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Unique information about Bhilai’s Eid Namaz recorded in the diary of retired BSP worker MR Ansari.
Bhilai. MR Ansari, a HUDCO resident, has the complete account of the Namaz offered on Eidul Fitr and Eidul Azha for the last 64 years. Interestingly, earlier both the Eid prayers were held in Sector-1, while the daily five-time prayers were offered in the temporary mosque in Boria (now inside the plant) township. Later, a beautiful mosque was built in Sector-6 and then after a few years the Idgah ground was ready. Since then prayers are being held here.
MR Ansari, who retired from the finance department of Bhilai Steel Plant in 1995 and was the president of Bhilai Nagar Masjid Trust, says that he had a habit of writing a diary since the beginning, so he used to note down everyday things and continues to do so even today.
Ansari says that in November 1959, when he joined the service of Bhilai Steel Plant, he used to live with his elder brother in Boria Basti. This Boria Basti was later removed in the 40 lakh ton expansion of BSP and other constructions including Plate Mill and Boria Stores came up here. At the same time, the residents of this place were given houses in different sectors.
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Ansari showing his diary says that he came in 1959, so from 1960 he started keeping record of Eidul Fitr and Eidul Azha. In which the day-date, place and the name of the Imam who teaches Namaz are recorded. The pages of the old diary had become dilapidated, so now it has been taken afresh in another diary.
He said that when he joined the BSP job in Bhilai, he observed his first fast on February 29, 1960 and after that Eidul Fitr prayer was held on March 29, 1960 at Sector-1 ground. After this, on June 6, 1960, the prayers of Idul Azha also took place here.
Ansari says that between Sector-1 Club and Nehru House, where there is a cricket ground today, both the Eid prayers started from 1956. Then Qari Abdul Khaliq Hashmi, serving in BSP’s telephone department and living in Sector-1, used to lead Eid prayers here every year.
Ansari further stated that in the initial phase, people of all religions had temporarily made their own places of worship in Boria Basti. The people of the Muslim community had also built a temporary mosque in Boria Basti, where prayers were offered at all five times and on Fridays. Today, where BSP’s Boria stores are, there used to be a mosque.
Ansari told that later the BSP granted land for the mosque in Sector-6, then from 1962 both the Eid prayers started in place of the Sector-6 mosque. Here apart from Qari Hashmi, BSP personnel Hafiz Khalil and others continued to offer Eid prayers year after year.
Then from the year 1969 Hafiz Ajmaluddin Haider continued to offer Namaz here, which continued till the year 2013 and since then Hafiz Iqbal Anjum Haider is offering Namaz. Originally a resident of Ghazipur (UP), MR Ansari told that he has been doing diary writing as a hobby and hence all this information could be kept safe.
City’s famous architect Haji MH Siddiqui, impressed by Ansari’s diary writing, says that all this information is like a heritage. Siddiqui says-Ansari Sahab has not only written the details of Eid in his diary, but has also recorded many events from 1960 till now in his diary. This in itself is an exemplary work, which inspires many people in the society.