New Delhi: Soon after the Iranian Embassy in India shared a bank account and QR code for donations on X, support began pouring in from an unexpected quarter: Hindus, many of them supporters of the BJP. The comment section quickly filled with screenshots of donations and messages of solidarity.
“In response to your requests and in order to facilitate the process of aid delivery, the Embassy has established a dedicated bank account with a QR code,” read the post by ‘Iran in India’ handle.
Comments soon began to flood in. The tweet has garnered over 3,600 reposts and more than 800 comments.
One comment by Rajmohan Nair — whose bio describes him as a fan of BJP leader K Annamalai — said he identifies as a “Sanghi” and a follower of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, yet chose to donate because he believed “this war was imposed on Iran.”
“I am a Sanghi! Follower of Modiji! Yet making this little contribution because I strongly feel this war was imposed on Iran by brutal modern-age colonials with selfish motives. I salute the bravery of the Iranian people and their resolve to sustain a country despite being under US sanctions for years,” his comment read. The user added a screenshot of a Rs 1,001 donation with a mesasge that read: “To the brave sons and daughters of the Soil”.
On 28 February, the United States and Israel launched surprise attacks on Iran, reportedly killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several other officials. Following this, protests erupted in Kashmir and other Shia-dominated areas in India. Over the weekend, donation drives were organised in parts of Kashmir, with both Shia and Sunni communities contributing funds for those affected.
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Now, Hindus too have come forward to donate — each offering their own reasons.
Some cited an “ancient civilisational connection,” while others referred to killing of civilians, including schoolgirls.
Another commenter, Lakshman Karthik, referred to a “2,000-year-old civilisational connection between Iran and India,” writing: “To the great people of Aryana… this is my small contribution.”
Rishikesh Meena donated Rs 1,939, noting that the amount corresponded to Khamenei’s birth year.
Shailendra Patil contributed Rs 500, saying it was for “the families of girls who died in American bombing.”
Even college students contributed small amounts. One such comment, by Nikhil Jorwal, showed a donation of Rs 11, with a note that he could not afford more.
For the Iranian Embassy in India, the response has been overwhelming.
“The people of India, from all communities and religions, have shown an extraordinary level of sympathy and support for the people of Iran during this difficult time,” said a spokesperson at the Iranian Embassy. “We sincerely thank the great people of India. Indians have truly touched the hearts of the Iranian people. This support has strengthened the bond between our nations and stands as an example of human unity.”
(Edited by Prashant Dixit)