Shia youth pool funds

Hyderabad: The Shia community is taking up repairs and renovation works of several of its religious places by pooling in funds. 

The younger generation is coming forward to donate funds religious places. Mr Syed Ali Jaffery, a member of the Al-Kauser Trust, has taken up repairs and constructions of at least 11 Shia religious places. 

“We are micro minority community. With no funds from the government for restoration or conservation of aashoorkhanas and Shia mosques, our community is pooling in money to take up the works,” said Mr. Jaffery.

He said that many Shia youths working in the United States, Canada, Australia, UK and the Gulf countries donated money to the organisation. 

Through collective efforts, the group has taken up repairs on Masjid-e-Mir Momin, Masjid-e- Sahebnagar, and Masjid-e-Qamergah Moula Ali.  

Help for heritage consultants and archaeologists were sought to deal with heritage and historic buildings. “All the structures are not listed as heritage buildings. So, we identified the historic significance and retained them. We have completed repairing works worth Rs 6 crore so far,” he said. 

“We sought permission to construct a new building at Bargah-e-Hazrath Abbas Aashoorkhana at Devan Devdi. The board gave us permission during the tenure of special officer Shaik Mohammed Iqbal. Later, it was not extended. A new building, costing Rs 4.5 crore, was planned. Though the structure was completed, a lot of works are still pending,” said Mr Jaffery.

The aashoorkhana is one of the oldest in the city.

“Before the Bibi Ka Alawa was constructed, the khooni matam was performed only at this aashoorkhana,”  Mr Jaffery said. “If the board is not willing to take up works, it should at least give us permission to take up works with our own funds,” said Firasat Ali Baqri.