Pejawar Swamij’s car driver was a Muslim!
Udupi: It may come as a surprise that Pejawar Seer Vishwesha Teertha’s driver was a Muslim, which amply demonstrated his sensitivity towards other religions and tolerance.
The driver’s name is Mohammed Arif. Even his brothers were also drivers for the seer.
While Mohammed Akhir chauffeured the seer for three years, another brother of Arif, Mohammed Manoor did it for seven years. Arif has been seer’s driver for two years. Though there were rumblings within and outside when he appointed a Muslim as his driver, the seer did not budge nor give an ear to the criticisms. He had asked Arif: Is it difficult to work as a driver for me?
When Arif replied in the negative, the seer said : Don’t bother about others, do your work.
Arif says though others referred to him as a communal seer, he never felt so in seer’s actions or words. The seer had also advised him to do Namaz regularly and he did not have any objection for him performing his prayers. Arif had a free run inside the Mutt. According to Arif, the seer had read Quran as thoroughly as he did Geeta.
We are a secular country. Glad to read this report.