In the quiet town of Nanda Nagar, located in Uttarakhand, India, Ahamad Hasan starts his day at 8am by opening his dry-cleaning shop along the Nandakini river. Hanging freshly cleaned clothes on the walls, Hasan eagerly awaits customers, but notices a significant drop in Hindu customers and the absence of any Muslim customers.
Once home to 15 Muslim families, Nanda Nagar turned hostile towards the minority community after an incident of anti-Muslim violence in September 2024. Despite the fear and isolation, Hasan, the last Muslim man in town, remains determined to make it work for his family.
Growing up in Nanda Nagar, Hasan experienced a shift in sentiment against Muslims since COVID-19, leading to his Hindu friends distancing themselves. The situation escalated after a protest march against an alleged act of sexual harassment by a Muslim barber turned violent, with Hasan and others facing physical assaults and threats.
For Hasan, the aftermath of the violence left his shop vandalized, belongings stolen, and a sense of invisibility and isolation in his own town. Despite the challenges, Hasan remains resilient, holding on to the hope of rebuilding his life in the only place he knows as home. “Despite our complaints, no additional police force was called upon.”
Darshan Bharti, a Hindu far-right leader notorious for his anti-Muslim hate speech, also visited Nanda Nagar on that day. Following his speech, Hasan recounts, “the mob went on a rampage and vandalized our properties.” They destroyed a makeshift mosque and threw a Muslim resident’s car into the river. Bharti declined to respond to questions from Al Jazeera regarding his visit to Nanda Nagar and the ensuing violence.
“All Muslim families in the town sought refuge on the top floor of my house while the crowd hurled stones. The memory of that day still sends chills down my spine,” Hasan shares. His house, equipped with iron grills and a gate, proved to be a safer shelter for the Muslim families.
Arif, the barber accused of sexual harassment, was apprehended on that day from Uttar Pradesh after a formal complaint was filed against him on September 1. Arif was remanded to police custody for a week before being released on bail.
Subsequently, the police informed the Muslim families that they could no longer guarantee their safety. Under the cover of darkness, the officers escorted them into police vehicles and dropped them off in a nearby town.
For most Muslim families, this marked the end of their lives in Nanda Nagar.
However, Hasan refused to give up. “This is my home. My entire life, including my birth, upbringing, and identity, is tied to Uttarakhand,” he asserts, noting that all his official documents list Nanda Nagar as his address. “My entire family resides in Uttarakhand.”
“Where can I possibly go now?”
Once, Hasan had close Hindu friends, even participating in the community’s funeral rituals. However, when he and other Muslims were attacked, he laments that his Hindu friends did not even answer his calls.
From the nearby town where the police had left them, Hasan and his family made their way to Dehradun, the state capital located 266km away. After spending a few days there, Hasan and 48-year-old Mohammad Ayyum, also from Nanda Nagar, petitioned the Uttarakhand High Court on September 26 for protection.
The High Court directed the senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Chamoli district to ensure the strict enforcement of law and order, averting any untoward incident targeting a specific community. However, despite the court’s protection, no other Muslim family was willing to accompany Hasan back to Nanda Nagar due to fear.
On October 16, Hasan finally returned to Nanda Nagar, only to find a Hindu man had opened a dry-cleaning shop directly opposite his own shop, posing direct competition. Despite facing challenges in repairing his shop and attracting customers, Hasan persevered, refusing to be deterred by the fear and discrimination propagated by Hindutva groups.
Throughout his ordeal, Hasan and his family have continued to face discrimination and hostility in their new environment, where their religious identity sets them apart. Despite the challenges, Hasan remains determined to make a living and provide for his family, refusing to succumb to the pressures of religious discrimination. Di bawah Kepala Menteri Pushkar Singh Dhami dari BJP Modi, negara tersebut telah menyaksikan lonjakan kejahatan kebencian dan diskriminasi terhadap Muslim di beberapa kota. Di kota demi kota, kelompok kanan jauh telah meluncurkan kampanye untuk memaksa Muslim pergi, dalam banyak kasus berhasil.
Toko milik Muslim dirampok atau dibakar. Pengepungan ekonomi tidak resmi diberlakukan. Dan seringkali, Muslim juga menghadapi kekerasan fisik. Paling baru-baru ini, pemerintahan Dhami memberlakukan aturan tentang Kode Sipil Seragam (UCC) yang menghentikan Muslim dan minoritas agama lainnya dari mengikuti hukum personal berbasis agama di negara bagian tersebut.
Pengadilan telah turun tangan dalam beberapa kesempatan, tetapi beberapa aktivis percaya bahwa mereka perlu melakukan lebih banyak lagi. “Pengadilan negara kita tidak menyadari besarnya penindasan yang saat ini dihadapi Muslim,” kata Khursheed Ahmed, seorang aktivis yang berbasis di ibu kota negara bagian Dehradun yang membantu Hasan mengajukan petisi di Pengadilan Tinggi. “Penindasan tersebut ada di semua bidang – fisik, emosional, finansial.”
Namun, baru-baru ini, Hasan menemukan sedikit harapan.
Pada 19 Februari, lebih dari lima bulan setelah kekerasan September, salah satu pria Hindu yang memimpin protes anti-Muslim datang ke toko Hasan. Istrinya sedang mengelola toko mereka saat itu. Pria Hindu tersebut membawa mantel dan celana dan bertanya apakah mereka bisa segera dibersihkan.
Istri Hasan kemudian bertanya kepadanya, “Kamu memanggil saya kakak dan kamu ingin Muslim pergi?”
Pria itu menjawab: “Lupakan apa yang terjadi. Pekerjaanmu sangat bagus. Itulah mengapa saya datang padamu.”
Hasan tersenyum saat mengingat insiden itu. “Saya melihat hari ini karena saya tidak pergi dan saya bertarung,” katanya.
Rasa sakit dari perpisahan pertemanan masih menyakitkan. “Ketika keluarga Muslim kembali untuk mengambil barang-barang mereka, orang-orang dengan siapa kami biasa duduk dan tertawa mengejek kami,” katanya. “Mereka bertanya mengapa kami kembali. Itu mematahkan hatiku. Meskipun kekerasan fisik sudah mereda, kekerasan sosial diam masih berlanjut.”
Tapi Hasan menolak untuk menyerah pada masa depan. Atau, pada Nanda Nagar.