‘All humans are the same’: Muslim couple adopts two orphaned Hindu boys—20 years later, they proudly marry off their son in a wedding that restores faith in humanity | – The Times of India

In the quiet by-lanes of Hukkeri, a small town hugging the Karnataka-Maharashtra border in Belagavi district, something profoundly beautiful unfolded on February 8, 2026— a wedding that warmed hearts far beyond its simple rituals. It wasn’t just a celebration of love between Somashekar Pujeri and his bride, Poonam. It was a testament to the unbreakable bonds of humanity, woven by a retired KSRTC driver named Mehboob Hasan Naikwadi and his wife Noor Jahan, who stood proudly at the wedding, their faces glowing with the quiet joy of parents watching their child step into a new chapter.It was 20 years ago, when Shivanand Kadayya Pujeri, a close friend of Mehboob’s, and his wife died untimely in a road accident. The Pujeris leaving behind their two young boys—Somashekar and his younger brother Vasant. When no close relatives of the Pujeris came forward to claim the two young boys, Mehboob and his wife Noor Jahan decided to adopt the Hindu boys. With five children of their own already filling their modest house—four sons and a daughter—they opened their hearts and home to the orphans. Being a Muslim and raising the two Hindu boys as their own children is something that surprises many people, but for the Naikwadi couple, humanity is above all religion. “I feel that all human beings are the same. Both these children have grown up in our house like our children,” Mehboob told The Federal.Fast forward two decades, and those boys have now grown into fine young men. Somashekar, is now a BSc graduate working at an aviation company in Belagavi. When he turned of marriageable age, Mr and Mrs Naikwadis started looking for a suitable match for him, considering it as their parental duty. The Naikwadis, true to their parental spirit, travelled with friends to Tanwad, a village in Gadhinglaj taluk in Maharashtra. Their they finalised the alliance for Somashekar with Poonam, who hails from a Veerashaiva Lingayat family. And on Februaty 8, Somashekhar and Poonam’s wedding was performed following the Veerashaiva Lingayat traditions. Basavaprabhu Vantamuri, who is the Belagavi district president of the Karnataka District Farmers’ Association, praised the Naikwadi couple for being a role model for the society at a time when there are religious tensions, reported The Federal.Meanwhile, Mehboob, now in his 70s with little to his name beyond memories and a lifetime of hard work, believes he just did his duty as a human. “I do not think there is anything special in what my wife and I have done. I believe that all the people in this country are brothers and sisters. I am happy that these children grew up in my house, got educated, and found jobs on their own. I will leave this world, satisfied that I have done my job,” he told reporters in Hukkeri, reported The Hindu.In a world where hate and religious discrimination are easy to spread, the Naikwadi couple are an inspiration to many and a true example of humanity shining even in the darkest of times. What are your views on this heartwarming incident? Tell us in the comments below.