Gita, Upanishads kept 'devout Muslim' Suhaib Ilyasi 'strong' in jail
Former TV anchor Suhaib Ilyasi, who was acquitted on charges of murdering his wife this month said while he didn't miss out on his daily namaz in prison, he also faithfully read the Bhagvad Gita and the Upanishads for solace and strength. He added from making crime shows to an accused in a murder case, it has been a rough 18-year ride for him.
In December '17, Ilyasi was sentenced to life imprisonment by a trial court for allegedly murdering his wife Anju in 2000. Anju was rushed to a hospital on January 11, with stab wounds. She was declared dead at arrival in the hospital. Subsequently, her mother and sister filed a case against Ilyasi. On October 5, the Delhi HC acquitted Ilyasi citing lack of evidence.
Notably, Ilyasi spent most of the 18 years out on bail, with the threat of prison hanging over his head constantly. He moved the HC challenging his conviction and a bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel set him free.
Speaking about the conviction by the trial court, Ilyasi said, "I felt the ground beneath my feet give way. However, I had full faith in the judiciary." "But inside the prison, one feels moments of endless wait, of uncertainty and insecurity. It was in those moments that I found solace in the teachings of the Bhagvad Gita and the Upanishads," he added.
Ilyasi said in prison he turned into a hardcore vegetarian and shared the teachings of the holy books with his fellow inmates. "Initially, they were shocked to hear a Musalman reciting Sanskrit 'shlokas' and explaining their meanings. I am happy that I could share the wisdom of the holy books with them," said Ilyasi, adding that he offers namaz five times a day.
Ilyasi, the former investigative journalist, whose father Jameel Ilyasi was the head of the All India Imams Organization, is writing a book to make the teachings of the Gita and the Upanishads easily understandable. "Today it's important that everybody, irrespective of religion, should know and understand the real meaning of these religious scriptures. This will bring more unity and harmony in society," he said.
Ilyasi, who remarried and has a son, nine-year-old Mihran, wants his daughter Aaliya, to host 'India's Most Wanted'. He said he's gearing up to re-launch the show. The dark days, he said, are behind him, adding, "There's no point thinking about the past or unseen future. I've learned to live in the present. Today I'm free, not just physically but also emotionally and spiritually."
