Kerala: Muslim gifts pond for Shiva temple

Malappuram: A Muslim  at  Kalikavu  in the district has done his bit to promote communal harmony in the area.  Nambiarthodi Ali, 45,  has donated a pond situated in his land to a centuries-old temple.  The committee of Kundada Shiva temple of Poroor panchayat  near Wandoor had approached him to buy the pond and  the bordering land area at market value. Instead,  Ali gifted the pond and land  to the Hindu brethren.

“The pond is a must for the temple as per their custom. There is no pond in the temple land.  Though they offered me a price,  I  decided to donate the pond which is meant for public use. There is nothing big in it,” says Ali. The temple committee  felicitated Ali at a cultural event  organised as part of  Sivarathri celebrations at the temple on Tuesday.  “The temple was in dire need of a pond to keep up the religious traditions. We are happy that besides giving a pond,  a strong message has also been conveyed to  society through  Ali’s  gesture,” V. Shiva Shankaran, a committee member,  told DC. 

“The land area of 4.7 cent was  not decided by me. It was the temple authorities who surveyed the pond and adjoining land area as per my request and I told them to take what they wanted  for the purpose of the pond,” Ali said.   He has also given the temple authorities the right to use a pathway leading to the pond. The registration of the land will be done in the coming weeks,  the temple authorities said.