True faith

Proud of being an Indian Muslim, Yusuf believes his recital will help remove misunderstandings among Hindus and Muslims. Yusuf visits temples and has performed in over 400 Ramayan Path.

As people passed by the Gandhi Hall in Indore, they stopped to listen to a voice impeccably reading out the Ramayan.

HT Image

And when they got to know that the voice was of Mohammed Yusuf Hindustani, they found themselves trooping into the hall - some out of sheer curiosity and some as if in a trance.

On Thursday, Yusuf Hindustani began a “non-stop Ramayan path (recital)” from Thursday evening. Organised by the Shri Ram Navyuvak Ramayan Mandal, the programme was an attempt to spread the message of brotherhood and communal harmony.

Yusuf Hindustani will read the Ramayan, the Hanuman Chalisa and the Sundar Kand as part of his 51-hour programme. The audience is a mix of Hindus and Muslims.

Yusuf told the Hindustan Times that it was just a matter of belief that he took to reading Hindu epics more than 25 years ago.

He said his family never opposed his decision as he has been religiously following Islam too. Yusuf clarified that he was not eyeing records but would follow the Limca Book guidelines for his programme.