Mohammad Riyazuddin, who had tested positive for Covid-19 after returning to Odisha from the Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Delhi’s Nizamuddin last month, is spending his days offering prayers at the government guesthouse in Puri following his recovery at a hospital in Cuttack.

Riyazuddin, the first coronavirus patient from Puri district, cannot go back to his native village near Pipili because it has been sealed.

“Allah has saved me from the dreaded disease. I have got a second lease of life because of the Naveen Patnaik government’s excellent treatment facilities for corona positive patients. I will be staying here for some more time as my village has been sealed,” said 41-year old Riyazuddin.

“I am pained to see that a section of people have been trying to paint my community in black and portray them as the sole carriers of this virus. An attempt is being made to create a division between Hindus and Muslims. But this attempt cannot succeed under the Naveen Patnaik regime. In Odisha both Ram and Rahim have co-existed for centuries and will continue to do so. No one should try to create such divisions.”

Riyazuddin said his Pipili Assembly constituency has a sizeable population of Muslims. “We have never experienced any kind of communal disharmony in the past. Hope, this remains the same way.”

On being asked why most of the returnees from the Nizamuddin congregation were unwilling to undergo tests, he said, “There was a constant media trial of us. We have a strong belief the bad time we are passing through in the entire world is because of the will of Allah and we will overcome the situation with his will only. Our religious head had asked us all to consult doctors, clean our hands and follow the norms of social distancing norms to keep the deadly virus at bay. We will love to take medicines but it’s the Allah who will cure us of the disease”

Riyazuddin recalled his visit to Nizamuddin to attend the religious congregation. “On the call of my religious leader, I took the flight on March 6 to Delhi and stayed there with 500-600 brothers on the second floor at the Nizamuddin Markaz. It was a nice gathering. People from all over Hindustan had come and nearly 2,000 people were there inside the Markaz. We talked how could we further strengthen our faith in Allah. Except our religion nothing else was discussed,” he said.

He said he returned to Bhubaneswar on March 10 and joined his duty in the postal department. He works as a peon. “There was no symptom, no coughing, no sneezing, no fever and even I did not feel any kind of tiredness. It was on March 26 that I received a call from the local police officer who asked me to remain in isolation in my house and follow the norms of social distancing. I started observing it.”

Riyazuddin said following the request of the state government to all Nizamuddin returnees to register their names with the 104 helpline, he registered himself on April 2. “Next day, I came to Puri and my swab sample was taken and later in the evening, I was told I was corona positive. Immediately, I was shifted to a hospital at Cuttack.”

Riyazuddin said that after reaching the hospital at Cuttack, he was treated with love and care. “A hatred campaign was going on against us. But seeing the love and care of the sisters and doctors there, I was overwhelmed. Let Allah bless them.”

Describing the hospital as very clean, Riyazuddin said he was provided with a vegetarian meal there. “I was offered idli, dal, upama, puri, sabji, rice and roti as part of breakfast, lunch and dinner. The nurses gave some medicines, cough syrup, gas tablets and some other tablets. Within seven days, I recovered,” he said.

“Now I am free from the disease. Both my family members and my fellow villagers had prayed for my recovery. After I return home, I will vigorously create awareness among the people about the need for social distancing, wearing masks and remaining clean. Staying alone in this house, I spend time prating, talking to my daughter, sons and other relatives over phone. I am waiting for the day when I will return home and hug my children”