In an era where religious boundaries often make headlines for all the wrong reasons, several recent stories shine a refreshing light on interfaith respect—especially surrounding the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita.
From a Pakistani national taking the Gita home after spending 16 years in an Indian prison, to a young Muslim girl mastering hundreds of its shlokas, and a celebrity exploring its wisdom—these narratives offer a powerful message of harmony and mutual appreciation.
A Pakistani National Finds Peace in the Bhagavad Gita After 16 Years in Indian Jail
After spending 16 years behind bars in India under the Official Secrets Act and the Foreigner’s Act, a Pakistani citizen named Jalaluddin, originally from Sindh province, was released from Varanasi Central Jail. What made his departure especially notable was that he chose to take a copy of the Bhagavad Gita along with him.
According to Ambrish Gaud, Superintendent of the Varanasi Central Jail, Jalaluddin was arrested in 2001 in the Cantonment area with suspicious documents, including maps of sensitive locations. His sentence stretched over a decade and a half, during which he remarkably transformed his life.
“He completed his intermediate studies and pursued an MA from IGNOU. He also completed an electrician’s course and served as a cricket umpire in jail tournaments,” said Gaud.
On his release, he was handed over to a special team that escorted him to Amritsar, where he will be repatriated to Pakistan via the Wagah-Attari border.
Madhya Pradesh Muslim Schoolgirl Recites 500 Shlokas from the Gita
In a heartwarming example of spiritual openness, a Class 8 Muslim girl from Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district has memorised 500 shlokas from the Bhagavad Gita—all without changing her religious beliefs.
Mushariff Khan, a student of Abacus and Vedic Mathematics, took up the challenge as part of a memory retention training course led by her teacher Rohini Menon.
“I gave her three options: memorise the dictionary, the Indian Constitution, or the Bhagavad Gita. To everyone’s surprise, she chose the Gita,” Menon shared.
Mushariff’s parents not only supported her decision but encouraged her to understand and respect all religions. “My mother always told me that outside the home, we are just human beings—not just members of a particular religion,” Mushariff said.
Her mother, Zeenat Khan, added, “We are Muslims, but we are raising our daughter to become a noble human being who respects all faiths.”
Urfi Javed Opens Up on Religion, Islam, and Her Interest in the Gita
Controversial yet outspoken actress Urfi Javed recently revealed her views on religion, expressing both criticism of conservative practices within Islam and an interest in learning from other faiths—particularly Hinduism.
“I receive most of the hate from within my own community. Many Muslim men want women to behave in a certain way, and I refuse to follow that mold,” she said. “I don’t believe in Islam and I don’t follow any religion.”
Urfi emphasized that her choices are personal and not intended to offend. She credited her mother for never imposing religious practices, saying, “My siblings still follow Islam, and I don’t—but we all respect each other.”
She is currently reading the Bhagavad Gita and expressed curiosity about Hindu philosophy. “I’m drawn to the logical and meaningful parts of the Gita. I hate extremism. I just want to extract the good.”