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Incident in Uttarakhand town triggers outpouring of support
Kotdwar, Uttarakhand - A Hindu man who intervened to protect a Muslim shopkeeper from harassment has become a symbol of secular resistance in India, drawing both widespread praise and violent backlash.
What happened on January 26
Deepak Kumar, a 42-year-old gym owner, stepped in when activists from the hardline Hindu group Bajrang Dal confronted Vakeel Ahmed, the 68-year-old proprietor of a clothing store in Kotdwar. The activists demanded Ahmed remove the word Baba-a term used by both Hindus and Muslims to refer to elders or spiritual figures-from his shop's 30-year-old name, Baba School Dress and Matching Centre.
They argued the term could only refer to Siddhabali Baba, a local Hindu deity, and insisted Ahmed, a Muslim, had no right to use it. Deepak, who was at a neighboring shop, said he was drawn to the scene by a crowd gathering outside Ahmed's store.
"Are Muslims not citizens of India?"
Deepak Kumar, in a viral video of the confrontation
A name that defied expectations
When Bajrang Dal members asked his name, Deepak identified himself as Mohammad Deepak, a deliberate fusion of Hindu and Muslim identities. "I wanted to tell them that I'm an Indian," he later told BBC Hindi. "This is India, and everyone has the right to live here, regardless of religion."
The activists left after the exchange, but the incident escalated days later when over 150 Bajrang Dal supporters protested outside Deepak's gym. Police registered cases against "unknown persons" following Ahmed's complaint, and against Deepak after complaints from two Hindu activists.
National reaction: Hero or traitor?
Deepak's actions have polarized India. Supporters, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, hailed him as a "hero" fighting for the constitution and humanity. Gandhi posted on X that Deepak was "spreading love in the marketplace of hate" and called for more people like him-"those who don't bend, don't fear."
An Indian Express editorial described the video as a "shot in the arm" for a society grappling with rising intolerance, noting that Deepak's words reminded Indians of the "real India"-a place where everyone has the right to live freely.
Social media erupted with solidarity, with Deepak's Instagram following surging. A video he posted on January 29, declaring, "I am not a Hindu, I am not a Muslim... I am a human being," garnered over five million likes.
Backlash and threats
Critics, however, labeled Deepak a traitor to Hinduism. He has received death threats, including a recorded call posted on X where a man warned, "Bajrang Dal shouldn't have spared you... I'll teach you a lesson soon."
His family is "traumatised," he said, and his gym-once bustling with 150 daily visitors-now sees only 15. "People are afraid to come," he told reporters. Financial strain has added to his mental pressure.
Opposition MP John Brittas visited Deepak last weekend, calling him "a beacon of hope" and taking a gym membership to show support. Others across India have offered to buy memberships, with one X user writing, "We can't let a good man lose."
"Silence today will teach silence tomorrow"
Despite the threats, Deepak remains resolute. "If we remain silent today, tomorrow our children will also learn the same silence," he said. "I simply did what I thought was right."
Ahmed, the shopkeeper, echoed his gratitude. "We were scared. They could go to any extent," he said. "It's difficult to say what would have happened if Deepak hadn't been there."
