The Narrative of Ahmed Hasan: "This Is My Home" and the Quest for Acceptance in Nand Nagar

 The Narrative of Ahmed Hasan: "This Is My Home" and the Quest for Acceptance in Nand Nagar

Violence erupted in the quiet town of Nand Nagar in Uttarakhand after a Muslim barber was accused of sexual harassment. What began as a singular incident quickly spiraled into full-blown communal unrest. In the days that followed, Muslim homes, shops, and religious spaces came under attack. Most Muslim families were forced to flee, leaving behind everything they had.

Yet, one man—Ahmed Hasan, a local businessman—refused to abandon his roots.

In an interview with Al Jazeera from Najibabad, Haroon Ansari, a Muslim resident who had been assaulted, recalled, “All I remember is being dragged by people. After that, everything went blank.” After the attack on Ansari, Muslims in the area, including Hasan, went into hiding. But even that wasn't enough.

Mobs of Hindu extremists descended on their neighborhoods, throwing stones at homes. “We kept calling the police,” Hasan said. “But no one answered. Even my longtime Hindu friends didn’t pick up the phone.”

Later that night, when the attackers dispersed, Hasan emerged from hiding and went to check on his shop, The Hasan Dry Cleaners. It was completely destroyed. The shutter was broken, freshly cleaned clothes scattered across the street, and the counter smashed. Worst of all, a drawer that had been locked—where Hasan had saved 400,000 rupees for his children's weddings—had been broken into. The money was gone.

The damaged sign of the shop rested beside the Nandakini river, serving as a poignant reminder of devastation. “I will never forget that day,” Hasan remarked, sharing images of the destruction.

However, the most severe events were still to unfold.

On September 2, right-wing Hindu groups organized a larger protest, transporting individuals from surrounding towns to intensify the turmoil. Thousands gathered, yet law enforcement deployed only 60 to 70 officers, despite numerous requests from the Muslim community for increased security. “We consistently voiced our concerns,” Ansari stated. “But no additional police were dispatched.”

Among the speakers at the rally was Darshan Bharti, a Hindu leader notorious for his inflammatory rhetoric. Following his speech, a fresh wave of violence erupted, targeting Muslim residences, businesses, and places of worship. One mosque, a modest site for five daily prayers, was entirely destroyed. A Muslim man’s vehicle was thrown into the river. When Al Jazeera attempted to contact Bharti, he refused to provide a statement.

Hasan recounted how, during the assaults, several Muslim families sought refuge on the upper floors of his home. “They felt it was safer due to its multi-story structure and sturdy iron gate,” he explained. “Even now, I feel chills when I think back on it.”

Arif, the man initially implicated in the harassment case, was arrested on the same day but was released on bail within a week. Subsequently, police allegedly informed Muslim families that they could no longer ensure their safety. In the dead of night, officers themselves escorted Muslim families out of the city in vehicles.

For many, that marked their final day in Nand Nagar.

“This Is My Home”

However, Ahmed Hasan chose not to leave permanently. “This is my home,” he asserted. “I was born here, raised here—my entire life is intertwined with this city. My history and my roots are here.” His national ID and all official documents listed Nand Nagar as his residence.

Hasan’s family temporarily relocated to Dehradun, situated 266 kilometers away. On September 26, he and another resident, Mohammad Ayub, filed a petition with the High Court seeking protection. The court subsequently ordered the police chief to take action.

“I believed we would find safety following the court order,” Hasan remarked. “However, no one else was prepared to come back. Fear still held everyone captive.”

His brother's salon was forced to close due to threats from the landlord, and even family members refrained from offering assistance.

A Glimmer of Resolve

Ultimately, Hasan resolved to return. His wife took the initiative, returning with their children. “If we don’t go back,” she urged him, “our entire way of life will be obliterated.”

Yet, doubt persisted. Their eldest daughter had completed her education, and Hasan contemplated relocating to Dehradun permanently. However, his wife cautioned that if they left again, locals might take over their home and business.

On October 16, Hasan made his way back to Nand Nagar. Upon arrival, he found that a Hindu man had opened a dry-cleaning shop directly across from his own, intending to attract his former customers.

Hasan attempted to repair his shop, but no Hindu workers were willing to assist. “They informed me they had been instructed to completely boycott Muslims,” he stated. “The atmosphere of fear is so pervasive that no one dares to help me fix my shop. Some workers mentioned that Hindutva groups specifically warned them against supporting us.”

Hindutva, a Hindu nationalist ideology associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), influences numerous organizations, including the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In the end, Hasan managed to rebuild the shop on his own. However, customers were nowhere to be found. He reached out to his former Hindu clients, but none were willing to return. Those who attempted to do so faced threats from extremist groups and were instructed to patronize the new Hindu-owned establishment instead.

“That’s when I realized—even dry cleaning has become a matter of religion now,” Hasan reflected.

The challenges continued. His 16-year-old daughter faced bullying at school due to her faith. One classmate suggested she should be expelled simply for being Muslim. The harassment only ceased after the family lodged a complaint with the principal.

Justice, however, continues to be elusive. The police lodged a formal complaint regarding the violence that occurred on September 1, authored by the local police chief, Sanjay Singh Negi. In his account, he recounted witnessing 250 to 300 individuals directing slurs at “a specific community.” When he attempted to intervene, they pushed him aside. He called for additional support and detailed how the mob began vandalizing Muslim-owned shops and even assaulted a mosque.

“They wielded sticks, shovels, and iron rods,” he noted. “Women and children were screaming in terror.” Despite these events, no arrests have been made.

Al Jazeera attempted to reach Chamoli’s police superintendent, Sarvesh Panwar, but did not receive a reply.

The incidents in Nand Nagar reflect broader trends throughout Uttarakhand. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and the BJP, the state has experienced a significant increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes and discrimination. In numerous towns, right-wing groups have initiated campaigns aimed at expelling Muslims, often with success.

Muslim businesses are frequently looted or set ablaze. Economic boycotts are imposed, and physical violence is a common occurrence. The Dhami administration has also implemented a Uniform Civil Code, which limits the ability of religious minorities to adhere to their personal laws.

While the courts have intervened on occasion, many activists argue that further action is necessary. “Our judiciary still fails to comprehend the extent of Muslim persecution,” stated Khurshid Ahmed, an activist from Dehradun who assisted Hasan in filing his petition. “This is persecution on multiple fronts—physical, emotional, and financial.”

A Glimmer of Hope

Five months after the violence, on February 19, an unexpected event took place. A Hindu man who had previously led anti-Muslim protests entered Hasan’s shop, where Hasan’s wife was managing the counter.

He placed a coat and trousers on the counter and requested expedited dry-cleaning.

She looked at him and inquired, “Didn’t you once refer to me as sister and say that Muslims should leave?”

The man responded, “Let’s put the past behind us. You do excellent work.”

Hasan reflected on the memory with a smile. “I was fortunate to witness that day—because I opted not to engage in conflict.”

Nevertheless, the anguish of lost friendships lingers. “When Muslim families returned merely to retrieve their belongings, we would gather and share laughter. They would inquire about my decision to remain, and that would deeply sadden me.”

While the overt physical violence has diminished, the underlying social strife persists.

Despite this, Ahmed Hasan remains hopeful—for both Nand Nagar and the future.