Jammu, April 27 -- It was the day before yesterday. I was on my way when I noticed a man standing quietly by the roadside. His appearance suggested he was a Maulana, simple clothes, a calm face, and a certain dignity that needed no introduction. He raised his hand gently, asking for a lift. I stopped.
He sat beside me, and for a few moments, there was silence. Then, as often happens in simple journeys, a conversation began. He spoke about his life, years spent in madrasas, immersed in books and discipline. Step by step, he had completed his religious education. Today, he serves as an Imam and Khateeb in a mosque.
We spoke of ordinary things, family, children, daily life. He told me his children go to school. He lives in a rented room in S...