Kundapur: Death Brings Together Hindus and Muslims
 Pics: Aishwarya Beejady
Daijiworld Media Network—Kundapur (RD/CN)
 
Kundapur, Jan 5: A humanitarian act was witnessed in the city with the differences of caste system and religion notwithstanding at a time when communal flare ups are quite common.
 
Both Hindus and Muslims joined in the last rites of a Muslim man, Idinabba.
 
Shankar Devadiga and Preeta who were close to Idinabba were in tears, when his mortal remains were buried as per Islamic tradition at 9.00 pm on Monday January 3.
 
Iddinabba had arrived in the city about 25 years ago and his whereabouts before then are unknown. He took shelter in the fish market and was earning his livelihood by doing odd jobs.  Florist Preeta and a petty shopkeeper Shankar Devadiga were also running their trades in the locality.  Both Preeta and Shankar helped Iddinabba to erect a shelter in the vicinity of their shops, as he was honest and worked diligently.

Iddinabba always returned any money he borrowed. Iddinabba fell ill a few days ago and was found to have kidney complications.  The petty traders in the fish market admitted the ailing Iddinabba to Wenlock Hospital in Mangalore.  They enquired from Iddinabba about his family and he gave them contact numbers of his family members.  However, when the traders called up the people, they denied knowing Iddinabba.
 
Shankar Devadiga borrowed money from colleagues and managed to settle the medical expenses on his own, discharged Idinabba from hospital and brought him back to his dwelling.  However, Iddinabba once again fell seriously ill.  The neighbours in the fish market came forward to clean Iddinabba’s dwelling, provided him food, clothes, and cared for him. 
 
Shankar then shifted the critically ailing Iddinabba to the Government Hospital where he passed away on December 26, 2010.  Shankar alleged that his pleas to the town council to come to the rescue of the ailing orphaned Iddinabba were in vain. 
 
Iddinabba’s mortal remains were placed in the mortuary of Government Hospital for a week, in the hope that his family members will arrive to claim the body for burial as per Islamic rites.  When nobody came forward, Shankar was in a dilemma as to whether the mortal remains are to be cremated as per Hindu tradition or buried as per Islamic rites. At this juncture, Shankar informed veteran social worker Abbu Saheb and Muslim brethren of Mudugopady Jamat who took the lead in providing a burial for Iddinabba. 
 
Hindus and Muslims joined in the last rites.  They collectively cleansed the mortal remains of Iddinabba, and some Hindus covered him in a saffron towel as per Hindu tradition.  When the mortal remains were lowered into the grave, the entire gathering was in tears as a last tribute to Iddinabba.