In an example of communal harmony in India, Muslims in the holy month of Ramadan have helped in the construction of a Jain temple in Bhagalpur town of Bihar.
Patna (Bihar), July 28, 2012: Mohammad Janeshar Akhtar even demolished a portion of his house on Friday to enable the movement of a 70-foot long truck laden with a granite stone block, being carried for making an idol at the temple, officials said on Saturday. Other Muslims helped widen the street so that the vehicle could reach the temple without much difficulty.
“In the holy month of Ramadan when a Muslim is supposed to do rightful things, I decided to help my Jain brothers. I thought that if I refuse to demolish the roof of my house, it will obstruct the construction of the statue,” said Akhtar. The granite block was 35 feet long, 9 feet wide and 5 feet tall and was loaded on the truck. It could not be negotiated through the narrow and congested street near Akhtar’s house.
“I demolished a portion of my boundary wall and roof of my house after the truck carrying the huge granite block got stuck on the narrow road leading to the temple,” he said.
Akhtar along with Mohammad Alam, both residents of Kabirpur, then helped members of Champapur Digambar Jain temple to ove the truck with the granite block to the temple for constructing the statue of Vaspujya Bhagwan, a district police official said.
“After the news spread that the truck carrying granite stone for the temple was stuck near his house, Akhtar decided to demolish the wall and the roof of his house,” the police official said.
Akhtar said when even after the demolition of the boundary wall of his house the truck could not move, he asked workers to demolish a portion of the roof as well. – News Courtesy: Deccan Herald