The calm yet powerful words of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

When the Mirwaiz emerged from his blue Scorpion at the Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta that day, people eagerly gathered around him. Many sought to hug him, shake his hand or kiss him, but only a few made it past the security cordon. Gagroo remembers that several people were injured during the stampede. Men like Gagroo act as private guards for the Mirwaiz, willing to sacrifice their lives for him. Like the Janasheen of Mirwaiz, they form a protective cordon during his sermons at Jamia Masjid and other shrines, ensuring his safety. Many inner-city families, including the Gagroos, also identify as Muhibaan-i-Mirwaizor the “Mirwaiz Lovers”.