Bangladeshi-American Finds Hope in Ashes of Minneapolis Restaurant

Ruhel Islam is walking among the ruins of his Gandhi Mahal Restaurant in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The place was burned down during riots¹ in the city following the death of George Floyd, a Black man killed in May during an arrest by Minneapolis police. The arrest was captured on a video, that quickly spread around the internet. The incident led to an international movement against abuse by police.

Islam expressed his support for the movement even as his restaurant burned. His daughter quoted him in a now famous message she posted to Facebook, saying, "Let my building burn, Justice needs to be served, put those officers in jail."

Islam is a native of Bangladesh. He moved to the United States in 1996. In 2005, he opened Gandhi Mahal. The restaurant stood about four kilometers from the site of Floyd's arrest.

"This is a very deep problem we need to solve. It's not their fault," he said of the protesters. "It's the system's fault. Our policymakers did not resolve the issues and that's why this happened."

Standing² united

He said his pain and loss was little in comparison to what Floyd's family had suffered. Islam added that the South Asian community needs to show it is united with African Americans because both groups are minorities and people of color.

"It's very important to stand with them shoulder to shoulder and fight for what's right for everyone for a better world," he said.

People across Minneapolis and from other parts of the country have been raising money to help pay for Islam's losses.

Among those seeking to help is Rachael Joseph, director of Survivors³ Lead. The group was formed by gun violence survivors and fights for stronger gun laws. She started a group to raise money on Facebook for Gandhi Mahal. It has received more than $64,000.

She wrote in an e-mail to VOA that the restaurant was important to the gun control group. She said, "Ruhel and his family showed the same kindness to all who entered those doors." She also said the Islam family has been "fighting white supremacy⁴ alongside⁵ the community."

Getting back to business

Islam is opening another food service business in the same neighborhood until the Gandhi Mahal can be rebuilt. The new restaurant will be called Curry⁶ in a Hurry. It will provide food for take away and is expected to be ready by September.

Islam is also working with several community organizations to re-create Gandhi Mahal as part of a multicultural⁷ community center.

One of the groups is Pangea World Theater. Its goal is to support human rights through artistic⁸ performance that deals with discrimination. Its founder⁹, Dipankar Mukherjee and Islam are close friends. Mukherjee said the Gandhi Mahal provided space for many of the theater's social and musical events. He misses the restaurant.

"It's heartbreaking to even sit here," he said while looking at the remains¹⁰ of the Gandhi Mahal.

Mukherjee hopes that the new building will be big enough to hold Pangea's theatrical¹¹ shows, including more projects centered on Black lives.

Mukherjee described Islam as "a brother from back home who's committed to food justice, environmental justice."

Leading by example

Islam has many big ideas for the new building. He pictures it as a place for peace, although the project is still being planned. He imagines it as a center where activists¹² and community organizers can gather to discuss issues such as food security, climate change and social justice.

"I want to lead by example," Islam said. "I want to do something more. It's not about making money, but bringing people together.

He aims to create an area in front of the restaurant that will include a Black Lives Matter memorial. He also dreams of an environmentally friendly space, powered by the sun.

Islam believes that rebuilding the restaurant as a community center will help renew the area which many businesses have left because of the riots.

"We want to bring the energy back. We want to bring the businesses back," he said.

Islam estimates the project will cost almost $10 million and take three to five years to complete.

"We'll be rising from the ashes," he said. "I believe in the dream, and if you work hard toward your dream, you can get there."

I'm Caty Weaver¹³.

Words in This Story

quote –v. to repeat something said by someone else exactly

fault –n. responsibility for a problem, a mistake, a bad situation

shoulder to shoulder –idiom to be united in a shared cause

supremacy –n. the quality or state of having more power than anyone else

committed –adj. willing to give your time and energy to something

1 riots   

n. 暴乱, 骚乱, 暴动 vi. 骚乱, 闹事

参考例句：

• the instigators of the riots 煽动骚乱的人
• The riots are a clear manifestation of the people's discontent. 骚乱清楚地表明了人们的不满情绪。

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

4 supremacy   

n.至上；至高权力

参考例句：

• No one could challenge her supremacy in gymnastics.她是最优秀的体操运动员，无人能胜过她。
• Theoretically,she holds supremacy as the head of the state.从理论上说，她作为国家的最高元首拥有至高无上的权力。

5 alongside   

adv.在旁边；prep.和...在一起，在...旁边

参考例句：

• There was a butcher's shop alongside the theatre.剧院旁边有一家肉店。
• Alongside of him stood his uncle.他的身旁站着他叔叔。

6 curry   

n.咖哩粉，咖哩饭菜；v.用咖哩粉调味，用马栉梳，制革

参考例句：

• Rice makes an excellent complement to a curry dish.有咖喱的菜配米饭最棒。
• Add a teaspoonful of curry powder.加一茶匙咖喱粉。

7 multicultural   

adj.融合多种文化的，多种文化的

参考例句：

• Children growing up in a multicultural society.在多元文化社会中长大的孩子们。
• The school has been attempting to bring a multicultural perspective to its curriculum.这所学校已经在尝试将一种多元文化视角引入其课程。

8 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

9 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

10 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

11 theatrical   

adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的

参考例句：

• The final scene was dismayingly lacking in theatrical effect.最后一场缺乏戏剧效果，叫人失望。
• She always makes some theatrical gesture.她老在做些夸张的手势。

12 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。