A unique example of communal harmony has been seen in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh. Here a Muslim man went out to circumambulate the Narmada with a stick, a bag and a kamandal in his hand. He claims that due to the circumambulation of the Narmada river, his eyesight came back. This person is Salim Ismail Pathan, a resident of Nashik, Maharashtra, who is also known as Narmada Bhakt.
Salim says that she lost her eyesight in the fifth grade due to the dust of the storm. He treated it a lot. Tried a lot, but the eyesight did not come back. He remained blind for 14 years. Then one day a disciple of Janardan Giri of his village asked him to go to his Guruji. They obeyed him and they went to meet him.
Salim further explains that he met Mahamandaleshwar Shantigiri, a disciple of Janardan Giri. He was in silence. He used to give by writing and his disciples used to read and tell. He said that to get his eyesight back, he would have to obey Shantigiri. He will have to do whatever he says. Salim agreed.
Salim then went on to narrate how his eyesight came back in just 21 days with the remedy suggested by Shantigiri. He said that Swami Shantigiri showed him the right path. Then he asked them what to do next. Salim asked him for two days’ time and met his parents and relatives. Met Muslim society and Maulanas in the village. Everybody was happy.
Salim also told that Shantigiri did not allow the name change. He said that Dharmacharya told him that now your name will be changed. On this he told that Shantigiri said that the name will not change. The name will remain Salim. I will continue to follow my religion. The light of the eye has come back because of your karma. Salim has converted to Hinduism, but follows his own religion. Along with Bhajan-Kirtan, they also offer Namaz.