Pandit Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, a famous storyteller known as Bageshwar Baba, is often in the news due to his agenda regarding Hindus and Hindutva. Many people on social media also accuse him of being anti-Islam and anti-Muslim. However, not only do many Muslim devotees visit Bageshwar Baba’s court, but two Muslim persons have a lot of importance in Dhirendra Krishna Shastri’s life. Shastri is often seen praising them.
Let us tell you about two Muslim persons who are very close to Dheerendra Shastri. His relationship with both of them is years old. One of them is Dheerendra Shastri’s childhood friend Sheikh Mubarak and the other is his teacher Aleem Khan.
How did you become friends with Sheikh Mubarak?
Sheikh Mubarak, who is six years older than Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, is a naturopath by profession. He shares a deep friendship with Dhirendra Krishna Shastri. Sheikh Mubarak was with Dhirendra at every step of his journey to become Peethadheeshwar. The friendship between the two is so strong that whenever Dhirendra Krishna Shastri gets time, he calls Sheikh to him or goes to meet him himself.
Sheikh Mubarak tells an interesting story about his friendship with Bageshwar Baba. He says that their first meeting happened suddenly during rain near Ganj village. Both of them quarreled during the first meeting, but later they became close friends. Sheikh remembers that in the beginning Dhirendra Krishna Shastri’s financial condition was not good, all his friends used to help him. When Shastri fixed his sister’s marriage, all his friends helped him financially. He also gave about 20 thousand rupees then. Dhirendra Shastri has not forgotten this till date and often mentions it from the stage.
Sheikh Mubarak is a resident of Churaran village. Dhirendra Krishna Shastri is from Garha village. There is a lot of distance between their villages. Despite this, both have family relations. Sheikh says that they visit each other’s house on festivals. Recently, on Raksha Bandhan, he also got a Rakhi tied by Shastri’s sister.
As soon as I get time, I come running to meet you
Sheikh Mubarak says that even though Dheerendra Krishna Shastri is famous all over the world today, he is so simple that whenever he gets time, he comes to meet me. Many times when I cannot see him on the way, he himself turns his convoy back and meets me. Their friendship is the same even today, nothing has changed.
Dhirendra Shastri’s Khan Sir
Haleem Khan is another Muslim who has a great significance in Dhirendra Shastri’s life. Haleem Khan is Dhirendra Shastri’s childhood teacher. He used to teach mathematics to Dhirendra Krishna Shastri in the Government Higher Secondary School of Ganj village. There was a lot of affection between the two and this Guru-Shishya relationship is still intact today. Last month, when Dhirendra Krishna Shastri reached his school on Independence Day, both were seen respecting each other.
When Halim Khan came forward to receive his disciple, Dhirendra Shastri greeted him by bowing his head. Both reached the stage holding each other’s hands. While addressing the program, Dhirendra Shastri praised Halim Khan and told how he got love and affection from him. Khan Sir also praises his famous disciple a lot. He says, ‘Dhirendra Krishna Shastri was smart in studies since childhood. He passed from 5th to 8th, 10th and 12th with first division.’
