trouble has become a regular occurrence in Bhainsa because of insistence of the organisers of Ganesh and Durga procession that they will sing and dance near the mosque and Muslims objecting to it. "There is no other reason for the trouble," she said.

While Tulja Bai was happy that her bravery was being recognized by the government and the people, she wanted others to follow her example.

"Before being a Hindu or a Muslim we are human beings and we should fulfill our duty as human beings. What we did is nothing great. We have just done our duty to take care of our neighbour in the times of distress," she said with a wholehearted laugh.