Deepak Kumar, a 42-year-old gym owner, has gained national prominence in India after intervening to protect a Muslim shopkeeper from harassment by hardline Hindu activists on January 26. The confrontation occurred in Kotdwar, a town in the northern state of Uttarakhand, when members of the Bajrang Dal demanded that Vakeel Ahmed remove the word \”Baba\” from his 30-year-old business, \”Baba School Dress and Matching Centre.\”
The activists alleged that the term \”Baba\” was a specific reference to Siddhabali Baba, a local Hindu deity, and argued that a Muslim proprietor had no right to utilize the name. While Ahmed’s son reportedly pleaded for time to comply with the demands, Kumar intervened to challenge the group’s assertions. The incident, captured on video and widely circulated on social media, features Kumar identifying himself as \”Mohammad Deepak\” in a symbolic gesture of solidarity.
While Kumar has been labeled an \”icon for secular India\” by supporters of pluralism, the backlash from right-wing factions has been severe. He has faced organized protests, accusations of betraying the Hindu faith, and documented death threats. The term \”Baba\” is historically used across diverse religious communities in India to denote mystics, elders, or paternal figures.
\”My name is Mohammad Deepak.\”
Kumar stated he was drawn to the scene by a crowd forming in front of the shop while he was visiting a neighboring business. Despite the ongoing threats to his safety, the gym owner continues to be cited by commentators as a \”poster boy\” for the country\’s constitutional secularism amidst rising communal tensions in the region.
